Written by Michael Price & Daniel Walsh

Bobby King was an American soul/R&B singer. King first achieved some popularity in the early seventies as half of a singing duo with Terry Evans. Later that same decade, King became a session singer for important acts including Ry Cooder, Maria Muldaur and Boz Scaggs. 

In the early eighties, while still working as a live and session vocalist, King released two favorable solo albums. His 1981 self-titled debut was produced by Steve Barri and presented a good number of songs along the lines of Johnny Mathis and Al Jarreau. King delivered an impressive number of high-profile names consisting of Michael Omartian, who arranged the bulk of Bobby King, and Jay Graydon, who crafted a couple of tunes. On those two songs, “A Fool And His Love” and “If You Don’t Want My Love,” Graydon asked his friend David Foster to play acoustic piano.

“A Fool And His Love” was a nice ballad co-written by Michael Price and Daniel Walsh. That song proved to be a nice showcase for King’s gospel-tinged voice while being accompanied by Foster’s masterful work on piano.

The second composition arranged by Graydon, “If You Don’t Want My Love,” was also co-written by Price and Walsh. “If You Don’t Want My Love” was a delicious up-tempo along the lines of the trademark quality pop that the Airplay guys were delivering during those days. “If You Don’t Want My Love” offers another convincing lead vocal by the soul singer while being supported by an array of backing vocalists consisting of Bill and Tamara Champlin, Venette Gloud and Carmen Twillie. The bouncy backing track was delivered by Foster, Graydon and an all-star cast of musicians that included Omartian on keyboards, Abraham Laboriel on bass and Ed Greene on drums.

Although its potential was pretty evident to those who were lucky enough to hear it, Bobby King went mostly unnoticed at the time of its release. To give the album some justice, UK’s soul label, Expansion Records, re-released a single in 2018 from Bobby King. That single included “If You Don’t Want My Love” with another refined mid-tempo titled “Lovers By Night.”

Listen

• Lead Vocals: Bobby King
• Acoustic Piano: David Foster
• Keyboards: Michael Omartian
• Guitars: Jay Graydon
• Bass: Abraham Laboriel
• Drums: Ed Greene
• Percussion: Victor Feldman & Paulinho Da Costa
• Background vocals : Bill Champlin, Venette Gloud, Carmen Twillie, Tamara Champlin, Willie Green Jr., Maxine Willard Waters, Julia Tillman Waters & Stephanie Spruill

• Rhythm Tracks Arranged by Jay Graydon
• Strings & Horns Arranged by Michael Omartian
• Produced by Steve Barri with Michae Price & Daniel Walsh

Lyrics

No Lyrics

from PASTICHE
written by Rupert Holmes

Released at the dawn of 1978, “Pastiche” was The Manhattan Transfer’s fourth album and the third released with founder Tim Hauser plus Alan Paul, Janis Siegel and Laurel Massé. “Pastiche” included The Man-Tran’s definitive vocalized version of “Four Brothers,” a Jimmy Giuffre jazz classic that quickly became a fixture in the group’s concert repertoire. Even though “Pastiche” was a mild entry on Billboard’s Top 200 at #66, it reached the top ten in the UK, thus becoming the highest charting release by the virtuoso vocal quartet in that market to this day.

Hauser produced most of the album with The Manhattan Transfer doing a fantastic job on vocal arrangements and performances. Guitarist Ira Newborn arranged and conducted all but two tracks on “Pastiche.” Those two songs were handled by Jay Graydon, a young guitarist who, at the time, was mostly known as a studio ace. Graydon was also the driving force behind The Man-Tran’s next two breakthrough releases, “Extensions” and “Mecca For Moderns.” Produced by Steve Barri, those were a couple of pop goodies delivered instrumentally by Graydon and his ultra-talented studio colleagues including the late Jeff Porcaro, Ben Benay, Michael Omartian and David Foster. Both tracks were extremely lovely and showed just a little glimpse of the amazing level of sophistication and originality that the group would achieve just a couple years later under Graydon’s guidance.

