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Trey Lorenz is the debut solo album by R&B singer-songwriter Trey Lorenz. It was released on Epic Records in 1992, and features 11 tracks, 8 of which Lorenz co-wrote.

The album featured 3 singles: "Someone to Hold", which peaked at 19 on the pop charts and reached number 5 on the R&B chart. The next single, "Photograph of Mary", peaked at number 46 on the R&B charts while reaching number 11 on the dance charts. The third and final single, the Lionel Richie-penned "Just to Be Close to You" got as far as number 66 on the R&B charts.

Background
https://www.proquest.com/docview/1506038094/ already signed to epic by the time i'll be there was released

https://www.proquest.com/docview/964140335/

Writing and production
"an all-star cast of producers and writers"

"brings together top writers and producers in pop music"

Music and lyrics
see freedberg for more

a soul album

"influences of Bobby Brown on the up-tempo tracks"

a bit ballad-heavy

"of ballads, rousing modern gospel tunes, and the occasional swingbeat number."

"an 11-track collection of creamy love songs"

"his impassioned pop-soul ballads soar cm the strength of their melodies."

"Photograph of Mary and Richies Just to Be Close to You," are so superbly produced (both by Carey) that they sound fresh."

Someone to Hold

lead single

pop tune ready for top 40

"soulful r&b ballad has definite crossover possibilities and shows all the potential of a career in the making."

"His voice is smooth in the current single Someone to Hold. The tune's abundant use of synthesizers combines perfectly with his voice, creating a soothing ballad."

"smashing slow song"

"a pretty ballad that showcases Lorenz's talented voice and impressive vocal range."

"a sensitive slow jam that will attract your female listeners"

"plush, romantic ballad"

"lorenz exudes considerable star power"

"he also has a warm and silky delivery that will eventually propel him to the upper echelon of urban/pop crooners"

album's best track, soulful reading vocal performance

Photograph of Mary

second single

dance song

pop tune ready for top 40

excellent r'n'b song

catchy beat

"a lively romp that showcases his formidable pipes to great effect."

"a variety of beat-savvy remixes vastly improve on the original album version, beefing up the song's infectious hook."

punchy, "repeats his warm sensitivity but tyhe twist on this track is he's trying to figure out how he blew a relationship while taring at a photo of 'her'"

"another winner propelled by those 'nah-nah-nahs' sure to sound familiar to those who will recall one of Elton John's early hits, 'take me to the pilot'

"urban and pop radio will dig the edge, hip-hop mixes while club DJs will feast on the Masters at Work dubs."

"One of the strongest tracks on Lorenz's generally disappointing debut album. A fine gospel-tinged tune delivered over a Soul II Soul beat, with rap and B-boy remixes adding to its dancefloor appeal."

"Lorenz' vocal talents do not fail to set things alight whilst, masters are most certainly at work here with Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez and "Little" Louie Vega on the mix both with the "Ken-Lou B.Boy Mix" and on the uptempo dubs on the flip. The former combines a powerful rolling bassline with guitar samples to give a rocky feel. "Speech Mix" is smooth strollin' hip-hop for those daytime playlists."

"Here you've got the best of both dancefloors. The hip hop side is for groovers on the street in the Ken Lou B Boy Mix – its very rough bassline is awesome. Flip it over and the tempo rises for the Masters At Work Housey Dub. Two beats reaching two different audiences and, believe it, both work. Great single from across the pond." (import only)

Just to Be Close to You

https://www.proquest.com/docview/1505929922/

third single

pop tune ready for top 40

"predictably soft and soulful"

"carey chirping in the background"

best part of the production is "trey's silky and seductive prformance"

a rhythmic remixes was produced by mark rooney and mark morales

"more in keeping with the general tone of the album is a competent version of Lionel Richie's syrupy ode to togetherness"

and smooth and silky tracks like 'Just to Be Close To You"

lorenz is tender on the track

"for radio, prince markie dee and partner cory rooney offer a soul convention hip-hop mix that puts an unexpected twist in trey's sound"

"I'm a big fan of Motown, and the Commodores were a Motown group. When I was like 5 years old I used to go through the records, and I remember looking for the Motown symbol--before I could read! I really wanted to do a tribute to the Motown artists that I loved growing up, and 'Just To Be Close To You' is one of my favorites," says Lorenz. "That was a song that |producer~ Mariah |Carey~ and I both really loved, and it just came together kinda cool. I'm a big fan of Lionel's writing especially. So when I do a cover, it's more of a tribute. To me, Lionel Richie is a great artist, and I think it's really cool when people who are just coming up let people that have been there for a while know how much we do admire them, and the influence they've had. It's like, 'You did a good job, kid. This is the fruit of your artistry."

