The late, great Maurice White (1941-2016) and David Foster with lyricist Allee Willis co-wrote Jennifer Holliday’s 1983 hit, “I Am Love.” That gorgeous ballad was the first single off Ms. Holliday’s debut Feel My Soul album which was produced by the Earth, Wind & Fire maestro. “I Am Love” reached #2 on the R&B charts and crossed over to #49 on Billboard’s Hot 100. That wondrous ballad was a past Song of the Week and its review can still be read in the archives.

Mr. White and the future Hitman co-wrote another song for Feel My Soul. This time they heralded a funky mid-tempo titled “My Sweet Delight.” Musically speaking, “My Sweet Delight” stood on the other end of the musical spectrum when compared to the sweet grandeur of “I Am Love.” On this number, the two celebrated music-makers cooked a techno-funk jam that bears the obvious EW&F influences. This song, however, anticipates the heavily synth-driven scenario that Mr. White will deliver on the group’s Electric Universe album. “My Sweet Delight” was a mostly programmed affair with keyboards and synthesizers setting the atmosphere while Jerry Hey’s trademark horns were kept to a minimum. Ms. Holliday’s powerful, unique voice runs the show with her remarkable technique and control that makes one forget that she was just 22 when Feel My Love hit the shelves. Smart additions to the track were the embellishing vocal harmonies crafted by Mr. White with Wanda Vaughn of The Emotions and the impressive work on synthesizer by session legend Greg Phillinganes. “My Sweet Delight” became the b-side of another grand ballad titled “Just For A While” which was co-written by Gino and Ross Vannelli. Feel My Love became a Top Ten hit on the R&B Album chart while reaching a respectable #31 on Billboard Top 200. This soul/pop collection started Ms. Holliday’s transition from Broadway star to r&b diva.

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Lead & Background Vocals: Jennifer Holliday
Keyboards: David Foster
Synthesizer & Solo: Greg Phillinganes
Bass: Nathan East
Drums: Fred White & Ricky Lawson
Guitar: Carlos Rios & Caleb Quaye
Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
Additional Backing Vocals: Crystal Wilson, Jeanette Hawes, Wanda Vaughn & Maurice White

Horns Arranged by Jerry Hey
Background Vocals Arranged by Maurice White & Wanda Vaughn
Produced by Maurice White

Lyrics

No Lyrics

Written by Henry Krieger & Tom Eyen

Jennifer Holliday is a Grammy and Tony winning singer most famous for her show stopping performance of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from the hit Broadway musical Dreamgirls.

Although not her first Broadway role, her portrayal of Effie launched her career and the subsequent four solo albums that are featured on her 1996 release, “The Best Of Jennifer Holliday.”  David Foster played a major role in Holliday’s early career. First he produced the platinum selling original soundtrack for Dreamgirls that won “Best Musical Show Album” in 1982. He went on to co-write “I Am Love” with Maurice White and Allee Willis, a gorgeous ballad that became another smash hit for the singer in 1983. “The Best Of Jennifer Holliday” also includes “I Am Changing,” another hit from Dreamgirls and again produced by Foster. “I Am Changing” is a pearl that gives the listener the chance to appreciate the singer’s unique voice and passionate performance. The song was released as a follow-up single to “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and reached the R&B Top 30. Through the years, “I Am Changing” has become a standard in its own right with several cover versions including Jennifer Hudson’s on the movie soundtrack. “The Best Of Jennifer Holliday” is chock full of great music including the White produced dance goodie “Just Let Me Wait” and the fantastic ballad “Say You Love Me” produced by Tommy LiPuma.

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/i_am_changing.mp3|titles=I am changing|artists=Jennifer Hollyday]

Lead Vocals: Jennifer Holliday

Produced by David Foster

Look at me
Look at me
I am changing, tryin’ every way I can
I am changing, I’ll be better than I am
I’m trying-to find a way to understand
But I need you, I need you-I need a hand

I am changing, seeing everything so clear now
I am changng, I’m gonna start right now, right here
I’m hoping to work it out, and I know that I can
But I need you, I need a hand

All my life I’ve been a fool
Who said I could do it all alone
How many good friends have I already lost
How many dark nights have I known

Walking down that wrong road, there was nothing I could find
All those years of darkness-can make a person blind
But now I can see

I am changing, tryin every way I can
I am changing, I’ll be better than I am
But I need a friend-to help me start all over again,
oh-that would be just fine
I know it’s fonna work out this time
‘Cause this time I am-This time I am

