The Whispers -

The Whispers were an American soul group from Watts, Calif., formed in 1964. A four-year run of singles on Dore preceded the group’s self-titled album on Soul Clock in 1969. The group released three albums on Janus between 1972 and 1974, followed by a pair of albums on Soul Train in 1976 and 1977. The subsequent 10-year period yielded 11 albums on Solar, culminating with the group’s 1987 hit “Rock Steady.”

Members: Walter Scott (vocals), Wallace Scott (vocals), Nicholas Caldwell (vocals, 1964-2016), Marcus Hutson (vocals, 1964-92), Gordy Harmon (vocals, 1964-73), Leaveil Degree (vocals, 1973-present), Larry White (lead guitar)

Background

The Whispers formed in 1963 Watts when identical singing twins Wallace and Walter Scott (b. Sept. 23, 1943, Fort Worth, Tex.) teamed with vocalists Gordy Harmon, Marcus Hutson, and Nicholas Caldwell.

Early Singles

In 1964, The Whispers issued two singles on the Hollywood-based Dore label: the Gene Page-arranged doo-wop ballad “Never Again” (b/w “Slow Jerk”) and the vibe-sprinkled “It Only Hurts for a Little While” (b/w “The Happy One”). Between 1965 and 1967, they issued seven further singles on the label, including the brassy/uptempo “Doctor Love,” the string-laden “Take a Lesson From the Teacher,” and the Motown-influenced mid-tempo number “You Can’t Fight What’s Right.”

At the urging of Sly Stone, they relocated to San Francisco, where their act drew applause on the local club scene. After an 18-month period where Walter deployed for service in Vietnam, The Whispers signed to another LA small-press, Soul Clock, which issued their 1969 self-titled debut album.

Planets of Life

The Whispers released their debut album, Planets of Life, in 1969 on Soul Clock. In the UK, the album appeared in 1971 on Mojo Records as The Whispers.

The album moves at a compact clip, with most tracks under three minutes and the group’s layered harmonies pushed to the front of each arrangement. Art Freeman’s string-and-brass charts give the set a warm, produced feel without crowding the vocals, and the rhythm section holds a tight, understated backbeat throughout. The group draws on outside songwriters — Dee Ervin and Ron Carson contribute several tracks apiece — and covers Brenda and Patrice Holloway’s “You Made Me So Very Happy,” which stretches past four minutes, the longest entry on either side.

A1. “You Must Be Doing Alright” (2:42) — Ervin
A2. “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong” (2:45) — Ervin/Farr
A3. “Planets of Life” (2:47) — Carson
A4. “They’re Going to Hear from Me” (1:38) — Stewart
A5. “Singer of Songs” (2:30) — Stewart
A6. “I Can Remember” (2:31) — Stewart

B1. “Needle in a Haystack” (2:14) — Harmon/Caldwell
B2. “Creation of Love” (2:24) — Carson
B3. “I’m the One” (2:44) — Brown/Ervin
B4. “You Made Me So Very Happy” (4:28) — Gordy/B. Holloway/Wilson/P. Holloway

The Whispers recorded Planets of Life at I.D. Sound in Hollywood with producer Ron Carson and engineer Ivan Fisher. Art Freeman provided all arrangements.

In the UK, the album appeared in 1971 on Mojo Records as The Whispers.

In April 1973, Janus Records reissued Planets of Life in the US with a new cover.

The Whispers Love Story

The Whispers released their second album, The Whispers Love Story, in April 1972 on Janus.

The album sustains a smooth, mid-tempo register across its eleven tracks, with soft orchestration laid over the group’s tight vocal stack. The rhythm stays measured throughout, favoring long, open phrases over rhythmic urgency. Songwriters Michael Gately and Robert John supply three tracks, and Dee Ervin and Terri McFaddin each contribute a pair. “I Only Meant to Wet My Feet,” co-written by McFaddin and Don Daniels, closes the second side on a loose, warm note.

