(Funk, Soul, Pop Music) [WEB] Narada Michael Walden - I Cry, I Smile - 1977, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Sometimes an artist whose gone solo from a group setting begins their career in the same style and stay there-other times they move on after such an attempt. Such as the case with 'I Cry I Smile'.It was released the year after his debut Garden of Love Light.Wheras that debut had a very strong (if somewhat sweetend) jazz-rock fusion approch with a lot of thudding drums and improvisation this recording is Narada focusing strong on the pop/R&B side of his nature. Sometimes some funk,sometimes rock influences but mostly this features a lot of gentle,soulful lite pop taken at medium tempos-certainly that is the case with "I Need Your Love","I Remember" and the album closer "So Long". The presense of Herbie Mann certainly adds his signiture stylings on flute to the airy quality of this music. As far as the other songs go the shuffling "Better Man" is certainly a pleasant listen. Now "Soul Bird" is one of Narada's little masterpieces-a soulfully funky journey through his own spiritual meditations (a common theme to be explored later in Narada's music) as he "waits for his soul to set him free". "Oneness-Cry" features a spiraling guitar solo very much in the Carlos Santana style and is the only instrumental here,and also the only song with a strong fusion reference. Narada decides to kick back with Hiram Bullock in tow for the chunky,dance worthy funk of "Mango Bop",very much in the The Commodores "The Bump" and The Time's "The Walk" school of "funk dance-style" songs. For one minute and 18 seconds we are taken through a pretty orchestral moment on "Rainbow-Sky" after which the title track appears. It's easily the centerpiece of this album-a jazzy,pop,R&B extravaganza in the same spirit as the title track of his debut-again the lyrics are inspired by Sri Chinmoy. Narada then turns to a fun take on spiritual ecstacy on the carnvialesque funky soul of "Heaven's Just A Step Ahead". So when we all come right down to it 'I Cry I Smile' showcases a sound never heard before or again from Narada-while the style presented here did impact upon him in the future,the lightness and airiness would be replaced by a more torrid funk and dance based sound as the years progressed. So taken apart this and his debut almost find Narada Michael Walden is too very distinct musical periods,as well as musical contrasts. Along with Narada's Awakening from 1979 and Nature of Things from 1985 this album says a lot of about Narada'a musical,personal and spiritual centers and how they all intermingle to create the main self portrait of this wonderful and distinctive talent.

Backing Vocals – Cheryl Alexander, Christine Faith, Ellen Deleston
Conductor, Orchestrated By – Michael Gibbs
Flute, Reeds – Herbie Mann, Norma Jean Bell
Guitar – Hiram Bullock, Raymond Gomez
Keyboards – Cliff Carter
Percussion – Rafael Cruz, Sammy Figueroa
Producer, Composed By, Arranged By – Narada Michael Walden
Vocals, Keyboards, Drums – Narada Michael Walden