Pizzazz

For the 1970s magazine, see Pizzazz (magazine).

Pizzazz is the fifth album by American singer Patrice Rushen, released in 1979.

Pizzazz
Studio album by Patrice Rushen
Released	October 23, 1979
Recorded	1978–1979
Studio	Conway Recording Studios (Hollywood, California)
Genre	Disco, R&B, jazz funk
Length	38:44
Label	Elektra
Producer	Charles Mims, Jr. Patrice Rushen Reggie Andrews
Patrice Rushen chronology
Patrice (1978) Pizzazz (1979) Let There Be Funk: The Best of Patrice Rushen (1980)

While she was attacked for leaving the jazz genre, Rushen was able to get a good fan base with an R&B/Pop audience. Rushen's profile in the R&B world continued to increase with Pizzazz, her second album for Elektra Records. Rushen drew on such influences as Earth, Wind & Fire, Minnie Riperton, Stevie Wonder, and The Emotions. Rushen was able get the R&B lover's attention with songs such as the funky opener "Let the Music Take Me," the soulful ballad "Settle for My Love," and the perky "Keepin' Faith in Love." Pizzazz received plenty of attacks from jazz critics, who accused Rushen of being a traitor, but from an R&B/Pop perspective the album is considered one of Rushen's most rewarding and essential albums.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
DownBeat

The Boston Globe called Pizzazz a "really a good disco album, with a few non-disco numbers to break the monotony... The non-disco cuts are slower funk tunes which often recall Earth, Wind and Fire."

Pizzazz was her second highest-charting album, reaching #39 in 1979. It features the hit single "Haven't You Heard." The single soared to the top of R&B radio playlists and is among Rushen's biggest hits.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Let the Music Take Me"	Patrice Rushen Sheree Brown	6:51
2.	"Keepin' Faith in Love"	P. Rushen Angela Rushen	4:08
3.	"Settle for My Love"	P. Rushen Freddie Washington Brown	5:15
4.	"Message in the Music"	P. Rushen	3:01
5.	"Haven't You Heard"	P. Rushen Charles Mims Jr. Washington Brown	6:45
6.	"Givin' It Up is Givin' Up"	P. Rushen Washington A. Rushen	4:59
7.	"Call On Me"	P. Rushen A. Rushen Brown	6:48
8.	"Reprise (Message in the Music)"	P. Rushen	0:57

Personnel

• Patrice Rushen – lead vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7), backing vocals (1-7), electric piano (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7), synth solo (1), percussion (1, 3, 5, 6, 7), acoustic piano (2, 4, 5, 7, 8), drums (3, 6), tambourine (4, 8), clavinet (6); horn, string and vocal arrangements
• Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (1, 4, 8)
• Marlo Henderson – guitar (1, 2, 7)
• Al McKay – guitar (2)
• Wah Wah Watson – guitar (4, 6, 8), backing vocals (6)
• Wali Ali – guitar (5, 7)
• Freddie Washington – bass (1-8), acoustic guitar (3), drums (6), percussion (6)
• Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums (1, 4, 8)
• James Gadson – drums (2)
• Melvin Webb – congas (1), drums (5, 7)
• Bill Summers – percussion (2)
• Lynn Davis – backing vocals (1, 3-8)
• Roy Galloway – backing vocals (1, 3, 6, 7)
• Josie James – backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8)
• Pauline Wilson – backing vocals (2)
• Syreeta Wright – backing vocals (2)
• Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (4, 6, 8)
• D. J. Rogers – lead vocals (6)

Handclaps

• Tony Lewis
• Charles Mims Jr.
• Phil Moores
• Chip Orlando
• Larry Robinson
• Patrice Rushen
• Freddie Washington

Horns / Horn Contractors

• Gerald Albright – reeds
• William Green – reeds
• Clay Lawrey – trombone, baritone
• Maurice Spears – bass trombone
• Oscar Brashear – trumpet, flugelhorn
• Raymond Lee Brown – trumpet, flugelhorn

Strings

• Charles Veal Jr. – concertmaster (1, 3-8)
• Gerald Vinci – concertmaster (2)
• Rosemary McLean – contractor
• Marilyn Baker, Harry Bluestone, Ronald Cooper, Endre Granat, William Henderson, Carl LaMagna, Robert Lipsett, Nils Oliver, Jerome Reisler, Art Royval, Terudo Shoenbrun, Robert Sushell, Barbara Thomason, Charles Veal Jr. and Kenneth Yerke – string performers

Production

• Patrice Rushen – producer, executive producer
• Reggie Andrews – producer
• Charles Mims Jr. – producer
• Peter Chaikin – engineer
• Chris Gordon – assistant engineer
• Phil Moores – assistant engineer
• Chip Orlando – assistant engineer
• F. Byron Clark – remixing
• Chris Bellman – mastering
• Allen Zentz Mastering (San Clemente, California) – mastering location
• Ron Coro – art direction, design
• Norman Seeff – front cover and sleeve photography
• Moshe Brakha – back cover photography

Charts

Chart (1980)	Peak position
Billboard Pop Albums	39
Billboard Top Soul Albums	11
Billboard Top Jazz Albums	2

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions
		US Pop	US R&B	US Dance
1980	"Givin' It Up Is Givin' Up"	-	47	-
	"Haven't You Heard"	42	7	5
	"Let The Music Take Me"	-	50	-

External links

• Patrice Rushen-Pizzazz at Discogs