Writer and producer Leon Ware has been responsible for some of R&B and pop's most lush and romantic tracks. Ware produced Marvin Gaye's 1976 classic I Want You. He also co-wrote songs like Michael Jackson's "I Wanna Be Where You Are," Marlena Shaw's "Sweet Beginnings," and the Main Ingredient's "Rollin' Down a Mountainside" to name a few. This album is the follow-up to his 1976 Gordy release Musical Massage and was released shortly after he was behind the controls for nine of the ten tracks of Melissa Manchester's Don't Cry Loud. Inside Is Love has the intelligent and melody rich work fans expect from Leon Ware. Produced by Ware and Ron Roker, this has arrangements from David Blumberg, Gene Page, and Sonny Burke. Although he's not the world's strongest vocalist, his methodical, light tenor gives these songs a personal stamp. The first track, "What's Your Name" has Ware playing his naïve lothario act to the hilt. The magnificent "Love Is a Simple Thing," co-written by Chicago member Robert Lamm, possesses a chorus that is both poignant and uplifting. Throughout Inside Is Love, Ware has some of his best lyrics and a batch of players to pull it off. The fanciful "Club Sashay," co-written by Manchester, has a gentle rhythm that's a perfect match for the phonetically pleasing words. The last track, "Hungry" has Ware mixing his classic style with the disco-fied chorus. Despite a couple of tracks that miss the mark, Inside Is Love is an absolute necessity for fans of emotional and brainy R&B/pop. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide
Melissa Manchester (Vocals), Plas Johnson (Soloist), Peter Manning Robinson (Synthesizer), Gene Page (Arranger), David T. Walker (Guitar), David Blumberg (Arranger), Jane Clark (Engineer), Paulinho Da Costa (Percussion), Bruce Fisher (Guitar), Ed Greene (Drums), Calvin Harris (Engineer), Graham Jarvis (Drums), Ross Pallone (Engineer), Chris Rae (Guitar), Holden Raphael (Percussion), Deborah Thomas (Vocals), Deborah Thomas (Soloist), Maxine Willard Waters (Vocals), Oren Waters (Vocals), Eddie Watkins (Bass), Wah Wah Watson (Guitar), Tony Autore (Engineer), Michael King (Piano), Michael King (Piano (Electric)), George Sloan (Engineer), Waters, Julia (Vocals), Leon Ware (Producer), Leon Ware (Main Performer), Leon Ware (Fender Rhodes), Sonny Burke (Piano), Sonny Burke (Arranger), Sonny Burke (Piano (Electric)), Jeff Holman (Drums), Scott Lipsker (Bass), Mike Doud (Art Direction), Mike Doud (Cover Art Concept), Jeffrey Scales (Photography), Ron Garrett (Engineer), Ron Roker (Producer), Ralph Tee (Liner Notes), Cal Harris, Jr. (Mixing), Ed Green (Drums)
