After the rousing, David Foster produced, “I’ve Got The Next Dance” topped the disco charts in 1979,  “I Found Love” was picked as the second single from Deniece Williams’ When Love Comes Calling album. “I Found Love” was a catchy mid-tempo helmed by the great Ray Parker, Jr., session guitarist extraordinaire and the leader of the successful soul/r&b trio Raydio. The b-side of “I Found Love” was the ear-candy “Are You Thinking?,” co-written by Ms. Williams and another Foster production. Both songs sported smooth instrumental arrangements crafted by Sylvester Rivers, a revered session musician and arranger with a successful career backing funk and soul icons including Nancy Wilson, Peabo Bryson, Thelma Houston and Smokey Robinson. “I Found Love,” thanks to its radio-friendly potential, reached the Top 30 on the R&B charts.

This article’s focus, however, is on Foster’s “Are You Thinking?”.

This sophisticated mid-tempo features a fantastic vocal performance by Ms. Williams who was one of the definitive songbirds of soul’s musical history. The former Stevie Wonder back-up vocalist had a distinctive, four-octave soprano voice. With Foster’s keen direction, she delivered the goods on this number. There are echoes of Earth, Wind & Fire in the song’s rich musical texture with the future Hitman playing the Fender Rhodes and Parker, Jr. shining on his funky guitar alongside Toto legend Steve Lukather. “Are You Thinking?” was a great, light-funk number that showed Foster’s superior potential as he was transitioning from top session player to full-time producer. In addition, this song gave the welcomed opportunity to appreciate more of Ms. Williams’ beautiful voice. She released some great records between the seventies and the eighties that were chock-full of good music. When Love Comes Calling was one of those gems featuring Foster at the pinnacle of his r&b-influenced days.

Listen

Lead Vocals: Deniece Williams
Keyboards: David Foster
Bass: Michael Porcaro
Drums: Ed Greene
Guitar: Ray Parker, Jr. & Steve Lukather
Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
Backing Vocals: Deniece Williams, Julia Tillman Waters & Maxine Willard Waters

Rhythm Arrangement by Sylvester Rivers
Produced by David Foster
Co-produced by Deniece Williams

Lyrics

I just want to know
That deep down in my soul
I’ve been thinking
There’s a feeling inside
One I cannot deny

Love is waiting
Won’t you reach out to me?
I’m the one that you need

Wake up
Stop dreaming
Dreaming, baby
Because life is too short
When you’re living alone
Are you thinking?

Baby, I’ll do my part
Give all the love in my heart
I’m not faking
Tell me, how do you feel?

Please say it’s for real
Love is waiting
Well, understanding’s a must
In God we can trust

Wake up
Stop dreaming
Dreaming, baby
Because life just drags on
When you’re living alone
Are you thinking?

Oh-oh-oh, la-di-da-di-da
Da, da-da-da-da-da-da
Oh-oh-oh, la-di-da-di-da
Da, da-da-da-da-da-da-da

Don’t you know?
Don’t you know?
That we can make it better?
All we got to do
All we got to do is come together

I just want to know
That deep down in my soul
I’ve been thinking
Got to learn to be fair
In your life
You must share

Love is waiting
Won’t you reach out to me?
I’m the one that you need

Wake up
Stop dreaming
Dreaming, baby
Because life is too short
And I’d hate to resort
To thinking

Oh-oh-oh
La-di-da-di-da
Da, da-da
Da-da-da-da
Oh-oh-oh, la-di-da-di-da

Da, da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Oh-oh-oh
La-di-da-di-da
Da, da-da
Da-da-da-da
Oh, la-di-da-di-da
Da, da-da-da
Da-da-da-da

So you better start thinking
About the things you do
So you better start thinking, yeah
About me and you

So you better start thinking, yeah
About the things you say
Oh, la-di-da-di-da
Da, da-da-da-da-da

Thinking, yeah
Thinking, yeah
Whoa-oh-oh-oh, yeah
La-di-da-di-da
Da-da-da-da-da