DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER - Just Family (1978-2002) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Neither 1977's Just Family nor 1979's Bad for Me, the two albums combined for this Collectables release, can be considered Dee Dee Bridgewater's best work, but fans of mature, mid- to late-'70s R&B should find them moderately appealing. Though Bridgewater wouldn't really hit her stride until her return to jazz in the '90s, she was more than competent when it came to fitting in with the likes of Phyllis Hyman, Patrice Rushen, Minnie Riperton, and Patti Austin. Confoundingly, her only two chart hits -- the title tracks -- are contained here, while "Children Are the Spirit (Of the World)," "Sweet Rain," "Open Up Your Eyes," and "Don't Say It (If You Don't Mean It)" would have to be included on an anthology of her first five albums. Just Family and Bad for Me would have benefited from a track or two with the contagious energy heard on her version of Allen Toussaint's "It Ain't Easy" (found on her self-titled 1976 album for Atlantic), along with a couple sweeter ballads. by Andy Kellman
Tracklist :
1    Just Family 5:12
Bass – Stanley Clarke
Drums – Ndugu Leon Chancelor
Guitar – Raymond Gomez
Keyboards – George Duke
Music By – Stanley Clarke
Percussion – Airto Moreira
Vocals – Dee Dee Bridgewater
Words By – Gilbert Moses, Richard Duncan
2    Maybe Today 6:53
Bass – Ken Wild
Drums – Norman Farrington
Guitar – David T. Walker
Keyboards – Bobby Lyle
Vocals – Dee Dee Bridgewater
Words By, Music By – Gilbert Moses
3    Children Are The Spirit (Of The World) 3:04
Bass – Stanley Clarke
Drums – Ndugu Leon Chancelor
Guitar – Raymond Gomez
Keyboards – George Duke
Music By – George Duke, Leon Ndugu Chancler, Ndugu Leon Chancelor, Raymond Gomez, Stanley Clarke
Percussion – Airto Moreira
Vocals – Dee Dee Bridgewater
Words By – Gilbert Moses
4    Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 4:53
Bass – Alphonso Johnson
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Raymond Gomez
Keyboards – Ronnie Foster
Percussion – Airto Moreira
Violin – Scarlet Rivera
Vocals – Dee Dee Bridgewater
Words By, Music By – Bernie Taupin, Elton John
5    Sweet Rain 3:03
Bass – Alphonso Johnson
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Raymond Gomez
Keyboards – Ronnie Foster
Music By – John Barnes
Percussion – Airto Moreira
Vocals – Dee Dee Bridgewater
Words By – John Barnes, Sharon Barnes
6    Open Up Your Eyes 5:28
Bass – Stanley Clarke
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Raymond Gomez
Keyboards – Ronnie Foster
Percussion – Airto Moreira
Vocals – Dee Dee Bridgewater
Words By, Music By – Ronnie Foster
7    Night Moves 3:12
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Norman Farrington
Keyboards – Bobby Lyle
Music By – Michael Small
Vocals – Dee Dee Bridgewater
Words By – Michael Franks
8    Thank The Day
Bass – Ken Wild
Drums – Norman Farrington
Guitar – David T. Walker
Keyboards – Bobby Lyle
Strings [Ensemble] – Stanley Clarke
Vocals – Dee Dee Bridgewater
Words By, Music By – Gilbert Moses
9    Melody Maker 2:22
Keyboards – Chick Corea
Percussion – Airto Moreira
Vocals – Dee Dee Bridgewater
Words By, Music By – William Allen