A1. “Your Love Is So Doggone Good” (2:36) — Ervin/Love
A2. “Can’t Help but Love You” (3:20) — Gately/John
A3. “You’ve Chosen Me” (3:03) — McFaddin/Sams
A4. “There’s a Love from Everyone” (2:32) — DeSanto
A5. “You Fill My Life with Music” (2:25) — Gately/John
A6. “You’re What’s Been Missin’ from My Life” (3:08) — Gately/John

B1. “Can’t Stop Talkin'” (3:01) — Ervin
B2. “Hey, Who Really Cares?” (2:38) — Perhaps/Nelson
B3. “If You” (2:26) — Davis
B4. “A Hopeless Situation” (2:46) — Carson
B5. “I Only Meant to Wet My Feet” (2:50) — Daniels/McFaddin

The Whispers recorded The Whispers’ Love Story at I.D. Sound and Columbia Studios in Hollywood with producer Ron Carson.

Life and Breath

The Whispers released their third album, Life and Breath, in September 1972 on Janus.

The album spreads across a wider tonal range than The Whispers’ Love Story, with upbeat soul arrangements on the first side and slower, more ballad-oriented material on the second. “Here Comes Tomorrow” opens with a busier, brass-accented feel, and George Clinton’s title track holds a compact, rhythmically driven pulse through side one. The second side moves at a quieter pace, and the group’s reading of Nino Rota and Larry Kusik’s “Speak Softly Love” — the love theme from The Godfather — gives it a more orchestral register.

A1. “Here Comes Tomorrow” (3:05) — McFaddin/Sams
A2. “Somebody Loves You” (3:20) — McFaddin/Sams
A3. “I Love the Way You Make Me Feel” (3:50) — Ervin
A4. “Life and Breath” (3:02) — Clinton
A5. “Set This Happiness Inside Me Free” (2:33) — Foster/Nettles

B1. “Can We Love Forever” (2:35) — Lindsey/Daniels
B2. “Does She Care” (2:30) — Penney
B3. “Speak Softly Love (Love Theme from The Godfather)” (2:32) — Kusik/Rota
B4. “Give Me a Little Love” (2:54) — Tevis/Young
B5. “My Illusions” (2:33) — DeSanto

The Whispers recorded Life and Breath at Columbia Studios and I.D. Sound in Hollywood with producer Ron Carson. H.B. Barnum arranged “Here Comes Tomorrow”; Art Freeman arranged the remaining tracks.

Bingo

The Whispers released their fourth album, Bingo, in May 1974 on Janus.

The arrangements carry the crisp string-and-horn vocabulary of the Philadelphia studios, with the Baker-Harris-Young team handling the majority of the set. The uptempo title track runs over five minutes and drives harder than anything on the group’s prior records. “A Mother for My Children” builds at a steadier, more deliberate pace with full orchestral backing, while “Someone’s Waiting” draws the harmonies into a tighter, more controlled frame. Ron Baker’s “Once More with Feeling” keeps a firmer rhythmic base. “Where There Is Love,” by Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons, and Joseph Jefferson, sits closer to the Spinners-associated Thom Bell style than the Baker-Harris-Young approach that governs the rest of the set.

A1. “A Mother for My Children” (3:15) — Felder/Sigler/Harris
A2. “Someone’s Waiting” (3:37) — Felder/Sigler/Harris
A3. “Will You Be Mine” (3:37) — Harris/Baker
A4. “Little Red Riding Hood” (3:40) — Felder/B. Sigler/J. Sigler
A5. “Bingo” (5:19) — Felder/Sigler/Harris

B1. “Once More with Feeling” (3:22) — Baker
B2. “God Gave Me Everything” (3:56) — Felder/Sigler/Harris
B3. “Where There Is Love” (3:53) — Hawes/Simmons/Jefferson
B4. “What More Can a Girl Ask For” (3:40) — Felder/Harris
B5. “Don’t Take Your Love” (3:00) — Felder/Sigler/Kersey
B6. “Broken Home” (3:28) — Felder/Harris

The Whispers recorded Bingo at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia with producers Baker, Harris & Young. Carl Paruolo, Don Murray, and Jay Mark engineered. Norman Harris provided most of the arrangements; Don Renaldo supplied strings and horns on select tracks; Vincent Montana contributed vibraphone on “Broken Home.”

One for the Money

The Whispers released their fifth album, One for the Money, in August 1976 on Soul Train.

The arrangements carry the chord structures and string voicings of the Philadelphia studios, with Earl Young on drums and Ronnie Baker on bass providing the rhythmic underpin. “One for the Money” and “Living Together (In Sin)” favor a denser orchestral frame, while “Sounds Like a Love Song” and “In My Heart” extend into longer, bass-driven arrangements across side two. Bruce Gray’s Fender Rhodes runs through the full set.

