Peabo Bryson Albums (16)
What The Critics Say
Peabo Bryson's final album for Elektra was largely undistinguished, although he sang with more conviction and got better material and production than on most of his other Elektra albums. He scored another hit with a familiar weapon: the duet. This time his partner was Regina Belle, with whom he would enjoy more success on another soundtrack project. Their single "Without You" wasn't an instant hit, but eventually proved the best thing about the flop film Leonard, Pt. 6. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
By calling this comeback album Missing You, veteran soul balladeer Peabo Bryson turns the tables on those who, he hopes, have been missing him. His 20th album, it is his first non-holiday studio recording of new material in eight years, since Private Music took Unconditional Love to number 75 in Billboard's R&B chart in 1999. The 56-year-old has not been inactive by any means since then, but he has not interested the major labels, which moved on to younger, hipper lovermen. The first question with a new album for such a performer is to what extent he may have felt it necessary to accommodate himself to new styles, but that question is to some extent answered in advance by noting that he chose to align himself with Peak Records, a label known for smooth jazz. Missing You is not without its contemporary touches, notably in the computer-generated rhythm tracks. But Bryson is not really out to compete with Usher and R. Kelly for the hearts of teenagers here. There are no guest rappers, and the hip-hop elements are kept to a minimum; Missing You is an album intended primarily for Bryson's existing fan base and secondarily for smooth jazz fans. Presumably, there are quite a few of the former who will recall the 45 songs Bryson placed in the R&B singles charts between 1976 and 1993. They are likely to revel in the familiar combination of proclamations of undying love like "Count on Me" and "I Promise I Do" and laments of lost love like "Missing You" and "Don't Make Me Cry." Smooth jazz fans, meanwhile, will welcome the guest appearances by Boney James ("Don't Make Me Cry"), Norman Brown ("10,000 Reasons"), and Paul Taylor (a cover of Angela Bofill's "I Try"). Other notable instrumentalists are producer Barry J. Eastmond, who plays piano on the title song, and Bryson himself, who handles a lead acoustic guitar part on "To Love About." This is material the singer will have no problem integrating into a stage act dominated by his greatest hits, and it should be welcomed by those who enjoyed his earlier work. It may have been a long time between albums, but musically Bryson acts as though no time at all has passed. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
'Christmas with You'
Release Date 10/4/2005
Tracks 11
Label Time Life
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Unconditional Love'
Release Date 4/27/1999
Tracks 13
Label Private Music
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Peabo Bryson carved a lucrative recording/entertaining career as one of the leading exponents of sophisticated or mature R&B. He still exudes a highbrow persona on this late-'90s CD, excelling on "Did You Ever Know," "Ain't No Body" (the old Rufus song), the umpteenth rendition of Leon Russell's "A Song for You," "The Gift" (a duet with Roberta Flack), and "Light the World," with Deborah Gibson. Pure Peabo, but it carbons previous albums and is only essential to a completist. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Peabo Bryson's Peace on Earth features holiday standards ranging from "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "O Holy Night" to "The Christmas Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Also included is a rendition of Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas." ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Peabo Bryson switched labels in 1989, returning to Capitol, the place where he'd enjoyed his greatest success in the late '70s and early '80s. The results were both immediate and satisfying. This album was not only one of his strongest in many years, but such songs as "Show and Tell" and "Palm of Your Hand" got widespread urban contemporary airplay, and D'Atra Hicks got a career boost from doing a duet with Bryson on the album. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
A prototype album for late-'80s urban contemporary music. Bryson made some over-produced, effectively sung ballads and a few decent up-tempo tracks, and the results were disappointing but mildly successful. The album did get extensive publicity and support, but there were no hits. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
In the wake of his ascension into the pop Top Ten with the ballad "If Ever You're in My Arms Again," Peabo Bryson might have been expected to try to consolidate that success with his follow-up record. And indeed, Take No Prisoners, produced by such crossover veterans as Arif Mardin and Tommy LiPuma and featuring such pop songwriters as Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, and Tom Snow, may have seemed like a try for that. But Elektra led off its singles releases with the light, up-tempo title track, and followed with another, "There's Nothin' out There," apparently in a move to solidify Bryson's R&B base. Neither of those songs found much success, however, and the potential crossover ballads, such as "Love Always Finds a Way" and "She's Over Me," never got off side two and onto the airwaves. As a result, the album represented a missed opportunity for Bryson, even though he sang with his usual assurance, the material was of good quality, and the production was sympathetic. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
'Straight from the Heart'
Release Date 1/1/1984
Tracks 8
Label Elektra
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
A good mix of slow and uptempo tunes, including the definitive Bryson ballad, "If Ever You're in My Arms Again." ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