Graydon brought his pop sensibility to “Pastiche” with his vision of Rupert Holmes’ “Who, What, When, Where, Why” and The Addrisi Brothers’ “Pieces Of Dreams.” While “Pieces Of Dreams” was a more traditional ballad, “Who, What, When, Where, Why,” with Foster on piano, was one of the best songs on the album. Its catchy rhythm and ear candy melody showcases The Manhattan Transfer’s trademark harmonies and Graydon’s guitar work.

“Walk In Love” was another highlight on “Pastiche.” A gorgeous ballad written by David Batteau, this superb recording was the unfortunate swan song for Massé. She was forced to leave the group after a severe car accident. Her place was taken by another fantastic talent, Cheryl Bentyne, as The Manhattan Transfer continued on its way to become one of the best vocal groups in history.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/who_what_when_where_why.mp3|titles=Who,What,When,Where,Why|artists=The Manhattan Transfer]

Vocals: The Manhattan Transfer (Tim Hauser, Janis Siegel, Alan Paul & Laurel Massé
Bass: Scott Edwards
Drums: Jeff Porcaro
Guitars: Ben Benay & Jay Graydon
Percussion: Victor Feldman
Piano: David Foster
Oberheim Synthesizer: Michael Omartian

Strings & Horns Arrangement: Ben Benay
Arranged by Jay Graydon
Produced by Steve Barri

Lyrics

Who, who ooh ooh ooh oo
What, woo ooh ooh ooh oo
Where, woo ooh ooh ooh oo
Why, tell me why, tell me why? Tell me why?

I don’t understand, let’s sit down and talk
One minute you love me and then you walk
There’s more going on than you will admit
‘Cause just as we got it to work you quit

I’m caught in a fog and you make it clear
The truth won’t be worse than the things I fear
It’s a mystery to me I haven’t a clue
If somebody else has a part of you

Tell me who?
(Who?)
What, when, where, why?
(Why?)
Who is the guy?
(What?)
What made you need someone new? Tell me

Who?
(Who?)
what when where why
(Why?)
When did it die?
(What?)
When’d we go wrong don’t you lie ? Tell me why
(What?)

You won’t be my love, you won’t be my friend
But won’t you at least help me comprehend
What’s happening to me ’cause after you go
My one consolation will be to know

The places and names, the reason and rhymes
The facts of the matter and points in time
I tried for your love but you won’t allow
This guy to do nothin’ but ask you how

And who?
(Who?)
What, when, where, why?
(Why?)
Who is the guy?
(What?)
What made you need someone new? Tell me

Who
(Who)
what when where why
(Why)
When did it die
(What)
When’d we go wrong don’t you lie? Tell me why
(What)

I want you to say what’s inside your head
Confession is good for the soul, it’s said
So start at the top and take it real slow
If you want out, then I have to know

Just who?
(Who?)
What, when, where, why?
(Why?)
Who is the guy?
(What?)
What made you need someone new? Tell me

Who?
(Who?)
What, when, where, why?
(Why?)
When did it die?
(What?)
When’d we go wrong don’t you lie? Tell me
(What?)

Who?
(Who?)
What, when, where, why?
(Why?)
Who is the guy?
(What?)
What made you need someone new? Tell me

Who?
(Who?)
What, when, where, why?
(Why?)
When did it die?
(What?)
When’d we go wrong don’t you lie ? Tell me
(What?)

Who?
(Who?)
What, when, where, why?
(Why?)
Who is the guy?
(What?)
What made you need someone new? Tell me

Who?
(Who?)
What, when, where, why?
(Why?)
When did it die?
(What?)
When’d we go wrong don’t you lie? Tell me
(What?)

Who?
(Who?)
What, when, where, why?
(Why?)
Who is the guy?
(What?)
What made you need someone new? Tell me