Positive (Peabo Bryson album)

Positive is a studio album by the American singer Peabo Bryson, released in January 1988 by Elektra Records.^[1]^[2] The album peaked at number 157 on the US Billboard 200 and number 42 on the Billboard R&B albums chart. It was the last album Bryson recorded for Elektra before he briefly returned to Capitol Records.^[3] Positive was supported by the single "Without You", which was also the theme song to Leonard Part 6.^[4]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[3]

The Kingston Whig-Standard wrote that Bryson's "voice flutters and soars, delicate one moment, powerful the next, duelling with the different instruments."^[5] The Washington Post deemed Bryson "a smoothly persuasive soul man, not too pleading, not too aggressive."^[4]

Ron Wynn of AllMusic called Positive "largely undistinguished, although [Bryson] sang with more conviction and got better material and production than on most of his other Elektra albums. He scored another hit with a familiar weapon: the duet. This time his partner was Regina Belle."^[3]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Come on Over Tonight"	Jimmy Scott	Michael J. Powell Sir Gant	3:47
2.	"Without You (Love Theme from Leonard Part 6)" (duet with Regina Belle)	Lamont Dozier	Powell Sir Gant	5:15
3.	"Hurt"	Jimmie Crane Al Jacobs	Powell Sir Gant	3:34
4.	"I Want to Know"	Peabo Bryson	Bryson Dwight W. Watkins	4:28
5.	"Tonight"	Bryson	Bryson Watkins	4:41
6.	"Positive"	Allister Campbell Peter Quigley	Powell Sir Gant	5:02
7.	"When We Need It Bad"	Patrick Henderson Pamela Phillips Oland Tsuyoshi Takayanagi	Powell Sir Gant	4:58
8.	"This Time Around"	Bryson	Bryson Watkins	4:29
9.	"Still Water"	Bryson	Bryson Watkins	4:35
10.	"Crazy Love" (CD-only track)	Garry Glenn Dianne Quander	Powell Sir Gant	4:12

Personnel and credits

Musicians

Peabo Bryson – vocals, keyboards (4, 5, 8, 9), arrangements (4, 5, 8, 9)
Gary Barlough – Synclavier programming (1–3, 6, 7, 10)
Dean Gant – keyboards (1, 7), Synclavier (1–3, 6, 7, 10), synth bass (1, 7), arrangements (1–3, 6, 7, 10), acoustic piano (2), synthesizers (2–6, 10), Moog synth solo (10), BGV arrangements (10)
Vernon Fails – electric piano (2)
George Martin – keyboards (4, 5, 8, 9), computer programming (4, 5, 8, 9)
Dwight W. Watkins – keyboards (4, 5, 8, 9), bass guitar (4, 5, 8, 9), drum computer (4, 5, 8, 9), backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 9), arrangements (4, 5, 8, 9)
Michael J. Powell – guitars (1–3, 6, 10), arrangements (1–3, 6, 10), acoustic guitar (7), electric guitar (7), BGV arrangements (7, 10)
Anthony Jackson – bass (2)
Neil Stubenhaus – bass (3)
Nathan East – bass (10)
Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (1, 7, 10)
Steve Ferrone – drums (2)
Jonathan Moffett – drums (3)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 7, 10)
Brandon Fields – tenor sax solo (1), saxophone solo (6, 10), alto sax solo (7), soprano sax solo (7)
Justo Almario – tenor sax solo (3)
George Del Barrio – string arrangements (2)
Keni Burke – backing vocals (1, 7, 10), BGV arrangements (1, 7)
Brenda Jones Williams – backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7–10)
Shirley Jones – backing vocals (1, 7, 10)
Regina Belle – vocals (2)
Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (2, 6)
Bunny Hull – backing vocals (2, 6)
Marva King – backing vocals (2, 6)
Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (2), BGV arrangements (2)
Valerie Pinkston – backing vocals (2, 6)
Charles Bryson – backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 9)
Myra Walker – backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 9)

Production

Dean Gant – producer (1–3, 6, 7, 10)
Michael J. Powell – producer (1–3, 6, 7, 10)
Peabo Bryson – producer (4, 5, 8, 9)
Dwight W. Watkins – producer (4, 5, 8, 9)
Barney Perkins – engineer (1–3, 6, 7, 10), recording (2–6, 8, 9), mixing (2–6, 8, 9)
Thom Kidd – recording (4, 5, 8, 9)
Greg Townley – additional recording (1, 7, 10)
Tom Wright – additional recording (1, 7, 10), recording (4, 5, 8, 9)
Fred Law – additional recording (2, 3, 6)
Keith Seppenen – additional recording (2, 3, 6)
Milton Chan – assistant engineer (1–3, 6, 7, 10)
Andy Harper – assistant engineer (1, 7, 10)
Elliott Peters – assistant engineer (1–3, 6, 7, 10)
Andrew Spiegelman – assistant engineer (2, 3, 6)
Gerard Smerek – assistant engineer (2, 3, 6)
Barry Leff – assistant engineer (4, 5, 8, 9)
Steve McCormick – assistant engineer (4, 5, 8, 9)
Lewis Padgett – assistant engineer (4, 5, 8, 9)
Bernie Grundman – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
Carol Bobolts – art direction
Gilles Larrain – photography
Timmothy Montgomery – make-up

Chart (1988)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[6]	157
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[7]	42

v t e Peabo Bryson
Discography
Studio albums	Peabo Reaching for the Sky Crosswinds We're the Best of Friends Paradise I Am Love Born to Love Straight from the Heart Take No Prisoners Quiet Storm Positive All My Love Can You Stop the Rain Through the Fire Peace on Earth Unconditional Love Missing You Stand for Love
Live albums	Live & More
Singles	"What You Won't Do for Love" "Let the Feeling Flow" "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" "I Just Came Here to Dance" "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" "Without You" "Show & Tell" "Can You Stop the Rain" "A Whole New World" "By the Time This Night Is Over"

Positive (Peabo Bryson album)

Track listing

Personnel and credits

Charts

References

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