Awakening (Narada Michael Walden album)

Awakening
Studio album by Narada Michael Walden
Released	1979
Recorded	1978–1979
Studio	The Power Station and Electric Lady Studios (New York City, New York) Crystal Sound and Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, California)
Genre	Soul, R&B, disco
Length	40:20
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Narada Michael Walden (all tracks), Patrick Adams (tracks 1-4), Sonny Burke (tracks 5-7), Wayne Henderson (tracks 8-9)
Narada Michael Walden chronology
I Cry, I Smile (1977) Awakening (1979) The Dance of Life (1979)

Awakening is the third full-length studio release from drummer/songwriter/producer Narada Michael Walden. It was the first of two 1979 releases for the artist and featured him (once again) writing all the songs, though he co-produced each track with someone else.

Track listing

• All songs written and arranged by Narada Michael Walden.

1. "Love Me Only" - 6:05
2. "I Don't Want Nobody Else (To Dance with You)" - 4:24
3. "Give Your Love a Chance" - 4:11
4. "They Want the Feeling" - 3:58
5. "Awakening Suite Part I: Childhood-Opening of the Heart" - 3:28
6. "The Awakening" - 4:30
7. "Listen to Me" - 4:54
8. "Full and Satisfied" - 3:35
9. "Will You Ever Know" - 4:59

Personnel

• Narada Michael Walden – lead vocals (1, 4, 6-8), acoustic piano (1, 9), drums, vocals (2, 3, 9), organ (2), "dream" bass (2), tambourine (2), timbales (2), slapstick (2), handclaps (2), glockenspiel (3)
• Clifford Carter – Fender Rhodes (1, 3, 4), Minimoog (1), clavinet (2), Moog bass (3)
• Patrick Adams – synthesizers (1), horn and string arrangements (1, 3), "inner space" effects (2)
• Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (5), Yamaha electric grand piano (6, 7)
• Michael Boddicker – synthesizers (5)
• Reginald "Sonny" Burke – synthesizers (5), acoustic piano (6)
• Bobby Lyle – keyboards (8)
• Ken Mazur – guitars (1, 2, 4), guitar melodies (3)
• Hiram Bullock – guitar solo (1, 4), guitars (2, 3)
• Ray Gomez – lead guitar (5)
• Jay Graydon – guitars (5, 6), lead guitar (7)
• Pat Thrall – guitars (6), rhythm guitar (7)
• Carlos Santana – lead guitar (6)
• Greg Poree – acoustic guitar (7)
• Steve Beckmeier – guitars (8)
• Norbert Sloley – bass (1, 2, 4)
• Keni Burke – bass (5-7)
• Nathaniel Phillips – bass (8, 9)
• Airto Moreira – percussion (6)
• Victor Feldman – vibraphone (7), marimba (8), cabasa (8), temple block (8)
• George Young – alto saxophone (2)
• Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (2, 3)
• Pete Christlieb – flute (9)
• Don Menza – flute (9)
• Wayne Henderson – trombone solo (7)
• Randy Brecker – trumpet (2), horn arrangements (2)
• James Decker – French horn (7, 9)
• David Duke – French horn (7, 9)
• Gayle Levant – harp (9)
• George Del Barrio – orchestra arrangements (6, 9), conductor (6, 7), string arrangements (7)
• Tawatha Agee – backing vocals (1, 4)
• Cheryl Alexander – backing vocals (1, 4)
• Patti Scialfa – backing vocals (4)
• John Bahler – backing vocals (7)
• Alex Brown – backing vocals (7, 8)
• Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (7, 8)
• Carla Vaughn – backing vocals (7, 8)
• Angela Winbush – backing vocals (7)
• Judy Brown – backing vocals (8)

Production

• Narada Michael Walden – producer (1-4), associate producer (5-9)
• Patrick Adams – associate producer (1-4)
• Sonny Burke – producer (5-7)
• Wayne Henderson – producer (8, 9)
• Bob Clearmountain – recording (1-4), mixing (1-4, 9)
• Michael Frondelli – vocal recording (1, 4)
• Jimmy Schfflett – recording (5-7)
• Allen Sides – mixing (5, 7, 8), recording (6, 8, 9)
• Dennis King – mastering at Atlantic Studios (New York, NY)
• Norman Seeff – cover photography
• David Henderson – inner sleeve photography
• Gregory Digiovine – management

External links

• Allmusic review
• Awakening at Discogs.com