Pizzazz

Pizzazz is the fifth album by American singer Patrice Rushen.

For the 1970s magazine, see Pizzazz (magazine).
Pizzazz
Studio album by
Patrice Rushen
ReleasedOctober 23, 1979
Recorded1978–1979
StudioConway Recording Studios
(Hollywood, California)
GenreR&B, soul jazz, jazz funk
Length38:44
LabelElektra
Producer
Patrice Rushen chronology
Patrice
(1978)		 Pizzazz
(1979)		 Let There Be Funk: The Best of Patrice Rushen
(1980)

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]

While she was attacked for leaving the jazz genre, Rushen was able to get a good fan base with an R&B/Pop audience. Rushen's profile in the R&B world continued to increase with Pizzazz, her second album for Elektra Records and fifth overall.

Pizzazz was her second highest-charting album, reaching #39 in 1979. It features the hit single "Haven't You Heard." The single soared to the top of R&B radio playlists and is among Rushen's biggest hits.

With this album Rushen drew on such influences as Earth, Wind & Fire, Minnie Riperton, Stevie Wonder, and The Emotions. Rushen was able get the R&B lover's attention with songs such as the funky opener "Let the Music Take Me," the soulful ballad "Settle for My Love," and the perky "Keepin' Faith in Love." Pizzazz received plenty of attacks from jazz critics, who accused Rushen of being a traitor, but from an R&B/Pop perspective the album is considered one of Rushen's most rewarding and essential albums.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Let the Music Take Me"
  • Patrice Rushen
  • Sheree Brown
6:51
2."Keepin' Faith in Love"
  • P. Rushen
  • Angela Rushen
4:08
3."Settle for My Love"
5:15
4."Message in the Music"P. Rushen3:01
5."Haven't You Heard"
  • P. Rushen
  • Charles Mims Jr.
  • Washington
  • Brown
6:45
6."Givin' It Up is Givin' Up"
  • P. Rushen
  • Washington
  • A. Rushen
4:59
7."Call On Me"
  • P. Rushen
  • A. Rushen
  • Brown
6:48
8."Reprise (Message in the Music)"P. Rushen0:57

Personnel
  • Patrice Rushen – lead vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7), backing vocals (1-7), electric piano (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7), synth solo (1), percussion (1, 3, 5, 6, 7), acoustic piano (2, 4, 5, 7, 8), drums (3, 6), tambourine (4, 8), clavinet (6); horn, string and vocal arrangements
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (1, 4, 8)
  • Marlo Henderson – guitar (1, 2, 7)
  • Al McKay – guitar (2)
  • Wah Wah Watson – guitar (4, 6, 8), backing vocals (6)
  • Wali Ali – guitar (5, 7)
  • Freddie Washington – bass (1-8), acoustic guitar (3), drums (6), percussion (6)
  • Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums (1, 4, 8)
  • James Gadson – drums (2)
  • Melvin Webb – congas (1), drums (5, 7)
  • Bill Summers – percussion (2)
  • Lynn Davis – backing vocals (1, 3-8)
  • Roy Galloway – backing vocals (1, 3, 6, 7)
  • Josie James – backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Pauline Wilson – backing vocals (2)
  • Syreeta Wright – backing vocals (2)
  • Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (4, 6, 8)
  • D. J. Rogers – lead vocals (6)

Handclaps

  • Tony Lewis
  • Charles Mims Jr.
  • Phil Moores
  • Chip Orlando
  • Larry Robinson
  • Patrice Rushen
  • Freddie Washington

Horns / Horn Contractors

Strings

  • Charles Veal Jr. – concertmaster (1, 3-8)
  • Gerald Vinci – concertmaster (2)
  • Rosemary McLean – contractor
  • Marilyn Baker, Harry Bluestone, Ronald Cooper, Endre Granat, William Henderson, Carl LaMagna, Robert Lipsett, Nils Oliver, Jerome Reisler, Art Royval, Terudo Shoenbrun, Robert Sushell, Barbara Thomason, Charles Veal Jr. and Kenneth Yerke – string performers

Production
  • Patrice Rushen – producer, executive producer
  • Reggie Andrews – producer
  • Charles Mims Jr. – producer
  • Peter Chaikin – engineer
  • Chris Gordon – assistant engineer
  • Phil Moores – assistant engineer
  • Chip Orlando – assistant engineer
  • F. Byron Clark – remixing
  • Chris Bellman – mastering
  • Allen Zentz Mastering (San Clemente, California) – mastering location
  • Ron Coro – art direction, design
  • Norman Seeff – front cover and sleeve photography
  • Moshe Brakha – back cover photography

Charts
Chart (1980) Peak
position
Billboard Pop Albums[2] 39
Billboard Top Soul Albums[2] 11
Billboard Top Jazz Albums[2] 2

Singles
Year Single Chart positions[3]
US
Pop		 US
R&B		 US
Dance
1980 "Givin' It Up Is Givin' Up" - 47 -
"Haven't You Heard" 42 7 5
"Let The Music Take Me" - 50 -

References
  1. Kellman, Andy. Patrice Rushen: Pizzazz > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 04 September 2011.
  2. "Patrice Rushen US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
  3. "Patrice Rushen US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
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