| Just Be My Lady | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Larry Graham | ||||
| Released | 1981 | |||
| Studio | The Music Machine, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | R&B, funk | |||
| Label | Warner | |||
| Producer | Larry Graham | |||
| Larry Graham chronology | ||||
| ||||
Just Be My Lady is an album by the American R&B and funk musician Larry Graham, released in 1981. Graham re-recorded the title track for his 1998 album, GCS 2000.
The album peaked at No. 46 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart. It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Top Black Albums chart.
Production
Graham continued to move away from funk music, putting more emphasis on his R&B ballads. He produced the album and played almost all of the instruments. "Guess Who" is a cover of the Jesse Belvin song.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| The New Rolling Stone Record Guide | |
The Washington Informer thought that "Graham has established himself as a vocal personality that rivals, perhaps overshadows, his instrumental personality—one drips with tenderness while the other booms furiously." Stereo Review called the album "a set of slow ballads oozed out in Lou Rawls-like low gear." The Bangor Daily News determined that "what traces of his old R&B background exist have been pasteurized and homogenized."
AllMusic wrote that "some selections are shaded with Graham's doo wop and gospel influence, and all have much appeal." Dave Marsh, in The New Rolling Stone Record Guide, dismissed Graham as "one of those lugubriously philosophizing soul crooners."
Track listing
All tracks are written by Larry Graham; except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Just Be My Lady" | 4:24 | |
| 2. | "Loving You Is Beautiful" | 4:29 | |
| 3. | "Guess Who" | Jesse Belvin, Jo Ann Belvin | 4:58 |
| 4. | "Our Love Keeps Growing Strong" | 4:14 | |
| 5. | "Can't Nobody Take Your Place" | 4:40 | |
| 6. | "No Place Like Home" | 3:40 | |
| 7. | "Baby, You Are My Sunshine" | 4:06 | |
| 8. | "I Just Love You" | 3:38 | |
| 9. | "Feels Like Love" | 3:26 | |
| 10. | "Remember When" | 4:07 |
Personnel
- Larry Graham - lead and backing vocals, bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, arrangements
- Wilton Rabb - guitar, backing vocals
- Eric Daniels - keyboards, backing vocals
- Noel Closson - drums on "Our Love Keeps Growing Strong", "Our Love Keeps Growing Strong" and "Feels Like Love"
- Carroll Stephens - strings
- Technical
- Tina Graham - production assistance, backing vocals
References
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 849.
- "Larry Graham Biography & History". AllMusic.
- Gregory, Hugh (1995). Soul Music A-Z. Da Capo Press. p. 123.
- Jones, Steve (2 Feb 1999). "R&B: Graham Central Station GCS 2000". USA Today. p. 4D.
- "Larry Graham". Billboard.
- Thompson, Dave (August 14, 2001). Funk. Backbeat Books. ISBN 9780879306298 – via Google Books.
- "Balladeering Graham Thanks Fans with Contest". Jet. Vol. 60, no. 22. Aug 13, 1981. p. 18.
- The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. Fireside Books. 1995. pp. 410–411.
- ^ Albertston, Chris (December 1981). "Larry Graham: Just Be My Lady". Stereo Review. Vol. 46, no. 12. pp. 85–86.
- ^ "Just Be My Lady". AllMusic.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1983. p. 203.
- Brower, W. A. (Oct 12, 1983). "Review: Graham at His Best". The Washington Informer. No. 51. p. 14.
- Bright, David (5 Sep 1981). "First Impressions". ME. Bangor Daily News. p. 57.