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Right Now (Della Reese album)

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1970 studio album by Della Reese
Right Now
Studio album by Della Reese
ReleasedNovember 1970 (1970-11)
GenrePop
LabelAvco Embassy
ProducerHugo & Luigi
Della Reese chronology
Black Is Beautiful
(1968)
Right Now
(1970)
Let Me in Your Life
(1973)
Singles from Right Now
  1. "Simple Song of Freedom"
    Released: September 1970
  2. "Billy My Love"
    Released: October 1970

Right Now is a studio album by American singer, Della Reese. It was released by Avco Embassy Records in November 1970 and was her second album with the record label. The LP was a collection of ten tracks, featuring mostly cover recordings of popular songs from the time period in which it was released. It received promotion via a tour of the United States. Two singles were also featured on the album: "Simple Song of Freedom" and "Billy My Love". The album received a positive review from Billboard, who named it a "Special Merit Pick" in their late 1970 review.

Background, recording and content

Known for her acting and television career, Della Reese first found success as a singer and recording artist. She had commercial success with the top singles "And That Reminds Me" (1957) and "Don't You Know?". She recorded albums for Jubilee and RCA Victor. At the latter, Reese collaborated with production team, Hugo & Luigi. When the pair became presidents of the Avco Embassy label in 1969, they signed Reese to the label. Her second album for the company was 1970's Right Now, which was also produced by Hugo & Luigi. The production for the album was finished around August 1970. The LP consisted of ten tracks which were mostly cover tunes of popular recordings from the era. Among them was Melanie's "Leftover Wine" and the Jack Moran-penned tune, "Skip a Rope". Another track titled "Why Not Now" was composed by Reese herself.

Release, critical reception, promotion and singles

Right Now was released by Avco Embassy Records in November 1970 and was distributed as a vinyl LP, featuring five tracks on either side of the disc. Billboard named the LP one its "Special Merit Picks" for the week of November 21, 1970 and praised Reese's vocal delivery: "The selections give Miss Reese an ideal opportunity to demonstrate her tremendous vocal range, and should be more of a success than her earlier album on this label." Right Now was promoted through a nationwide tour by label executives who gave a "product presentation", according to articles from Billboard and Record World in October 1970. Two singles were included on the LP: "Simple Song of Freedom" (issued in September 1970) and "Billy My Love" (issued in October 1970).

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Billy My Love"B. Milo Adamo3:27
2."Simple Song of Freedom"Bob Darin3:00
3."Love Song"Randy Newman3:48
4."Brand New Day" (Main theme from the United Artists motion picture The Landlord)Al Kooper2:02
5."Something"George Harrison3:56
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Daydream City"B. Milo Adamo2:53
2."Leftover Wine"Melanie Saftka2:47
3."Why Not Now"Della Reese2:20
4."Skip a Rope"2:46
5."What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life"3:36

Personnel

All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Right Now.

  • Jack Adams – Engineer
  • Mickey Crofford – Engineer
  • Hugo & Luigi – Liner notes, producer
  • Sammy Lowe – Arranger and conductor
  • The Mixed Media – Cover and liner design
  • Peter Myers – Arranger and conductor

Release history

Release history and formats for Right Now
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various November 1970 Vinyl LP Avco Embassy Records
Circa 2020
  • Music download
  • streaming
Unidisc Music

References

  1. ^ "Billboard Album Reviews: Special Merit Picks: Popular [Pop]". Billboard. November 21, 1970. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  2. Will Friedwald (2010). A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers. Knopf Doubleday. pp. 385–388. ISBN 9780307379894.
  3. "Talent: Signings" (PDF). Billboard. October 18, 1969. p. 28. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  4. ^ Reese, Della (December 1970). "Right Now (Liner Notes)". Avco Embassy Records. AVE-33017 (LP) (US).
  5. "Selling Sounds" (PDF). Billboard. August 29, 1970. p. 28. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  6. "Avco Embassy Product Reviewed" (PDF). Record World. October 3, 1970. p. 22. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  7. "Avco Embassy Road Show Key to LP's" (PDF). Billboard. October 3, 1970. p. 3. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  8. Reese, Della (September 1970). ""Simple Song of Freedom"/"Why Not Now" (7" vinyl single)". Avco Embassy Records. AVE-4535.
  9. Reese, Della (October 1970). ""Billy My Love"/"Brand New Day" (7" vinyl single)". Avco Embassy Records. AVE-4545.
  10. Reese, Della (November 1970). "Right Now (Liner Notes)". Avco Embassy Records. 6466005 (LP)(UK); SAVL-934051 (LP)(Australia & New Zealand); CPS-9093 (LP)(Spain); AVL-7019 (LP)(Brazil).
  11. "Right Now - Album by Della Reese". Apple Music. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
Della Reese
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