I am changing, gonna get my life together now
I am changing, yes, I know how
I’m gonna start again, I’m leaving my past behind
I’ll change my life-I’ll make a vow
And nothing’s gonna stop me now…hey

The recent hit movie version of the famous Broadway musical “Dreamgirls” brought an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress to newcomer Jennifer Hudson for her role as Effie. Hudson rightfully thanked the original Effie, Tony Award winner Jennifer Holliday, who provided the inspiration for her performance. Holliday truly defined the role of Effie during her tenure during the first years of the musical in the early eighties. Her rendition of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” is one of Broadway’s greatest showstoppers ever.
In 1982, David Foster was asked to produce the original cast album for “Dreamgirls.” The result was a successful gold release that won two Grammys as “Best Musical Show Album” and “Best Female R&B Performance.” It also brought Holliday two important hits with her signature songs “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and “I’m Changing.”
One year later, the gifted singer released her first solo album entitled “Feel My Soul,” produced by Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. White enlisted his usual group of collaborators including David Foster. Foster worked on “I Am Love,” the gorgeous, moving ballad co-written with White and lyricist Allee Willis that scored big on the charts, and the up-tempo “My Sweet Delight.” Another delicious Foster/White/Willis composition, “Heartstrings,” didn’t appear on “Feel My Soul.” However, it was rescued as the b-side of the “I Am Love” single. It is a funky/soul tune with an irresistible beat, smoking horns and another top notch vocal by Holliday. The refined arrangement obviously echoes some of Maurice White’s best up-tempo creations for EW&F or The Emotions.

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[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/heartstrings.mp3|titles=Heartstrings|artists=Jennifer Holliday]

Lead Vocals: Jennifer Holliday
Produced by Maurice White

Lyrics

NO LYRICS

“Dreamgirls” was one of the most successful Broadway shows of the eighties. The story of a black girls’ group of the sixties and its rise to stardom was inspired by the story of the Supremes. It scored big at the box office and the cast recording garnered huge sales.David Foster was picked as the producer of the recording marking his first attempt in the field. Foster had some good experience having been the musical director of the original cast performance of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” back in the early seventies.

Jennifer Holliday was a newcomer to Broadway and quickly became the star of “Dreamgirls” with her powerful voice and very intense performances. The absolute showstopper is “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” the desperate cry of a woman who knows she’s losing her man. Holliday is simply outstanding here and Foster’s grand production helps her build the dramatic mood. This tune became her signature song, reaching #1 on the R & B charts and was also a good pop hit. It gave Holliday her first Grammy as “Best R & B Female Vocal” and a Tony Award in 1982.
The album itself went platinum hit reaching #11 and # 4 on the pop and R & B charts respectively. Foster, together with the shows’ writers, Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen, also won a Grammy for “Best Musical Show Album.”

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/and_i_am_telling_you_i_m_not_going.mp3|titles=And I am telling you i’m not going|artists=Jennifer Holliday]

Lead Vocal: Jennifer Holliday
Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

And I am telling you
I’m not going.
You’re the best man I’ll ever know.
There’s no way I can ever go.
No, no, no, no way,
No, no, no, no way I’m living without you.
I’m not living without you.
I don’t want to be free.
I’m staying, I’m staying,
And you, and you, you’re gonna love me.
Ooh, you’re gonna love me.

And I am telling you
I’m not going,
Even though the rough times are showing.
There’s just no way, there’s no way!
We’re part of the same place,
We’re part of the same time.
We both share the same blood.
We both have the same mind.

And time and time we have so much to share.
No! No, no, no, no, no!
I’m not waking up tomorrow morning
And finding that there’s nobody there.
Darling, there’s no way,
No, no, no, no way I’m living without you.
I’m not living without you.
You see, there’s just no way,
There’s no way!

Tear down the mountains,
Yell, scream and shout.
You can say what you want,
I’m not walking out.
Stop all the rivers,
Push, strike and kill.
I’m not gonna leave you,
There’s no way I will!

And I am telling you
I’m not going.
You’re the best man I’ll ever know.
There’s no way I can ever, ever go.
No, no, no, no way,
No, no, no, no way I’m living without you.
I’m not living without you,
I’m not living without you.
I don’t want to be free.
I’m staying, I’m staying,
And you, and you, and you, you’re gonna love me.
Ooh, you’re gonna love me.
You’re gonna love me!