ENCHANTMENT-ONCE UPON A DREAM.

dereksmusicblog ♦ May 11, 2012 ♦ Leave a comment

ENCHANTMENT-ONCE UPON A DREAM.

Having released their debut album Enchantment in November 1976, Enchantment would release the followup Once Upon A Dream a year later, in December 1977. On Once Upon A Dream, was one of Enchantment’s most successful and best known singles, It’s You That I Need. It would give Enchantment the only number one US R&B single of their career. However, much had happened between the release of their debut album and the release of Once Upon A Dream. Since then, Enchantment had appeared on some of America’s biggest music programs. Soul Train and American Bandstand had both featured Enchantment, singing their singles Gloria and Sunshine. These appearances increased Enchantment’s profile, which after the release of Once Upon A Dream, would increase even further. Before I tell you about the music on Once Upon A Dream, which will be released on 14th May 2012, by BBR Records, I’ll tell you about the background to the album.

For recording of Once Upon A Dream, a number of changes were made. The first of changes were the songs. Whereas the eight tracks on Enchantment had been co-written by Emanuel “EJ” Johnson and Michael Stokes, they only cowrote two tracks on Once Upon A Dream, Silly Love Song and Trying To Get Over (With You. The other seven tracks were co-written by Michael Stokes and Verdell Lanier, a Detroit songwriter. Due to Enchantment’s busy touring schedule, recording of the album took place at various studios. Like their debut album, recording of several of tracks would take place at Sound Suite in Detroit and the Hit Factory in New York. Other tracks were recorded at Miami’s Criteria Recording Studio and New York’s Record Plant. 

Due to several of the tracks being recorded whilst Enchantment were touring, this meant a number of musicians were used. This included a rhythm section that included drummer Allan Schwartzberg, bassists Will Lee and Neil Jason, guitarists John Tropea, Lance Quinn and Robert Lowe. Among the other musicians were keyboard player Patrick Rebillot, percussion player Carl Small plus a string and horn section courtesy of the Detroit Symphonic Orchestra. With the nine tracks on Once Upon A Dream recorded in Miami, Detroit and New York in between Enchantment’s busy touring schedule, the album was scheduled for release in December 1977.

Before the release of Once Upon A Dream, It’s You That I Need was the first single released from the album in December 1977. Little did they know that this would become their biggest single ever, reaching number thirty-three in the US Billboard 100 and number one in the US R&B Charts. This would become Enchantment’s biggest selling single of their career. No doubt, this helped sales of Once Upon A Dream, which was released in December 1977. It reached number forty-six in the US Billboard 200 and number eight in the US R&B Charts. The second single released was If You’re Ready (Here It Comes) which reached number fourteen in the US R&B Charts. Not only did It’s You That I Need give Enchantment the biggest hit of their career and only US R&B number one single, but Once Upon A Dream would become Enchantment’s biggest selling album, which I’ll now tell you about.

Opening Once Upon A Dream is Sunny Shine Feeling, one of seven tracks that Michael Stokes and Detroit songwriter Verdell Lanier cowrote. Straight away, there’s difference to the lyrics from the new songwriting team. They namecheck “rainbows,” “velvet seats” and “erasing time and space.” Having said that, it’s the perfect track to open the album, uptempo and uplifting, with a stomping beat and some joyous vocals from Enchantment. From the get-go, Enchantment are accompanied by this stomping beat, pounding bass, percussion and cascading Philly influenced strings. Emanuel “EJ” Johnson delivers the vocals about love in a joyous style, while the rest of Enchantment add tight, soulful and soaring harmonies. Bursts of blazing horns, flourishes of piano combined with an almost Northern Soul style beat and Philly tinged strings get Once Upon A Dream this cosmic love song of to uplifting and joyful start.

While If You’re Ready (Here It Comes) is another uptempo track, there’s much more of a funky style as the track opens. This is thanks to the rhythm section, wah-wah guitars and keyboards, with Enchantment’s vocals delivered in a louder, tougher style. Then just as you’re enjoying this funky diversion, in sweep the lushest of strings, as the track returns to a more soulful sound. This is only a momentary diversion. Blazing horns join the rhythm, section and guitars combine to a produce a sound that demonstrates a very different, much funkier and quite irresistible side of Enchantment.

Having delivered two quick tracks, Enchantment drop the tempo, on the incredibly beautiful It’s You That I Need. On this track, Emanuel realized that the song was better suited to Joe’s vocal. The group took a lot of convincing, but eventually, relented. Ironically, a track without Emanuel’s lead vocal gave Enchantment a number one US R&B single. For me, this track sees a return to what Enchantment do so well, deliver ballads. With just percussion, a slow rhythm section, sweeping strings and then a lone horn giving way to Joe’s vocal. Very quickly you realize that this is a very special song. His vocal is heartfelt, tinged with sadness and heartache, while swathes of strings, blazing horns and subtle harmonies combine. Acoustic guitars, percussion and strings add to the beauty of the arrangement, while horns and drums add drama. When all this is combined, the result is a very beautiful, heartfelt and emotive, six minute Magnus Opus, that will forever be synonymous with Enchantment.

