Released: August 13, 1976
Label: Columbia
Genre: R&B ∙ soul ∙ quiet storm
Producer: Maurice White ∙ Charles Stepney
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Deniece Williams is one of my favorite R&B legendary songstresses. Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Deniece started performing while attending college at Morgan State University. Eventually, she became a backup vocalist for Stevie Wonder as part of “Wonderlove..” leading her amazing vocals on some of his most iconic albums Talking Book, Fulfillingness’ First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life. Also, she lended vocals to albums by Syreeta Wright, Minnie Riperton & Roberta Flack. Deniece is known for her 1984 pop hit Let’s Hear It for the Boy, but it is important to remember that she has ALWAYS been a star and THE star.
Deniece signed with Columbia Records and Kalimba Productions with Maurice White (the founder of Earth, Wind & Fire,) and Charles Stepney in 1975. What came after that was the birth of Deniece’s debut album This Is Niecy. Released August 13, 1976, This Is Niecy is an impeccable introduction to the genius that is Ms. Williams. The album was ironically released the same year as EW&F’s Spirit album, and both LPs are so similar and complement each other very well when you listen to them both. I also think I read somewhere that some of the songs on this album were songs she wanted them to have!
I think This Is Niecy showed us from the very beginning that Deniece Williams solidified her stature as one of R&B’s most stellar acts. This Is Niecy peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums and 33 on the Billboard 200 charts respectively. The album has since been certified Gold by the RIAA.
Side one:
It’s Important to Me
Written by Deniece Williams ∙ Clarence McDonald ∙ Fritz Bassett
The album opens with It’s Important to Me, which is a song that has the singer expressing how much she loves her man and how crucial it is for her to feel his love as well. A nice uptempo number to kick off such an amazing album.
That’s What Friends Are For
Written by Deniece Williams ∙ Clarence McDonald ∙ Fritz Baskett ∙ Lani Groves
That’s What Friends Are For is a song! I love everything from Deniece’s vocals on the song, to the lyricism about doing special things for special friends. Produced by Charles Stepney & Maurice White, the song was a commercial success in the UK, peaking at number 8 on the UK Pop Singles chart.
***That’s What Friends Are For was covered by Sheena Easton.
How’d I Know That Love Would Slip Away
Written by Deniece Williams ∙ Clarence McDonald ∙ Lani Groves
How’d I Know That Love Would Slip Away is a remarkable song where the singer is expressing guilt and hurt over love, and it can be a very crazy thing.
How’d I Know That Love Would Slip Away was covered by The Emotions for their 1977 Rejoice album.
Cause You Love Me, Baby
Written by Deniece Williams
Cause You Love Me, Baby has become one of my favorite songs from Deniece and rightfully so! From a lyrical perspective, the singer talks about the remarkable feelings she’s having about her man! She was talking about just being cuddled up next to him, and loving her the exact way she wants to be loved honey! Released as a single in 1977, the song peaked at 74 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.
Cause You Love Me, Baby was sampled for:
- My Melody by Queen Pen
Side two:
Free
Written by Deniece Williams ∙ Hank Redd ∙ Nathan Watts ∙ Susaye Greene
Whispering in his ear
Deniece Williams, Free, 1976
My magic potion for love
Telling him I’m sincere
And that there’s nothing too good for us
Free is probably one of the best songs I’ve ever heard in my lifetime, and I can’t even say I’m exaggerating by typing this statement. Released as the lead single, Free is lyrically about the beauty of escapism and the singer yearning to break away from the norm a woman was expected to confirm to at the time.
The beauty of love and companionship plays a huge role in Free as well as we can see the singer touch on it throughout the song. It is a love serenade for sure. Released as the lead single from the album, Free became Deniece’s breakthrough single…having success in the US & UK, peaking in the top 40 and number one respectively. Also, Free peaked at number 2
Free has been covered by Chanté Moore, Will Downing, Seal & Susaye Greene, who was a co-writer of the song.
Free has been sampled for:
- Special Occasion by Syleena Johnson
- Can’t F**k with Queen Bee (featuring Governor Shelene Thomas with Full Force) by Lil’ Kim
- If You Real, Keep It Real by 504 Boyz
- Why (with Stevie Wonder) by Kirk Franklin
Watching Over
Written by Deniece Williams ∙ Maurice White ∙ Freddie White ∙ Verdine White ∙ Jerry Peters ∙ Al McKay
Watching You is a song! Written by Deniece and members of Earth, Wind & Fire, the inspirational song lyrically speaks to there being a higher power watching over us and I love the message of the song to be honest. It’s a Deniece song that we need to appreciate a little more.
If You Don’t Believe
Written by Deniece Williams ∙ Clarence McDonald ∙ Fritz Baskett
If You Believe closes out the album, and is yet another album cut I’ve loved to appreciate the older I get. From a lyrical perspective, my girl is singing about missing the one she loves when they’re apart. She speaks on how she tries to get him to see that she is fighting for him! A record.
This Is Niecy gave us an introduction to a wonderful talent like Deniece Williams. She would go on to give us classic records like Silly, It’s Gonna Take A Miracle, Let’s Hear It For The Boy, I’m So Proud, Baby Baby My Love’s All for You & Black Butterfly. But it’s always something magical about the debut album where we see them blossom and grow as an artist with each album. I love Deneice Williams! -MW.
markizdj.com 