Moving On (Oleta Adams album)

Moving On is the fifth album by American vocalist, pianist and songwriter Oleta Adams, released in 1995.[4] It saw Adams move towards a more straightforward R&B sound, working with established R&B producers Vassal Benford (who had produced Rebbie Jackson, Jade and Toni Braxton) and Michael J. Powell (producer of Randy Crawford, Anita Baker and Regina Belle) who helped to mix her usual soul, pop and gospel styles with R&B. Adams wrote or co-wrote six of the twelve songs on the album, and for the first time produced two of the songs.

Moving On
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 23, 1995
Studio
  • Palm Tree Studios (New York City, New York)
  • United Sound Systems and Vanguard Studios (Detroit, Michigan)
  • Cherokee Studios (Los Angeles, California)
  • Andora Studios (Hollywood, California)
  • Larrabee Sound Studios (North Hollywood, California)
  • Reel Tyme Studios (Woodland Hills, California)
  • Castle Oaks Studios (Calabasas, California)
GenreR&B, soul
Length56:31
LabelFontana Records (Mercury Records)
Producer
Oleta Adams chronology
Evolution
(1993)
Moving On
(1995)
The Very Best of Oleta Adams
(1996)
Singles from Moving On
  1. "Never Knew Love"
    Released: 1995
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Cash Box(favorable)[2]
Los Angeles Times[3]

Singles

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Four singles were released from the album. The lead single, "Never Knew Love", was the most R&B-sounding song on the album, and gave Adams her fourth Top 40 hit in the UK. The second single, a re-recorded and remixed song from her first album, "Rhythm of Life" (only included in some editions of the album), gave Adams her last Top 40 hit in the UK to date. The final two singles from the album, the ballads "We Will Meet Again" and "Life Keeps Moving On", performed less well.

Commercial performance

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The album had limited success, peaking at #59 in the UK Albums Chart and at #194 on the US Billboard 200, staying only one week on both charts. This was Adams' last charting album on both countries' main chart and the lack of commercial success led to Moving On being her last studio album released through Fontana Records.

The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 39th Grammy Awards.[5]

Track listing

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US edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Never Knew Love"Kathy Wakefield, Oleta Adams, Vassal BenfordVassal Benford3:32
2."Once in a Lifetime"Wakefield, Adams, BenfordBenford5:24
3."I Knew You When"Donny Kees, Shawna Harrington-BurkhartMichael J. Powell4:20
4."You Need To Be Loved"AdamsOleta Adams, Scott Mayo4:41
5."Slow Motion"Ed Fox, Evan PacePowell5:13
6."We Will Meet Again"Allan Rich, Brenda RussellPowell4:47
7."This Is Real"Curtiss Boone, Michael J. PowellPowell5:02
8."Life Keeps Moving On"AdamsBenford5:32
9."Long Distance Love"Lowell GeorgePowell4:15
10."Love Begins at Home"Rich, Jud Friedman, AdamsPowell4:51
11."If This Love Should Ever End"Boone, PowellPowell4:45
12."New Star"AdamsAdams, Mayo4:17
Total length:56:21
European edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Between Hello and Goodbye"George Lyter, Michael O'Hara, Denise RichPowell6:11
14."Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"Elton John, Bernie TaupinRoland Orzabal5:53
European reissue CD
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Rhythm Of Life" (Phil Coxon Edit)Nicky Holland, Roland Orzabal5:17
14."Never Knew Love" (Phil Coxon Edit)Wakefield, Adams, Benford4:04