A1. “One for the Money” (3:05) — Aiknes/Bellmon/Turner/Drayton
A2. “Living Together (In Sin)” (4:06) — Cobb/McCoy
A3. “Put Me in the News” (4:15) — Felder/Gray
A4. “You’re Only as Good as You Think You Are” (6:48) — Felder/Gray

B1. “Sounds Like a Love Song” (7:39) — Gibbs/Johnson
B2. “I’ve Got a Feeling” (3:18) — Felder/Gray/Conway B
3. “In My Heart” (6:53) — Felder/Gray/Conway

The Whispers recorded One for the Money at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia and RCA’s Music Center of the World with producer Norman Harris. Carl Paruolo, Dirk Devlin, and Don Holden recorded; Jay Mark and Jim Gallagher mixed.

Open Up Your Love

The Whispers released their sixth album, Open Up Your Love, in June 1977 on Soul Train.

Lead vocal duties split clearly across the set: Wallace “Scotty” Scott carries “Make It with You,” “Love Is a Dream,” “Open Up Your Love,” and “I’m Gonna Make You My Wife,” while Walter Scott takes “Chocolate Girl,” “You Are Number One,” and “You Never Miss Your Water.” The album moves between upbeat soul arrangements and quieter ballad passages, with “I Fell in Love Last Night (At the Disco)” providing the most energized uptempo stretch.

A1. “Make It with You” (4:59) — Gates
A2. “Chocolate Girl” (3:38) — Bell
A3. “Love Is a Dream” (4:49) — Bell
A4. “Open Up Your Love” (4:41) — Bell

B1. “I Fell in Love Last Night (At the Disco)” (4:27) — Anthony
B2. “You Are Number One” (3:59) — Anthony
B3. “You Never Miss Your Water (‘Til Your Well Runs Dry)” (3:34) — Cornelius
B4. “I’m Gonna Make You My Wife” (4:59) — Bell

The Whispers recorded Open Up Your Love at Wally Heider Recording Studio and the Sound Factory in Los Angeles, mixed at Westlake Studios, with producers Dick Griffey, Don Cornelius, and the Whispers. Gene Page and Jerry Peters provided rhythm arrangements; Bruce Miller contributed additional string charts; Nicholas Caldwell arranged background vocals.

Headlights

The Whispers released their seventh album, Headlights, in July 1978 on Solar.

The Whispers Band provides the backbone throughout, with Melvin Coleman and Kirk Perkins anchoring the rhythm. The title track opens side one with a seven-minute arrangement built around a hard, repetitive bass figure and a dense horn section. “(Olivia) Lost and Turned Out” moves at a slower, more deliberate pace, and “(Let’s Go) All the Way” carries a midtempo feel driven by an active horn section and the twin leads of Walter and Wallace Scott. “(You’re A) Special Part of My Life” holds a quieter, more restrained register. Side two centers on a seven-minute reading of “The Planets of Life,” followed by “Try and Make It Better,” “Disco Melody,” and “Children of Tomorrow.”

A1. “Headlights” (7:32) — Griffey
A2. “(Olivia) Lost and Turned Out” (4:05) — Anthony
A3. “(Let’s Go) All the Way” (4:50) — Posey/Powell/Ragin/Burke
A4. “(You’re A) Special Part of My Life” (3:55) — McDonald/Williams/Groves

B1. “The Planets of Life” (7:19) — Carson
B2. “Try and Make It Better” (6:00) — Griffey/Phillinganes
B3. “Disco Melody” (3:40) — Bell
B4. “Children of Tomorrow” (4:04) — Bell

The Whispers recorded Headlights at Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, with producers Dick Griffey and the Whispers, and engineer Steve Hodge. John Parrish served as musical director and arranger for the Whispers Band; Tom Tom 84 provided horn and string arrangements on most tracks.

Solar issued “(Let’s Go) All the Way” backed with “(You’re A) Special Part of My Life” as a single in 1978. The A-side reached No. 10 on the R&B chart. Solar followed with “(Olivia) Lost and Turned Out” as a single, which peaked at No. 13 on the R&B chart.

Whisper in Your Ear

The Whispers released their eighth album, Whisper in Your Ear, on March 12, 1979, on Solar.

