Fourplay (Fourplay album)

Fourplay
Fourplay
Studio album by Fourplay
Released	September 17, 1991
Recorded	1990–1991
Studio	Ocean Way Recording and Sunset Sound (Hollywood, California); Pyramid Studios (Los Angeles, California); Starlight Studios (Malibu, California);
Genre	Jazz
Length	62:38
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Fourplay
Fourplay chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]

Fourplay is the debut album by the American smooth jazz group Fourplay released in 1991 on Warner Bros. records. The album went to number 1^[2] on the Contemporary Jazz charts, number 16^[3] on the R&B charts and number 97^[4] on the US Billboard 200. As an album, Fourplay has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.^[5]

Overview

With this debut LP Fourplay's original lineup consisted of keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Lee Ritenour, bassist Nathan East and drummer Harvey Mason.^[1]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bali Run"	Lee Ritenour, Bob James	5:32
2.	"101 Eastbound"	Nathan East, Marcel East	5:57
3.	"Foreplay"	Lee Ritenour	5:26
4.	"Moonjogger"	Bob James	6:16
5.	"Max-O-Man"	Harvey Mason, Sr., Michael Lang	5:33
6.	"After the Dance" (featuring El DeBarge)	Marvin Gaye, Arthur Ross, Leon Ware	6:05
7.	"Quadrille"	Bob James	5:43
8.	"Midnight Stroll"	Harvey Mason, Sr.	4:44
9.	"October Morning"	Lee Ritenour	5:01
10.	"Wish You Were Here"	Lee Ritenour	6:11
11.	"Rain Forest"	Bob James	6:05

Personnel

Fourplay

Bob James – Yamaha C7 MIDI grand piano, keyboards, synthesizers, programming
Lee Ritenour – electric guitars, classical guitars, guitar synthesizer
Nathan East – 5-string bass, 6-string bass, backing vocals (6)
Harvey Mason – drums

Additional musicians

Harvey Mason Jr. – synthesizer programming, computer programming
El DeBarge – lead and backing vocals (6)
Darryl DeBarge – backing vocals (6)
Patti LaBelle – backing vocals (6), BGV arrangements (6)
Philip Bailey – backing vocals (11)

Production

Bob James – executive producer
Fourplay – producers
Don Murray – recording, mixing
Geoff Gillette – additional recording
Khaliq Glover – additional recording
Femi Jiya – additional recording
Mike Kloster – assistant engineer
Paul May – assistant engineer
Clif Norrell – assistant engineer
Harvey Mason Jr. – technical assistance
Robert Vosgien – digital editing
Wally Traugott – mastering at Capitol Mastering (Hollywood, California).
Debra Johnson – production coordinator
Kim Champagne – art direction
Leslie Wintner – design
Stuart Watson – photography
O'Brien and Schridde – band photography

Track information and credits adapted from AllMusic^[1]^[6]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991–1992)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[7]	97
US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums (Billboard)^[8]	1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[9]	16

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)	Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[10]	67

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Yanow, Scott. Fourplay - Fourplay at AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
^ "Fourplay (Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard. 25 October 1991. Retrieved 14 February 2020.^{[dead link]}
^ "Billboard (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard. 3 January 1992. Retrieved 14 February 2020.^{[dead link]}
^ "Billboard 200". billboard.com. Billboard. 13 December 1991. Retrieved 14 February 2020.^{[dead link]}
^ "Fourplay: Fourplay". RIAA. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
^ "Fourplay - Fourplay". allmusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
^ "Fourplay, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
^ "Fourplay, JCR". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
^ "Fourplay, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.

[AM1-1] Yanow, Scott. Fourplay - Fourplay at AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2022.

[BB1-2] "Fourplay (Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard. 25 October 1991. Retrieved 14 February 2020.^{[dead link]}

[BB2-3] "Billboard (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard. 3 January 1992. Retrieved 14 February 2020.^{[dead link]}

[BB3-4] "Billboard 200". billboard.com. Billboard. 13 December 1991. Retrieved 14 February 2020.^{[dead link]}

[5] "Fourplay: Fourplay". RIAA. Retrieved 2023-07-02.

[AM2-6] "Fourplay - Fourplay". allmusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2020.

[7] "Fourplay, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.

[8] "Fourplay, JCR". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.

[9] "Fourplay, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.

[10] "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.

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v t e Fourplay
Bob James Nathan East Harvey Mason Chuck Loeb Lee Ritenour Larry Carlton
Studio albums	Fourplay Between the Sheets Elixir 4 Snowbound Yes, Please! Heartfelt Journey X Energy Let's Touch the Sky Esprit De Four
Compilations	The Best of Fourplay

v t e Lee Ritenour
Studio albums	First Course Gentle Thoughts Captain Fingers Sugar Loaf Express Friendship The Captain's Journey Rio Feel the Night Earth Run Portrait Festival This Is Love Rit's House Stolen Moments Collection Wes Bound
with Brass Fever	Brass Fever Time Is Running Out
with Dizzy Gillespie	Free Ride
with Alphonse Mouzon	Mind Transplant The Man Incognito
with Dave Grusin	Harlequin Two Worlds
with Lalo Schifrin	Rollercoaster
with Fourplay	Fourplay Between the Sheets Elixir The Best of Fourplay