I’ve always thought that when trying to followup a song as good as the previous one, it’s best to do so with a different type of song. That’s what Enchantment do, with You’re the One, a much quicker track. Percussion, pounding drums, cascading,  swirling strings and rasping horns combine to create a glorious introduction before Emanuel’s vocal enters. There’s a tenderness and beauty in his vocal, while the rest of Enchantment deliver some of the best and most emotive harmonies. Meanwhile, the arrangement rivals anything on Once Upon A Dream. The strings are lush, sweeping and swirling, while blazing horns and the rhythm section create a peerless arrangement. Why a track so beautiful and so good, wasn’t released as a single seems incredible. To me this is the best song on the album.

After one great song, Enchantment up the tempo and emotion, on You Must Be An Angel. In doing this they reveal a more popular and populist side to their music. It’s one of these tracks that after just one listen, you’re hooked. Resistance is impossible. Best to just succumb to the charms of Enchantment. With punchy, rasping horns, swathes of strings, a driving rhythm section and Emanuel’s vocal combining, the track reveals its charms. His voice soars, a mixture of tenderness, emotion and sometimes power, as he delivers the lyrics about love, with a passion and desire. Meanwhile equally emotive harmonies augment his vocal, as the track heads to its sudden and dramatic ending.

So sudden is the ending that many people might thinks Up Higher a two minute fusion of disco and funk is part of the previous track. The tempo rises slightly, with the rhythm section combining to produce a funk drenched arrangement. Soaring, punchy and dramatic disco-funk vocals, a myriad of percussion and blazing horns combine. Alto Reed, like Enchantment, a native of Detroit and saxophonist from Bob Seeger’s Silver Bullet Band plays a stunning saxophone solo that is just the finishing touch to two impassioned and funk laden minutes.

Very different and very beautiful is Silly Love Song. It’s a slow, ballad which Emanuel “EJ” Johnson and Michael Stokes cowrote. Emanuel’s vocal is heartfelt, emotive and fervent, while strings sweep slowly, while bursts of rasping horns and drums add drama. Flourishes of piano augment quivering strings, as Emanuel’s vocal grows in drama and power, as the rest of Enchantment combine. Their harmonies range from subtle and punchy, to emotive and dramatic. Together, the result is a ballad that’s not just beautiful and impassioned, but dramatic and emotive too.

Angel In My Life meanders atmospherically into being, before quivering, shivering strings, rhythm section and braying horns combine. Together, they create a dramatic and intriguing backdrop, that has you wondering what direction the track is heading. When Emanuel’s vocal enters, it’s full of sincerity, but tinged with sadness and regret. With horns wailing atmospherically, while strings sweep, the track is compelling. Then after two minutes it’s briefly, all change. Suddenly, with a burst of horns and drums the songs starts to swing. This is a a real curve-ball, but only momentarily. Then flourishes of piano, swathes of strings and the rhythm section combine. The arrangement flows beautifully along, with Emanuel’s ethereal and soaring vocal key to the track’s beauty, emotion and success.

Closing Once Upon A Dream is the second song Emanuel “EJ” Johnson and Michael Stokes cowrote, Trying To Get Over (With You). Burst of braying horns, layers of lush strings, piano and the rhythm section combine, before giving way to a tender and beautiful vocal from Emanuel. The rest of Enchantment deliver subtle, soaring and gorgeous tight harmonies, while Emanuel’s determined to get over the heartache and hurt he’s experienced. Here, the arrangement compliments his vocal, growing in power and drama, like his vocal. Again, producer Michael Stokes brings out the best in Enchantment, on a heartfelt, deeply moving and dramatic ballad that brings the album to impassioned close.

Although there was only a year between the release of Enchantment’s debut album Enchantment, and the release of their followup Once Upon A Dream, Enchantment had matured and progressed as a group. The music on Once Upon A Dream is a highly accomplished and professional album, where Enchantment deliver nine deliciously soulful tracks. Emanuel “EJ” Johnson’s vocals are even more emotive, beautiful and impassioned, while the rest of Enchantment’s harmonies are tighter and more soulful. However, what do you expect from a group with eleven years experience under their belts. The new songwriting partnership of Michael Stokes and Verdell Lanier provided seven tracks of the highest quality, while Michael Stokes and Emanuel “EJ” Johnson contributed two tracks. Producer Michael Stokes brought out the best in Enchantment, encouraging them to greater heights of success and soulfulness. With his help, Enchantment had their first and only number one single of their career, while Once Upon A Dream became the most successful single of their career. Together their debut album Enchantment and Once Upon A Dream are two great albums from Detroit’s Enchantment. They’re the perfect introduction to one of the most soulful groups you’ll hear in a long time. Both Enchantment and Once Upon A Dream will be rereleased on 14th May 2012, by BBR Records. For anyone who loves soul or R&B, then these two albums are a must have, and very soon, will become two of your favorite albums. Standout Tracks: Sunny Shine Feeling, It’s You That I Need, You’re the One and Trying To Get Over (With You).

ENCHANTMENT-ONCE UPON A DREAM.