The album draws on a broader pool of contributors than Headlights, with separate arrangers handling rhythm, horns, and strings on most tracks. Ed Greene, Fred Alexander Jr., and James Gadson share drum duties across the set, while Melvin Coleman, Otis Stokes, and Wilton Felder anchor the bass. Most tracks run four to five minutes, and the overall texture is denser, with a larger complement of strings and brass throughout.

A1. “Homemade Lovin'” (3:50) — Sylvers
A2. “Jump for Joy” (5:02) — Alexander/Stokes/Shockley
A3. “If I Don’t Get Your Love” (4:10) — Anthony
A4. “Whisper in Your Ear” (4:09) — J. Sylvers/L. Sylvers

B1. “Love at Its Best” (3:25) — Wakefield/Hirsh
B2. “Can’t Do without Love” (5:22) — Mayfield/Burke
B3. “Pretty Lady” (5:01) — Gardner
B4. “You’ll Never Get Away” (3:42) — Anthony

The Whispers recorded Whisper in Your Ear at Studio Masters with producers Dick Griffey and the Whispers. Steve Hodge and Kerry McNabb engineered; mixing took place at Westlake Studios and Paramount Recording Studios. Leon Sylvers contributed rhythm arrangements on “Homemade Lovin'” and “Whisper in Your Ear”; the Lakeside collective arranged “Jump for Joy”; Gene Page handled rhythm on three tracks; Tom Tom 84 provided horn and string charts across most of the set; Nicholas Caldwell arranged all background vocals.

Happy Holidays to You

On October 26, The Whispers released Happy Holidays to You, an album of yuletide songs for the upcoming Christmas season.

The album opens with an original uptempo number before moving into seasonal standards. Kirk Perkins and Melvin Coleman anchor the rhythm throughout, and the set draws on a wide tonal range — from the uptempo funk of the opener to the orchestrated warmth of Mel Tormé and Robert Wells’s “The Christmas Song” and Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.” Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” and a reading of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” fill the middle of the set.

“Funky Christmas,” written by Nicholas Caldwell and Willie Marshall, opens the album with an uptempo, horn-driven arrangement before the set shifts into traditional seasonal material.

A1. “Funky Christmas” (4:15) — Caldwell/Marshall
A2. “This Time of the Year” (3:25) — Caldwell
A3. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” (3:58) — Gillespie/Coots
A4. “Happy Holidays to You” (4:35) — Wood

B1. “A Very Special Holiday” (3:48) — Hines
B2. “This Christmas” (4:18) — Hathaway
B3. “The Christmas Song” (3:52) — Tormé/Wells
B4. “White Christmas” (3:27) — Berlin

The Whispers recorded Happy Holidays to You at Studio Masters with executive producer Dick Griffey. Don Blake recorded; Steve Hodge mixed; Wally Traugott mastered. John Parrish handled horn and string arrangements on most tracks; Gene Page arranged the title track; Nicholas Caldwell arranged all vocal parts.

The Whispers

The Whispers released their self-titled tenth album on November 12, 1979, on Solar.

The arrangements divide between uptempo dance tracks and slower material, with Kirk Perkins, Wardell Potts, and William Bryant sharing drum duties and Craig Raglin, Leon Sylvers, and Melvin Coleman anchoring the bass. Guitarists Stephen Shockley and Larry White run through most of the set, and string and horn charts come primarily from John Parrish.

“A Song for Donny,” written by Carrie Lucas and set to a melody drawn from Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas,” opens the album as an elegy to Hathaway. “My Girl” — the Smokey Robinson-penned Temptations track — takes a disco arrangement at over five minutes. “Lady,” written by Nicholas Caldwell, features a smooth lead from Wallace “Scotty” Scott and holds a quieter, orchestrated frame. “Can You Do the Boogie” moves at a higher energy level with a percussive, synth-accented texture. “And the Beat Goes On,” running seven and a half minutes, builds on a synth-driven rhythmic base with a punchy horn section and vocal interplay across the full group. “Out the Box” maintains a similar funk-forward momentum. “I Love You” returns to a slower, ballad register, and “Welcome Into My Dream” — written by Grady Wilkins — closes the album on a warm, guitar-ornamented note.

