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Reading the credits of What a Diff'rence a Day Makes, one could easily assume that it is a jazz album. This 1975 LP was produced by Creed Taylor and arranged by guitarist Joe Beck; the other participants range from Michael Brecker on tenor sax, David Sanborn on alto sax, and Randy Brecker on trumpet to Steve Khan on guitar and Don Grolnick on keyboards. With that lineup, Esther Phillips could have easily delivered a first-class jazz album. But What a Diff'rence a Day Makes doesn't contain any jazz -- not even jazz-funk or soul-jazz. It is, however, an excellent soul/disco outing. This LP is best known for its hit title song, an inspired disco version of a standard that has usually been heard in jazz and pre-rock pop settings. But the song works surprisingly well as disco, and the other tracks are equally impressive. Phillips is as soulful and convincing on the bluesy "I Can Stand a Little Rain" as she is on Gamble & Huff's "One Night Affair" (a Philadelphia soul classic that was recorded by Jerry Butler in 1972 and the O'Jays in 1969) and Ralph MacDonald's "Mister Magic."The latter is the gem that Grover Washington, Jr. is best remembered for; while his famous version was instrumental jazz-funk, Phillips' is vocal-oriented soul. It should be noted that most of the jazz musicians who back Phillips on What a Diff'rence a Day Makes are not jazz snobs. The Brecker Brothers and Sanborn, for example, have done their share of R&B sessions, and they would probably be the first to tell you that this LP needs to be judged by R&B standards instead of jazz standards. And when R&B standards are applied, it is easy to conclude that What a Diff'rence a Day Makes is among Phillips' finest releases.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
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Esther Phillips, Performer - Creed Taylor, Producer - K. Gamble, Composer - K. Gamble, Lyricist - L. Huff, Composer - L. Huff, Lyricist
(P) 1975 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Michael Brecker, Tenor Saxophone - Will Lee, Bass - M. Grever, Composer - M. Grever, Lyricist - Barry Rogers, Trombone - Harold Kohon, Violin - Eric Weisberg, Steel Guitar - Leo Kahn, Violin - Emanuel Green, Violin - Charles McCracken, Acoustic Cello - Chris Parker, Drums - S. Adams, Composer - S. Adams, Lyricist - Creed Taylor, Producer - Gene Orloff, Violin - George Ricci, Acoustic Cello - Jimmy Buffington, French Horn - Tony Studd, Trombone - Alan Rubin, Trumpet - David Sanborn, Alto Saxophone - Esther Phillips, Vocal - Esther Phillips, Performer - Max Pollikoff, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Don Grolnick, Keyboards - Jon Faddis, Trumpet - Randy Brecker, Trumpet - Harry Lookofsky, Violin - Kathryn Kienke, Violin - John Gatchell, Trumpet - Brooks Tillotson, French Horn - Joe Beck, Guitar
(P) 1975 Colombia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Michael Brecker, Tenor Saxophone - Will Lee, Bass - Barry Rogers, Trombone - Harold Kohon, Violin - Eric Weisberg, Steel Guitar - Leo Kahn, Violin - Emanuel Green, Violin - Charles McCracken, Acoustic Cello - Chris Parker, Drums - Gene Orloff, Violin - Creed Taylor, Producer - George Ricci, Acoustic Cello - Jimmy Buffington, French Horn - Various, Violin - R. MacDonald, Composer - R. MacDonald, Lyricist - Tony Studd, Trombone - Alan Rubin, Trumpet - David Sanborn, Alto Saxophone - Esther Phillips, Vocal - Esther Phillips, Performer - Max Pollikoff, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Jon Faddis, Trumpet - Don Grolnick, Keyboards - W. Salter, Composer - W. Salter, Lyricist - Randy Brecker, Trumpet - Harry Lookofsky, Violin - John Gatchell, Trumpet - Brooks Tillotson, French Horn - Joe Beck, Guitar
(P) 1975 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
B. Harris, Composer - B. Harris, Lyricist - Esther Phillips, Performer - Creed Taylor, Producer
