Bobby Caldwell (album)
1978 studio album by Bobby Caldwell
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Bobby Caldwell (reissued on CD as What You Won't Do for Love) is the debut album by singer and songwriter Bobby Caldwell. The album was released in 1978 on the Clouds imprint of TK Records.
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| Bobby Caldwell | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 1978 | |||
| Studio | TK (Hialeah, FL) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 34:08 | |||
| Label | TK/CBS | |||
| Producer | Ann Holloway, Marsha Radcliffe, George "Chocolate" Perry | |||
| Bobby Caldwell chronology | ||||
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The album debuted on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart in the issue dated November 18, 1978, and remained on the chart for 31 weeks, peaking at number 21.[2] it also debuted on the Billboard Soul LP's chart, in the issue dated November 25, 1978, and remained on the chart for 28 weeks, peaking at number seven.[3]
The single "What You Won't Do for Love" debuted on the Hot 100 on December 23, 1978, spending three weeks at number nine during a 20-week run,[4]number ten on the Cash Box singles chart, in a 19-week run on the chart,[5] number six on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles during its 23-week run.[6] and number ten on the Billboard Easy Listening chart during its 16-week run.[7]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [8] |
M.F. DiBella of AllMusic notes "While a few of the compositions echo the dying grip of disco and some of Caldwell's vocal arrangements sound more like a hipper version of Tony Bennett ("Can't Say Goodbye"), the crooner does possess the pipes to carry the offering. Caldwell even tries his hand at the experimental on the short but sweet instrumental "Kalimba Song." Time will likely render much of Bobby Caldwell disposable, but at the album's best, the songs do carry a singular sound and contain the power to place themselves in a time period, which may just be good enough for lovers.[1]
Billboard notes that "This album is an excellent showcase for Callwell to display his multi-talents, in addition to handling the smooth vocals."[9]
Cashbox stated that "The majority of the album's songs display a propelling disco beat, but Caldwell is able to inject an imaginative, expressive lyrical texture through his insightful com- positions and Stevie Wonder -styled voice."[10]
Record World stated that the album showed "Bobby's style and format reaches all ends of the spectrum and back."[11]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Bobby Caldwell, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Special to Me" |
| 3:31 |
| 2. | "My Flame" | 4:12 | |
| 3. | "Love Won't Wait" | 4:08 | |
| 4. | "Can't Say Goodbye" |
| 5:03 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Come to Me" |
| 2:52 |
| 2. | "What You Won't Do for Love" |
| 4:46 |
| 3. | "Kalimba Song" | 1:19 | |
| 4. | "Take Me Back to Then" | 3:30 | |
| 5. | "Down for the Third Time" | 4:48 | |
| Total length: | 34:08 | ||
Personnel
Musicians
- Bobby Caldwell – lead vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, guitars, bass
- Ed Green, Joe Galdo, Harold Seay – drums
- George "Chocolate" Perry, Richie Valesquez – bass
- Alfons Kettner – guitar
- Steve Mealy – guitar
- Benny Latimore – keyboards
- Mike Lewis – horns and strings arrangement
Production
- Ann Holloway – producer
- Marsha Radcliffe – producer (on "Special to Me" and "My Flame")
- George "Chocolate" Perry – producer (on "Can't Say Goodbye")
- Henry Marx – personal management
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Singles
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (RIAJ)[18] | Gold | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[19] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1978 | LP, cassette, 8-track | CCL 8804 | ||
| Canada |
|
LP, cassette | PTK 92032 | ||
| Worldwide | TKR 83362 | ||||
| Japan | 2AP 1354 | ||||
| 1988 |
|
CD, LP | P28P-25083, 18MM 0668 | ||
| 2004–2005 | Victor | CD | VICP-62941, VICP-63191 | ||
| Worldwide | 2010s |
|
Streaming | ||