"lush and layered" arrangement

reckless vocal performance

Run Back to Me

upbeat

" a good groove and a catchy chorus"

Always in Love

pop tune ready for top 40

lorenz sensually loving

Wipe All My Tears Away'

"a Bobby Brown-style swingbeat number"

"a lifeless new jack swing number driven by drum machines"

Baby I'm in Heaven

celebratory

It Only Hurts When It's Love

How Can I Say Goodbye

"slowly unfurling [vocal] peaks and troughs of a big ballad"

has a 1960s feel

"lean and restrained" arrangement

Find a Way

"a lightweight plea for racial harmony that would better serve Up With People"

When Troubles Come

"Lorenz sings When Trouble Comes with the reverence and emotion used by a Baptist choir on Sunday morning. And the music is heart-wrenching due to the uncomplicated use of light piano chords, strings and synthesizers. Ironically, Trouble (a religious song on an album) is by far the best tune on this debut"

Release and promotion
"much-ballyhooed"

released in uk on jan 4 1992 on cd, cassette, lp


 * https://www.proquest.com/docview/1286475470/
 * https://www.proquest.com/docview/1505942272/

Critical reception
Critics considered the album's musical direction derivative. In the Northants Herald & Post, John Marrs felt Lorenz "never really ventures off onto an experimental path". Hartford Courant critic Dana Tofig said the songs are largely indistinguishable from those by other R&B singers; Michael Freedberg of The Boston Phoenix specified Lillo Thomas, Keith Washington, and Alexander O'Neal as artists Lorenz "seems to kiss the beat with". Given his perceived musical similarities with her, J. D. Considine of The Baltimore Sun suggested the album is suited as a Christmas gift for Carey fans. Greg Forman, a reviewer for The Post and Courier, said Lorenz emulated Carey to bad effect.

Reviews complimented Lorenz for demonstrating vocal range and control on the album. Billboard described Trey Lorenz as a "fitting showcase for his vocal prowess". Interview writer Peter Galvin compared his voice favorably to those of singers Barry White, Philip Bailey, and Stevie Wonder. Peter Kinghorn described Lorenz as "wonderfully emotive" in the Evening Chronicle. Entertainment Weekly's Amy Linden considered Lorenz a capable lead singer and Sheila Rayam of the Democrat and Chronicle predicted "he should be around long after his superstar mentor has left his side."

