Debra Laws ''Very Special''

Debra Laws

''Very Special''
( LP Elektra Records, 1981 )
Catalog # 6E-300

Tracklisting & Personnel:
A1 On My Own 4:19
Backing Vocals - Debra Laws
Written-by, Saxophone [Soprano] - Ronnie Laws
A2 Meant For You 3:59
Backing Vocals - Arnold McCuller , David Lasley
Written-By - David Lesley , Roxanne Joy Seeman
A3 Very Special 4:28
Bass - Alex Smith
Drums - Darryl Clifton
Guitar [Rhythm] - Melvin Robinson
Guitar [Solo] - Arthur Adams
Piano - Michael Robinson
Saxophone [Alto] - Ronnie Laws
Strings - William Jeffery
Written-By - Lisa Peters , William Jeffery
A4 Be Yourself 5:00
Drums - Raymond Pounds
Flute [Alto], Flute [Solo] - Hubert Laws
Saxophone [Alto], Flute [Alto] - Ronnie Laws
Written-By - Debra Laws , Nathan East
B1 Long As We're Together 4:21
Backing Vocals - Debra Laws , Eloise Laws
Guitar [Solo] - Pat Kelly
Written-By - Ronnie Laws
B2 Your Love 3:42
Bass - Welton Gite
Drums - Raymond Pounds
Written-By - Tommy Mitchell
B3 How Long 4:02
Backing Vocals - Alexandra Brown , Stephanie Hayes
Guitar - Arthur Adams
Written-By - Zane Grey / Len Ron Henks
B4 All The Things I Love 3:55
Written-By - David Lasley , Roxanne Joy Seeman

Credits:
Arranged By [Strings, Horns] - Frank Kavelin
Backing Vocals - Gwen Gwenchee Matthews (tracks: A2, A4, B2, B3, B4) ,
Marlena Jeter (tracks: A2, A4, B2, B3, B4)
Bass - Nathan East (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B1, B3, B4)
Drums - Leon Ndugu Chancler (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B3)
Engineer - Gerry E. Brown
Guitar - Roland Bautista (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B1, B2, B4)
Piano - Bobby Lyle (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B1 to B4)
Producer - Hubert Laws , Ronnie Laws
Synthesizer, Arranged By [Arp] - Larry Dunn (tracks: A1, A4, B1, B2, B4)
Vocals - Debra Laws

Notes:
Format:Vinyl, LP
Country:US
Released:1981

Biography:
As the sister of noted R&B and jazz notables Hubert Laws, Eloise Laws, and Ronnie Laws (of '70s powerhouse Earth Wind and Fire), Debra Laws was a part of a very musical family. As a vocalist she has performed and collaborated with a veritable who's who of jazz, funk, and R&B segments of the recording industry. As a soloist she debuted on Elektra Records with Very Special in 1981 which was produced by her brothers Ronnie and Hubert Laws. Even though the title track to Very Special received a massive amount of airplay (and surprisingly continued to do so) the record didn't lead to as successful of a solo career as Elektra had hoped, and it was her first and only solo record with them. Her career as a vocalist continued through the '80s and '90s, leading to a handful of performances on world-class concert halls and at some of the most internationally renowned jazz festivals. Equally impressive are her numerous credits with truly class acts of jazz and R&B including Melvin Robinson, Larry Dunn, Fred White, Garnett Brown, Michael Martin, Snooky Young, Larry Williams, Maurice Spears, Alan Rubin, Bobby Vega, Harvey Mason, and Patrick Kelly. In addition to her musical life, she has also worked as an actor on Broadway and on a series of other stage and television productions including appearances on daytime television's General Hospital.
By Nate Cavalieri (AMG)

Covers here.

By Andy