Personnel

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  • Oleta Adams – lead vocals, backing vocals (2, 6, 8, 9), acoustic piano (3-7, 9-14), Rhodes electric piano (4, 12), keyboards (5, 6, 10, 11)
  • Vassal Benford – musician (1), drum programming (1, 2), keyboards (2, 8)
  • Vernon Fails – electric piano (3, 5, 6, 9-11, 13)
  • Michael J. Powell – keyboards (3, 5-7, 10, 11), keyboard programming (3, 5-7, 9-11, 13), guitars (3, 5-7, 9-11, 13), percussion (3, 5-7, 9-11, 13), additional keyboards (13)
  • Paul D. Allen – keyboard programming (3, 5, 6, 9-11, 13), percussion programming (3, 5, 6, 9-11, 13), drum programming (7)
  • Scott Mayo – additional keyboards (4, 12), additional drum programming (4), backing vocals (4, 12), drum programming (12)
  • Curtiss Boone – keyboards (7)
  • Darrell Houston – organ (9)
  • Simon Clark – Hammond organ (14)
  • Morris O'Connor – guitars (4, 12)
  • Donnie Lyle – guitars (10), acoustic guitar (13)
  • Roland Orzabal – guitars (14), backing vocals (14)
  • Gerald Albright – bass (2), soprano saxophone (2)
  • Al Turner – bass (3, 5-7, 9-11, 13)
  • Stan Sargeant – bass (4, 12), synth bass (4, 12)
  • Tony Green – bass (8)
  • Pino Palladino – bass (14)
  • John Cushon – drum programming (1, 4), drums (2-5, 8, 9, 12, 14), cymbals (7)
  • Eric White – drum programming (1, 8)
  • Mario Winans – drums (6, 10, 11, 13)
  • Ray Manzerolle – saxophone (5, 9)
  • Paul Riser – string arrangements (3, 6, 13)
  • Valerie Davis – backing vocals (1, 2, 8)
  • Trina Powell – backing vocals (1, 2, 8)
  • Velma "Emerald" Williams – backing vocals (1, 2, 8)
  • Valerie Pinkston-Mayo – backing vocals (4, 12), BGV arrangements (4, 12)
  • Mindy Stein – backing vocals (4, 12)
  • Fred White – backing vocals (4, 12)
  • The Ridgeway Sisters (Esther, Gloria and Gracie) – backing vocals (5, 7)
  • Tamara Powell – backing vocals (8)
  • Carol Kenyon – backing vocals (14)
  • Tessa Niles – backing vocals (14)

Choir on "Love Begins At Home"

  • Jevac Grier – chorale director
  • Tanisha Butcher, Monique Butler, Pamela Clark, Antoine Davison, Jevac Grier, Renita Hamilton, Tommy Henderson, Willard Hines, Cortez Mitchell, Regina Stinson and Sharita Stovall – singers

Production

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  • David Bates – A&R
  • Tanya Doteon – production coordinator (1)
  • Stephanie McCravey – production coordinator (1)
  • Mercury Art – design
  • Michel Conte – photography
  • Gallin Morey Associates – management
  • Oleta Adams – liner notes

Technical

  • Victor Flores – engineer (1, 2, 8)
  • Kevin Davis – mix engineer (1, 2, 8)
  • Paul D. Allen – engineer (3, 5, 6, 9-11, 13), assistant mix engineer (3, 5, 6, 10, 13), assistant engineer (7, 9, 11)
  • Michael J. Powell – engineer (3, 5-7, 9-11, 13), mix engineer (3, 5-7, 9-11)
  • Carl Robinson – engineer (3, 6, 11, 13)
  • Gerard Smerek – engineer (3, 5-7, 9-11, 13), mix engineer (3, 5-7, 9-11, 13)
  • Rick Camp – engineer (4, 12)
  • Moogie Canazio – mix engineer (4, 12)
  • Leonard Jones – MIDI technician (4, 12)
  • Eric White – assistant engineer (1, 2, 8), second mix engineer (1, 2, 8)
  • Tom Baker – second mix engineer (1, 2, 8)
  • Clell Moore – second engineer (3, 5-7, 9-11, 13)
  • Mike Aarvold – assistant engineer (4, 11)
  • Luis Quine – assistant engineer (4, 12)

Charts

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Chart (1995) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[6] 194
US Billboard Top R&B Albums 49
Dutch album chart 14
UK Albums Chart[7] 59

References

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  1. ^ "Oleta Adams Moving On Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ^ Robertson IV, Gil L. (18 November 1995). "Urban" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 11. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  3. ^ Rosenbluth, Jean (5 November 1995). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Oleta Adams Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  5. ^ "Oleta Adams". Recording Academy. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Oleta Adams". Billboard.
  7. ^ "OLETA ADAMS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.