A1. “A Song for Donny” (4:27) — Hathaway
A2. “My Girl” (5:53) — Robinson
A3. “Lady” (5:05) — Caldwell
A4. “Can You Do the Boogie” (6:07) — Lucas/Beavers

B1. “And the Beat Goes On” (7:30) — L. Sylvers/Shockley/Shelby
B2. “I Love You” (5:10) — Gardner
B3. “Out the Box” (4:57) — L. Sylvers/Shelby
B4. “Welcome Into My Dream” (4:40) — Wilkins

Sessions occurred at Studio Masters with producers Dick Griffey and the Whispers. Steve Hodge recorded and mixed the set; Bob Stone handled mixing on “My Girl” and “Can You Do the Boogie”; mixing also took place at Westlake Studios and Larrabee Sound Studios. Wally Traugott mastered. The album reached No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 6 on the Billboard 200, and received RIAA Platinum certification.

Solar issued “And the Beat Goes On” backed with “Can You Do the Boogie” as a single in December 1979. The A-side reached No. 1 on the R&B chart, No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 2 in the UK, and received RIAA Gold certification. Solar issued “Lady” as a follow-up single, which peaked at No. 3 on the R&B chart and No. 28 on the Hot 100.

Imagination

The Whispers released their eleventh album, Imagination, in December 1980 on Solar.

The album leans toward the uptempo end, with the dance tracks outweighing the ballads. Kirk Perkins and Melvin Coleman anchor the rhythm on most tracks, with additional percussion on select cuts. Guitarists Ernest Reed and Stephen Shockley appear across both sides.

“Imagination,” co-written by Grady Wilkins and Larry White, runs over six minutes and leads the album with a full, horn-accented arrangement. “It’s a Love Thing,” written by Dana Meyers and William Shelby, runs at a tighter pace with a brighter horn-and-string texture. “Say You,” written by Nicholas Caldwell, holds a saxophone-ornamented midtempo feel. “I Can Make It Better” maintains a driving texture with an urgent vocal delivery from Walter and Wallace Scott. “Fantasy” — built on a spare rhythm section with Greg Phillinganes on keyboards — anchors the quieter end of the album. “Up on Soul Train,” produced by Don Cornelius, closes side two on a longer, looser note.

A1. “Imagination” (6:13) — Wilkins/White
A2. “It’s a Love Thing” (5:09) — Meyers/Shelby
A3. “Say You (Would Love for Me Too)” (5:00) — Caldwell
A4. “Continental Shuffle” (4:31) — Wood

B1. “I Can Make It Better” (7:13) — Meyers/Shockley/Shelby
B2. “Girl I Need You” (4:17) — Wilkins/White
B3. “Up on Soul Train” (5:17) — Cornelius
B4. “Fantasy” (4:20) — Sun/Schuchner

The Whispers recorded Imagination at Studio Masters, Los Angeles, with producers Dick Griffey and the Whispers. Steve Hodge recorded and mixed; mixing took place at Larrabee Sound Studios; Wally Traugott mastered. Leon Sylvers co-produced “It’s a Love Thing” and “I Can Make It Better”; Larry White handled rhythm arrangements on the title track and “Girl I Need You”; Gene Dozier provided string arrangements throughout much of the album; Nicholas Caldwell arranged all background vocals. The album received RIAA Gold certification.

Solar issued “It’s a Love Thing” as a single in 1981, which reached No. 2 on the R&B chart, No. 28 on the Hot 100, and No. 9 in the UK. Solar followed with “I Can Make It Better” as a single, which peaked at No. 40 on the R&B chart.

This Kind of Lovin’

The Whispers released their twelfth album, This Kind of Lovin’, on August 28, 1981, on Solar.

The album balances upbeat dance tracks on side one against slower material on side two. Harpist Dorothy Ashby contributes to the texture of the set, and a large horn section runs through most tracks.

“This Kind of Lovin'” leads the set at an upbeat tempo with a post-disco rhythmic feel. “I’m Gonna Love You More” extends to six minutes on side two. “Can’t Stop Loving You Baby” takes a hazier, more atmospheric approach, and “What Will I Do,” written by Nicholas Caldwell, moves at a slower pace with a waltz-inflected feel. “The Bright Lights and You Girl” closes the album at an uptempo register.

