Bobby Caldwell (album)
| Bobby Caldwell | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
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.
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]
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
| Year | Single | Chart positions[14] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
US | US | ||
| 1979 | "What You Won't Do for Love" | 9 | 6 | 10 | 10 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (RIAJ)[15] | Gold | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[16] | 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 |
References
- ^ a b c DiBella, M.F. "What You Won't Do for Love". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2001). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Albums 1955-2001. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 122. ISBN 0898201470. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B albums, 1965-1998. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 28. ISBN 0-8982-0134-9. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Joel Whitburn's top pop singles 1955-2002. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 100. ISBN 0-89820-155-1. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ Downey, Pat (1994). Cash box pop singles charts, 1950-1993. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited. pp. 46–47. ISBN 1-56308-316-7.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2000). Joel Whitburn presents top R & B singles, 1942-1999. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 62. ISBN 0-8982-0136-5. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961-2006. Menomonee Falls, Wis: Record Research. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-8982-0169-7.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (2 ed.). Muze Press. p. 888. ISBN 1-5615-9237-4. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Image 0123a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
- ^ "Bobby Caldwell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ "Bobby Caldwell Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1979". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1979". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ "Bobby Caldwell US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ Heckman, Don (October 15, 1992). "Caldwell Finds Bright Places Out of Spotlight : Pop: While his popularity is greater overseas, the singer-songwriter, who performs in Anaheim, has plenty to keep him busy--including twins". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
- ^ Griffin, Marc (March 15, 2023). "Bobby Caldwell, Soul Music Legend, Dead At 71". Vibe. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
External links
- Bobby Caldwell: Bobby Caldwell at Discogs (list of releases)