Personnel
Musicians


 * Trey Lorenz – songwriting (1, 4–10), lead vocals, background vocals (2–7, 9, 10), background vocals arranger (4, 7), handclaps (10)
 * Walter Afanasieff – songwriting (1, 5), arranger (1, 2, 5, 8, 9), keyboards (1, 2, 5, 8, 9), Synclavier programming (1), acoustic guitar (1), synth bass (2, 5, 8, 9), rhythm programming (2, 5, 8, 9), Hammond B3 (3, 9)
 * Mariah Carey – songwriting (1, 5), arranger (1, 2, 5, 8, 9), vocal arranger (1), background vocals (1–3, 5, 9)
 * Dan Shea – keyboards (1), synth bass (1), rhythm programming (1), additional keyboards (2, 5, 9), additional programming (2, 5, 9)
 * Gary Cirimelli – Akai programming (1), Macintosh programing (1, 2, 5, 8, 9), Synclavier programming (1, 2, 5, 8, 9)
 * Ren Klyce – additional programming (1), Akai programming (2, 5, 8, 9), Synclavier programming (2, 5, 8, 9), keyboard programming (3)
 * Michael Landau – guitars (1, 2, 5, 8, 9)
 * Cindy Mizelle – background vocals (1, 4, 7, 10), background vocals arranger (7), handclaps (10)
 * Audrey Wheeler – background vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 10), background vocals arranger (7), handclaps (10)
 * Will Downing – background vocals (1, 9, 10), handclaps (10)
 * Seth Swirsky – songwriting (2)
 * Mark C. Rooney – background vocals (2, 6), songwriting (6), keyboards (6)
 * Patrique McMillan – background vocals (2, 5)
 * Karen Anderson – background vocals (2)
 * Lionel Richie – songwriting (3)
 * Jeff Bova – keyboard programming (3), arranger (3)
 * Randy Jackson – synth arranger (3), drum arranger (3), additional synth bass (3)
 * Bobby Wooten – Moog lead synth (3)
 * Scott Cutler – songwriting (4, 9), background vocals arranger (4)
 * Brian O'Doherty – songwriting (4, 9), background vocals arranger (4)
 * Keith Thomas – arranger (4, 7), keyboards (4, 7), bass (4, 7), drum programming (4, 7), songwriting (7), background vocals arranger (7)
 * Michael Morris – horns arranger (4)
 * Jerry McPherson – guitars (4, 7)
 * Barry Green – trombone (4)
 * Mark Douthit – alto saxophone (4), baritone saxophone (4)
 * Mike Haynes – trumpet (4)
 * Cheree Price – background vocals (5)
 * Kelly Price – background vocals (5)
 * Deborah Cooper – background vocals (5)
 * Mark Morales – songwriting (6), drum programming (6)
 * Ginger Collins – background vocals (6)
 * Glen Ballard – songwriting (8, 10), rhythm arranger (10), keyboards (10), programming (10)
 * Jerry Hey – horns arranger (10), trumpet (10)
 * Randy Kerber – Hammond organ (10)
 * Dan Higgins – saxophone (10)
 * The Soul Sisters – additional handclaps (10)
 * BeBe Winans – songwriting (11)
 * Cedric Caldwell – arranger (11), keyboards (11)
 * Ron Huff – strings arranger (11)
 * Marc Harris – additional keyboards (11)
 * Tom Hemby – guitar (11)
 * Victor Caldwell – bass (11)
 * Steve Brewster – drums (11)
 * Kelly O'Neal – saxophone (11)
 * Kari Gorodetsky – Nashville String Machine (11)

Production


 * Walter Afanasieff – producer (1, 2, 5, 8, 9)
 * Mariah Carey – producer (1–3, 5, 8, 9)
 * Dan Shea – additional producer (1)
 * Randy Jackson – additional producer (3)
 * Keith Thomas – producer (4, 7)
 * Todd Moore – production coordinator (4, 7)
 * Mark C. Rooney – producer (6)
 * Mark Morales – producer (6)
 * Glen Ballard – producer (10)
 * Jolie Levine – production coordinator (10)
 * BeBe Winans – producer (11)
 * Louis Upkins Jr. – production assistant (11)
 * Carol Chen – art direction
 * Eva Mueller – photography
 * Jeffrey Tay – stylist

Technical


 * Dana Jon Chappelle – engineering (1–3, 5, 8, 9), mixing (1–3, 5, 8, 9)
 * Manny LaCarrubba – additional engineering (1), second engineering (5)
 * Katherine Miller – vocal engineering (1, 5), engineering (3)
 * Jim Caruana – second engineering (1–3, 5, 8, 9)
 * Thom Kadley – second engineering (1, 3, 5)
 * David Gleeson – second engineering (1), additional engineering (2, 9)
 * Lolly Grodner – additional engineering (3)
 * Michael White – additional engineering (3)
 * Rich Lamb – second engineering (3, 5)
 * Bill Whittington – engineering (4, 7), mixing (4, 7)
 * Todd Moore – assistant engineering (4, 7)
 * John Kunz – assistant engineering (4, 7)
 * Amy Hughes – assistant engineering (4, 7)
 * Michael Fronda – engineering (6)
 * Bob Rosa – mixing (6)
 * Francis Buckley – engineering (10), mixing (10)
 * Chris Fogel – technical director (10)
 * Brian Carrigan – assistant engineering (10)
 * Lee Anthony – assistant engineering (10)
 * Mike Poole – engineering (11)
 * Mike McCarthy – engineering (11)
 * Keith Compton – engineering (11)
 * Bob Ludwig – mastering

Singles

 * https://web.archive.org/web/20210125130955/http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GY7350/sr=8-5/qid=1155373786/ref=sr_1_5/102-7773868-8753703
 * https://web.archive.org/web/20160305163335/http://www.mariahcarey.com/news/article/1826