A1. “This Kind of Lovin'” (5:00) — Spencer/Beard/Shelby
A2. “World of a Thousand Dreams” (3:45) — Anthony
A3. “I’m the One for You” (4:05) — Dozier
A4. “Got to Get Away” (5:00) — Sun/Schuchner

B1. “I’m Gonna Love You More” (6:03) — Wilkins/Perkins
B2. “Can’t Stop Loving You Baby” (4:19) — Luffano
B3. “What Will I Do” (4:05) — Caldwell
B4. “The Bright Lights and You Girl” (3:25) — Shepard

The Whispers recorded This Kind of Lovin’ at Studio Masters with producer Leon Sylvers III on the title track and the Whispers producing the remainder. Steve Hodge and Bob Brown engineered; Wally Traugott mastered.

Solar issued “This Kind of Lovin'” as a single, which peaked at No. 17 on the R&B chart.

Love Is Where You Find It

Whispers released their thirteenth album, Love Is Where You Find It, in December 1981 on Solar.

The album divides into two labeled halves — “For Dancin'” on side one and “For Romancin'” on side two — a structure conceptualized by Leaveil Degree. Side one drives hard through four uptempo tracks: “In the Raw” opens at nearly six minutes with a dense, horn-accented arrangement, and “Turn Me Out” and “Emergency” carry the same driving texture. “Cruisin’ In” runs the shortest of the four at just over three minutes. Side two lowers the tempo considerably: “Say Yes” features a saxophone solo and runs over five minutes; “Love Is Where You Find It” is quieter and guitar-anchored; “Only You” takes a smoother, piano-and-string approach with vibraphone; and “Small Talkin'” closes the set in a similar vein.

A1. “In the Raw” (5:53) — C. Sylvers/Meyers/Barbee
A2. “Turn Me Out” (5:51) — Meyers/Beard/Shelby
A3. “Cruisin’ In” (3:11) — C. Sylvers/Elliot/Beard
A4. “Emergency” (4:18) — Beard/Shelby/Spencer

B1. “Say Yes” (5:12) — Caldwell
B2. “Love Is Where You Find It” (5:19) — Carroll
B3. “Only You” (4:26) — Putnam/James
B4. “Small Talkin'” (4:06) — Goldsmith/Williams

The Whispers recorded Love Is Where You Find It at Studio Masters, Larrabee Sound Studios, Pacifica Studios, and the Record Plant in Sausalito with executive producer Dick Griffey. Leon Sylvers produced all four tracks on side one; Wallace Scott, Walter Scott, and Nicholas Caldwell produced the ballad side individually. Steve Hodge mixed; Wally Traugott mastered. The album reached No. 1 on the R&B chart and received RIAA Gold certification.

Solar issued “In the Raw” as a single in 1982, which peaked at No. 8 on the R&B chart. Solar followed with “Emergency,” which reached No. 22 on the R&B chart.

Love for Love

Whispers released their fourteenth album, Love for Love, in March 1983 on Solar.

Side one drives through four uptempo tracks anchored by Wardell Potts. “Tonight,” written by Jerry Knight, opens the album with a long, energetic arrangement. “Keep on Lovin’ Me” sustains that energy over nearly six minutes. “Love for Love” and “Try It Again” take a jazzier, piano-accented tone, with a keyboard solo from George Duke on the title track. Side two pulls back toward ballad territory: “Had It Not Been for You” and “Lay It On Me” are both built on piano, strings, and bass; “Do They Turn You On” features Rhodes, vibraphone, and strings; and “Keep Your Love Around” closes the set with a full horn-and-string arrangement.

A1. “Tonight” (5:46) — Knight
A2. “Keep on Lovin’ Me” (5:50) — Spencer/Potts/Zimmerman
A3. “Love for Love” (4:25) — Obiedo/Trull
A4. “This Time” (5:22) — Wilkins/Scott

B1. “Had It Not Been for You” (4:10) — Johnson
B2. “Try It Again” (3:47) — Obiedo/Trull
B3. “Do They Turn You On” (5:20) — Caldwell
B4. “Keep Your Love Around” (4:06) — Meyers/Hall/Shelby
B5. “Lay It On Me” (3:57) — McIntyre/Holden/Miles

The Whispers recorded Love for Love at The Automatt in San Francisco and Studio Masters and United Western Studios in Hollywood with executive producers the Whispers. Steve Hodge mixed at Larrabee Sound, Los Angeles; Wally Traugott mastered. Leon Sylvers produced “Tonight” and “Keep on Lovin’ Me”; Ray Obiedo co-produced “Love for Love” and “Try It Again”; Grady Wilkins co-produced “This Time”; Al Johnson produced “Had It Not Been for You” and “Lay It On Me”; Nicholas Caldwell produced “Do They Turn You On”; Leon Sylvers produced “Keep Your Love Around.”

