There's no denying Narada Michael Walden's drumming chops, but he's also a very talented hitmaker as well. Since the '70s, he's scored several R&B hits as a solo artist, and is a top session musician to this day. He's played with the best (Jeff Beck, Kenny G., Mariah Carey, and Aretha Franklin) and has dabbled in just about every musical form -- dance, rock, fusion, soul, etc. Rhino has compiled the best of Walden's solo work, entitled Ecstasy's Dance: The Best of Narada Michael Walden, which showcases his many talents. Highlights include his two Top Ten R&B hits, "I Don't Want Nobody Else (To Dance With You)" and "I Shoulda Loved Ya," as well as the outstanding album tracks "Delightful" and "The Awakening." Other minor hits are also represented, such as "The Real Thang," "Divine Emotions," and a discofied version of the Holland/Dozier/Holland classic "Reach Out." Also included are nicely assembled and informative liner notes, as well as a message from Walden himself. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
Narada Michael Walden (Vocals), Pat Thrall (Guitar), Randy Brecker (Horn Arrangements), Narada Michael Walden (Keyboards), Jim Douglas (Assistant Producer), Dan Hersch (Remastering), Corrado Rustici (?), Dave Grover (Trumpet), Victoria Pearson (Photography), Narada Michael Walden (?), David Frazer (Engineer), Michael Brecker (Sax (Tenor)), Narada Michael Walden (Clapping), Dana Jon Chappelle (Assistant Engineer), Jimmy Schifflett (Engineer), Jay Graydon (Guitar), See America Horns (Horn Arrangements), Narada Michael Walden (Bass), Michael Rosen (Second Engineer), Bill Lamb (Flugelhorn), Kelly Kool (Vocals (Background)), Norbert Sloley (Bass), Zakir Hussain (Tabla), Cliff Carter (Organ), Patti Austin (Vocals), Mitchell Froom (?), David Frazer (Mixing), Carlos Santana (Guitar), Murray Dvorkin (Second Engineer), Frankie Beverly (?), Mick Guzauski (Engineer), Mike Gibbs (Conductor), Lincoln Clapp (Engineer), Corrado Rustici (Cowbell), Tom Dowd (Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part), Norma Jean Bell (Vocals), Marc Russo (Sax (Tenor)), Pat Adams (Producer), Jim Douglas (Assistant Engineer), Narada Michael Walden (Tambourine), John Lehman (Vocals (Background)), Wayne Shorter (Sax (Soprano)), Corrado Rustici (MIDI Guitar), Corrado Rustici (Guitar), Narada Michael Walden (Organ), Bob Smith (Drum Samples), Narada Michael Walden (Tympani [Timpani]), David Sancious (Keyboards), Walter Afanasieff (Synthesizer), Patti Austin (Vocals (Background)), Randy Brecker (Trumpet), Sonny Burke (Piano), Janice Lee (Compilation Producer), David Sancious (Sitar (Electric)), Claytoven Richardson (Vocals (Background)), Narada Michael Walden (Piano), Bill Lamb (Trumpet), Vicki Randle (Vocals (Background)), Louis Colin (Harp), David Sancious (Fender Rhodes), Sammy Figueroa (Conga), A. Scott Galloway (Liner Notes), Frank Martin (Piano), Allen Sides (Mixing), Dave Grover (Flugelhorn), Dee Dee Dickerson (Vocals (Background)), Christine Faith (Vocals (Background)), Nuhad Saba Martin (Vocals (Background)), Jeanie Tracy (Vocals (Background)), Steve Short (Mixing Assistant), Randy Jackson (Synthesizer Bass), Neil Jason (Bass), A. Scott Galloway (Project Assistant), Kenny Mazur (Guitar), David Sancious (Synthesizer), Joaquin Lievano (Guitar), Ray Willard (Assistant Engineer), Frank Martin (Vocals (Background)), Corrado Rustici (Simmons Drums), Preston Glass (Guitar (Acoustic)), Danny Noe (?), Narada Michael Walden (Timbales), Narada Michael Walden (Compilation Producer), Tom Dowd (Producer), Mike Gibbs (Orchestration), Bob Clearmountain (Producer), Sonny Burke (Producer), Randy Jackson (Bass), Mike Gibbs (Strings), Narada Michael Walden (Percussion), David Sancious (Kalimba), Frank Martin (Synthesizer), Ted Myers (Project Director), David Sancious (Organ), Narada Michael Walden (Slapstick), Airto Moreira (Percussion), Will Lee (Bass), Jerry Smith (Mixing), Patti Scialfa (Vocals), Myrna Matthews (Vocals (Background)), George Young (Sax (Alto)), Mike Gibbs (String Arrangements), Loren Hammer (Photography), Wayne Wallace (Trombone (Tenor)), Ray Gomez (Guitar), Raphael Cruz (Triangle), Bhashwar Lloyd Hart (Photography), Raphael Cruz (?), Narada Michael Walden (Horn Arrangements), Bill Inglot (Remastering), David McLees (Project Assistant), Russ Titelman (Vocal Producer), Frank Martin (Keyboards), Marc Russo (Sax (Alto)), Lauren Carter (Vocals (Background)), Wayne Wallace (Tamboura), Cheryl Alexander (Vocals (Background)), Jim Gilstrap (Vocals (Background)), Narada Michael Walden (Violin Arrangement), Walter Afanasieff (Keyboards), Sammy Figueroa (?), Gregory Digiovine (Executive Producer), Norman Seeff (Photography), Dave Grover (Slide Trumpet), Greg Phillinganes (Piano), George DelBarrio (Arranger), Carla Vaughn (Vocals (Background)), Norma Jean Bell (Saxophone), Jim Douglas (Engineer), Corrado Rustici (Vocals (Background)), Wayne Lewis (Second Engineer), Narada Michael Walden (Drums), Bill Lamb (Slide Trumpet), Bob Smith (Drum Programming), Narada Michael Walden (Arranger), Lucy Laurie (Assistant Engineer), Randy Mason (Assistant Engineer), Malcolm Pollack (Second Engineer), Wayne Lewis (Assistant Engineer), Narada Michael Walden (Synthesizer), Frank Martin (Horn Arrangements), Mike Gibbs (Arranger), Preston Glass (Keyboards), Pat Adams (Machines), Cliff Carter (Clavinet), Brian Malouf (Second Engineer), Bob Clearmountain (Mixing), Dave Jerden (Engineer), Keni Burke (Bass), Ellen DeLeston (Vocals (Background)), Lakshminarayana Shankar (Violin (Electric)), Narada Michael Walden (Producer), T.M. Stevens (Bass), Ray Pyle (Second Engineer), Bill Miranda (Assistant Engineer), Dennis MacKay (Engineer), Bob Clearmountain (Engineer), Ray Pyle (Cymbals), Hiram Bullock (Guitar), Ken Kessie (Engineer), Maureen Droney (Second Engineer), Will Lee (Vocals)
