Echoes & Images
Studio album by
Sylvia St. James
Released1981
Genre
LabelElektra
ProducerAndre Fischer
Sylvia St. James chronology
Magic
(1981)		 Echoes & Images
(1981)

Echoes & Images is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Sylvia St. James, released in 1981 by Elektra Records.[1][2][3][4][5]

Production

The album was produced by Andre Fischer with the arrangements by Richard Evans and McKinley Jackson. Lead and background vocals were arranged by St. James.[2][5]

Conception and composition

The singer's second recording project continues a mixture of pop and soul songs with the release of the first single, "Behind My Back", an upbeat, dance track, alongside Eastern influence in the arrangements of "Grace", featuring the 13-stringed Japanese koto, and "Eastern Man" with the four-stringed Japanese lute.[6][1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Green Bay Press-Gazette
The Philadelphia Inquirer

Warren Gerds of the Green Bay Press Gazette declared: "Sylvia St. James owns a great voice - a Cadillac..." describing "lavish backgroundings" and stating "soul, rhythm kickers, jazz or ballad, St. James pours out vocal gymnastics with her wide-ranging, lustrous singing."[2] Florestine Purnell for The Kansas City Star opined that "a unique mixture of pop and other musical influences that still retain Miss St. James' soulful individuality," describing instruments that give "a vaguely Oriental feel" to songs with "quiet melodies with complex string and horn arrangements" and the upbeat single with "a familiar theme" and "danceable beat".[1] A review for Billboard Album picks described "high-quality musical art" with "can't-miss production" of "soul/jazz excursions that command top musicianship" and "vocals roles with impressive range, drama and funk appeal,"[3] while Billboard Disco Mix noted "easy going but sassy selections", "tender ballads" and sensual vocals shining through "Grace".[5]

Track listing

Echoes & Images track listing[7]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Behind My Back"Dawn Alexander3:13
2."Grace"
5:50
3."Prime Time"
  • Clarence Bell
  • Therisa Hunter
4:24
4."Evening Rainbow"
5:27
5."If You Let Me Love You"
4:23
6."The Way to Your Heart"
  • Josef M. Blocker
  • Mario Henderson
4:02
7."The Bottom Line"
  • Barbara Busa
  • Danny Ironstone
  • Mary Unobsky
4:02
8."Eastern Man"Josef M. Blocker4:40
Total length:35:58

Covers

Yves Tumor samples "Grace", in his critically acclaimed 2018 single Noid.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Purnell, Florestine (January 27, 1982). "Blackbeat Singer's 'Images' sharp and clear". The Kansas City Star. p. 26. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Gerds, Warren (March 28, 1982). "records". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 98. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Billboard's Top Album Picks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 5, 1981.
  4. ↑ "Pop/Rock Albums, Echoes & Images". The Philadelphia Inquirer. January 10, 1982. p. 152. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 "Disco Business, Disco Mix" (PDF). Billboard. December 19, 1981. p. 59 – via worldradiohistory.com.
  6. ↑ "Billboard Top Single Picks, Behind My Back". Billboard. 14 November 1981.
  7. ↑ Sylvia St. James – Echoes & Images at AllMusic. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  8. ↑ Erickson, Steve (2020-04-03). "Yves Tumor's Latest Outstrips Past Successes – Gay City News". gaycitynews.com. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
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