(P) 1975 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Michael Brecker, Tenor Saxophone - Will Lee, Bass - Barry Rogers, Trombone - Harold Kohon, Violin - Eric Weisberg, Steel Guitar - Leo Kahn, Violin - Emanuel Green, Violin - Charles McCracken, Acoustic Cello - Chris Parker, Drums - Gene Orloff, Violin - Creed Taylor, Producer - George Ricci, Acoustic Cello - J. Price, Composer - J. Price, Lyricist - Jimmy Buffington, French Horn - Various, Violin - Tony Studd, Trombone - Alan Rubin, Trumpet - David Sanborn, Alto Saxophone - Esther Phillips, Vocal - Esther Phillips, Performer - Max Pollikoff, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Don Grolnick, Keyboards - Jon Faddis, Trumpet - Randy Brecker, Trumpet - Harry Lookofsky, Violin - John Gatchell, Trumpet - Brooks Tillotson, French Horn - Joe Beck, Guitar
(P) 1975 Colombia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Michael Brecker, Tenor Saxophone - Will Lee, Bass - Barry Rogers, Trombone - Harold Kohon, Violin - Eric Weisberg, Steel Guitar - Leo Kahn, Violin - Emanuel Green, Violin - Charles McCracken, Acoustic Cello - Chris Parker, Drums - Gene Orloff, Violin - Creed Taylor, Producer - George Ricci, Acoustic Cello - Jimmy Buffington, French Horn - Various, Violin - Tony Studd, Trombone - Alan Rubin, Trumpet - David Sanborn, Alto Saxophone - Esther Phillips, Vocal - Esther Phillips, Performer - Max Pollikoff, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Don Grolnick, Keyboards - Jon Faddis, Trumpet - Randy Brecker, Trumpet - Harry Lookofsky, Violin - L. Emerson, Composer - L. Emerson, Lyricist - John Gatchell, Trumpet - Brooks Tillotson, French Horn - Joe Beck, Guitar
(P) 1975 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Esther Phillips, Performer - Creed Taylor, Producer - D. Nichtern, Composer - D. Nichtern, Lyricist
(P) 1975 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Esther Phillips, Performer - Creed Taylor, Producer - J. Capehart, Composer - J. Capehart, Lyricist
(P) 1975 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
M. Grever, Lyricist - M. Grever, Composer - Esther Phillips, Performer - S. Adams, Composer - S. Adams, Lyricist - Creed Taylor, Producer
(P) 1975 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
Reading the credits of What a Diff'rence a Day Makes, one could easily assume that it is a jazz album. This 1975 LP was produced by Creed Taylor and arranged by guitarist Joe Beck; the other participants range from Michael Brecker on tenor sax, David Sanborn on alto sax, and Randy Brecker on trumpet to Steve Khan on guitar and Don Grolnick on keyboards. With that lineup, Esther Phillips could have easily delivered a first-class jazz album. But What a Diff'rence a Day Makes doesn't contain any jazz -- not even jazz-funk or soul-jazz. It is, however, an excellent soul/disco outing. This LP is best known for its hit title song, an inspired disco version of a standard that has usually been heard in jazz and pre-rock pop settings. But the song works surprisingly well as disco, and the other tracks are equally impressive. Phillips is as soulful and convincing on the bluesy "I Can Stand a Little Rain" as she is on Gamble & Huff's "One Night Affair" (a Philadelphia soul classic that was recorded by Jerry Butler in 1972 and the O'Jays in 1969) and Ralph MacDonald's "Mister Magic."The latter is the gem that Grover Washington, Jr. is best remembered for; while his famous version was instrumental jazz-funk, Phillips' is vocal-oriented soul. It should be noted that most of the jazz musicians who back Phillips on What a Diff'rence a Day Makes are not jazz snobs. The Brecker Brothers and Sanborn, for example, have done their share of R&B sessions, and they would probably be the first to tell you that this LP needs to be judged by R&B standards instead of jazz standards. And when R&B standards are applied, it is easy to conclude that What a Diff'rence a Day Makes is among Phillips' finest releases.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 9 track(s)
- Total length: 00:37:56
- Main artists: Esther Phillips
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Epic - Legacy
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Soul
(P) 1975 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
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