Invitation (Expanded) by Norman Connors - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

By the late '70s, Connors had gained a new audience that was perhaps unfamiliar with his earlier jazz efforts like Dark of Light and Love From the Sun. Later albums like Saturday Night Special, You Are My Starship, and Romantic Journey had Connors putting R&B in the mix. This 1979 album is the follow-up to the classic This Is Your Life. While that effort seemed to attain a good mix of intelligent R&B and jazz, Invitation finds the formula a little diluted. This does start off on a good foot. The first track "Your Love Is My Ecstasy" features spirited vocals by Al Johnson and great drumming. Ada Dyer, who's also known as Miss Adaritha, handles the rest of the lead vocals. The ballads "Handle Me Gently" and the title track are good but lack a certain earthiness and charm inherent in Connors' best work. In fact, Invitation seems to be hampered by lack of material and often comes off a little uninspired. "Disco Land" is the biggest misstep here. The track finds Connors jumping on the bandwagon a little too late and with a hackneyed production to boot. The instrumental "I Have a Dream" is better suited for Connors and features beautiful trumpet and flügelhorn solos from Eddie Henderson. The meditative "Beijo Partido" has good soprano sax work from Starship Orchestra member Ralph "Buzzy" Jones. While Invitation is too spotty to be called a classic, his fans will no doubt enjoy a few of the better tracks.
© Jason Elias /TiVo

1. Your Love

by Norman Connors

Primary Artist: Norman Connors; Main Performer
Composer: Josef Powell
Art Tosey
Melvin Ragin; Composer
Performer: Norman Connors; Performer
Producer: Norman Connors; Production

2. Handle Me Gently

by Norman Connors

Primary Artist: Norman Connors; Main Performer
Composer: Shirley Jones
Brenda Jones
Valorie Jones
Mckinley Jackson; Composer
Performer: Norman Connors; Performer
Producer: Norman Connors; Production

3. Be There in the Morning

by Norman Connors

Primary Artist: Norman Connors; Main Performer
Composer: Renee Geyer
Mel Logan; Composer
Performer: Norman Connors; Performer
Producer: Norman Connors; Production

4. Invitation

by Norman Connors

Primary Artist: Norman Connors; Main Performer
Composer: Paul Wilson; Composer
Performer: Norman Connors; Performer
Producer: Norman Connors; Production

5. Together

by Norman Connors

Primary Artist: Norman Connors; Main Performer
Composer: Keithen Carter
Alice Sanderson
Keith Echols; Composer
Performer: Norman Connors; Performer
Producer: Norman Connors; Production

6. Disco Land

by Norman Connors

Primary Artist: Norman Connors; Main Performer
Composer: Mckinley Jackson
Melvin Ragin; Composer
Performer: Norman Connors; Performer
Producer: Norman Connors; Production

7. I Have a Dream

by Norman Connors

Primary Artist: Norman Connors; Main Performer
Composer: Herbie Hancock; Composer
Performer: Norman Connors; Performer
Producer: Norman Connors; Production

8. Beijo Patrido

by Norman Connors

Primary Artist: Norman Connors; Main Performer
Composer: Toninho Horta; Composer
Performer: Norman Connors; Performer
Producer: Norman Connors; Production

9. Kigston

by Norman Connors

Primary Artist: Norman Connors; Main Performer
Composer: Marion Meadows
Jacques Burvick; Composer
Performer: Norman Connors; Performer
Producer: Norman Connors; Production

10. Your Love (7" Version)

by Norman Connors

Primary Artist: Norman Connors; Main Performer
Composer: Josef Powell
Art Tosey
Melvin Ragin; Composer
Performer: Norman Connors; Performer
Producer: Norman Connors; Production

11. She's Gone (7" Version)

by Norman Connors

Primary Artist: Norman Connors; Main Performer
Composer: Nigel Martinez; Composer
Performer: Norman Connors; Performer
Producer: Norman Connors; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

11 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

48 minutes and 58 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1425x1425 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

Studio Quality (Hi-Res)

24bit / 96 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Hi-Res/Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

3/11 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

2/11 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Quiet Storm, Crossover Jazz, Fusion

Label

Legacy Recordings

Music Distribution Service

SME Mora Qualitas

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Aug 21, 2014

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

886444333801