Solar issued “Tonight” as a single in 1983, which peaked at No. 4 on the R&B chart. Solar followed with “Keep on Lovin’ Me,” also reaching No. 4 on the R&B chart.

So Good

The Whispers released their fifteenth album, So Good, on October 29, 1984, on Solar.

The album carries a dual section structure — “Dancin’ III” on side one and “Romancin’ III” on side two. Side one opens with the uptempo “Some Kinda Lover” and “Contagious” before “Sweet Sensation” and “On Impact” carry the dance weight through to the end of the side. “Suddenly,” on side two, features guest vocals from Phyllis Hyman and opens the ballad half. “Don’t Keep Me Waiting” and “Are You Going My Way” follow, and “Never Too Late” and the title track close the set.

A1. “Some Kinda Lover” (5:53) — Watson/Edmonds
A2. “Contagious” (5:00) — Watson/Lovelace/Gentry/Calloway
A3. “Sweet Sensation” (4:46) — Sarna/Oland/Potts
A4. “On Impact” (5:25) — Walker/Phillips/Ragland

B1. “Suddenly” (5:48) — Wilkins/Scott
B2. “Don’t Keep Me Waiting” (4:36) — Edmonds
B3. “Are You Going My Way” (5:08) — Caldwell
B4. “Never Too Late” (3:40) — Simmons/Watson/Lovelace/Gant/Caldwell/Calloway
B5. “So Good” — Sylvers/Phillips/Smith

The Whispers recorded So Good between March and July 1984 with producers Leon Sylvers III, Reggie Calloway, Nicholas Caldwell, Wardell Potts, Wilmer Raglin, and Grady Wilkins. The album reached No. 8 on the R&B chart.

Solar issued “Contagious” as a single in 1984, which peaked at No. 10 on the R&B chart. Solar issued “Some Kinda Lover” as a follow-up in 1985, which reached No. 17 on the R&B chart.

Just Gets Better With Time

The Whispers released their sixteenth album, Just Gets Better With Time, in May 1987 on Solar.

The album carries a multiple-producer structure, with six separate production hands across the eight tracks. “Rock Steady” and “In the Mood” both use programmed drums, synthesized bass, and tightly layered keyboard arrangements. “Love’s Calling” — co-written by Grady Wilkins and Wallace Scott — builds on synthesized strings with a Prophet 2000 flute solo. The title track uses DMX drum programming and synthesizer across a midtempo arrangement. “No Pain, No Gain” and “Special F/X” carry a harder rhythmic base, with “Special F/X” built almost entirely on one producer’s bass and keyboards. “I Want You” features synthesizer and grand piano, and “Give It to Me” closes the album with a saxophone solo.

A1. “I Want You” (5:42) — White/Peters/Aguon/Laxamana
A2. “Special F/X” (5:10) — J. Sylvers/L. Sylvers
A3. “Rock Steady” (4:50) — Babyface/Watson/Ladd/Reid
A4. “No Pain, No Gain” (4:12) — Aubrey/Grady/L. Sylvers

B1. “In the Mood” (4:47) — Babyface/Simmons
B2. “Just Gets Better with Time” (4:30) — Taylor
B3. “Love’s Calling” (4:58) — Wilkins
B4. “Give It to Me” (5:21) — Caldwell

The Whispers recorded Just Gets Better with Time at Studio Masters, Different Fur Studios, Infinite Studios, and Skip Saylor Recording with mastering at Capitol Mastering. Jon Gass, Craig Burbidge, and Barney Perkins mixed. Larry White produced “I Want You”; Leon Sylvers produced “Special F/X” and “No Pain, No Gain”; L.A. Reid and Babyface produced “Rock Steady” and “In the Mood”; Gary Taylor produced the title track; Grady Wilkins produced “Love’s Calling”; Nicholas Caldwell produced “Give It to Me.” The album reached No. 3 on the R&B chart and No. 22 on the Billboard 200, and received RIAA Platinum certification.

Solar issued “Rock Steady” as a single in 1987. The track reached No. 1 on the R&B chart, No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 38 in the UK. Solar issued “Just Gets Better with Time” as a follow-up, which reached No. 12 on the R&B chart. Solar also issued “In the Mood,” which peaked at No. 16 on the R&B chart.

Discography: