Album
While You Were Sleeping
2014 · Funk / Soul, Pop
Rare pressing on Gatefold
While You Were Sleeping is a Soul & Funk album by José James, originally released in 2014. On Gatefold: 9 pressings tracked.
About
In the same vein as modern genre-defying efforts by Robert Glasper Experiment or Kris Bowers (who's also keyboardist in this band), <i>While You Were Sleeping</i> sounds more like a thoughtfully assembled mixtape. Some material sounds like it was hatched by Radiohead (“Anywhere U Go”) or Jimi Hendrix (“Angel”) thanks to the guitar work of Brad Allen Williams. More mechanized but just as visceral is the haunting “Every Little Thing,” which offers the album's strongest hook. Less surprising but no less inspired is the tinge of postmodern R&B—think André 3000 or Frank Ocean, as well as Zero 7—on tunes like “Bodhisattva,” “XX,” and “Without U.” Pushing in a different direction, the acoustic guitar–driven “4 Noble Truths” comes with a violin and cello break, and jazzy singer/songwriter Becca Stevens duets with James on “Dragon” to cast a subdued spell. A soulful take on Al Green’s “Simply Beautiful” closes things out in style, with additional points in Takuya Kuroda’s bluesy trumpet solo. Even so, it hangs together on the strength of James' wispy baritone, making for a remarkable eye-opening musical experience.
via Apple Music
The Clerk says
The Clerk knows this whole record — the pressing quirks, the credits, the take.
Tracklist
Side A
- A1Angel4:11
- A2U R The 14:12
- A3While You Were Sleeping6:17
Side B
- B1Anywhere U Go5:50
- B2Bodhisattva4:01
- B34 Noble Truths5:12
Side C
- C1Dragon4:21
- C2Salaam0:56
- C3Without U3:14
Side D
- D1Every Little Thing3:29
- D2XX4:01
- D3Simply Beautiful4:53
Sound DNA
- Soul & Funk
- Neo-Soul
- velvety
- laid-back
- soulful
Credits
The people behind it.
Performers
- Brad Allen WilliamsGUITAR
- José JamesVOCALS ARRANGED BY ARRANGED BY , VOCALS
- Richard SpavenDRUMS
- Amber Docters van LeeuwenCELLO
- Becca StevensARRANGED BY ARRANGED BY , VOCALS FEATURING
- Brian BenderARRANGED BY
- Corey KingTROMBONE
- Kris BowersARRANGED BY ARRANGED BY , ORGAN ELECTRIC PIANO
- Monica DavisVIOLIN
- Nate GowthamARRANGED BY ARRANGED BY , VOCALS VOCALS
- Shiina RingoFEATURING
- Solomon DorseyARRANGED BY ARRANGED BY , BASS, VOCALS ARRANGED BY , SYNTH , BASS , VOCALS
- Takuya KurodaARRANGED BY ARRANGED BY , TRUMPET, FLUGELHORN FEATURING
Rare pressing on Gatefold · 9 pressings tracked on Gatefold
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