Deniece Williams | 3 to 5 BOPS

Deniece Williams: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 65 (2023), features musical BOPS courtesy of Grammy-winning soul musician, Deniece Williams.

Ah, you know what time it is! It’s 3 to 5 BOPS time – WOO! On 3 to 5 BOPS, it’s all about brevity and sweetness… for the most part! There’s a theme/topic, 3, 4, or 5 songs, and a blurb – two paragraphs or less.  3 to 5 BOPS, hence, is a mini playlist that shouldn’t take much time to consume.  In the 65^th edition of 3 to 5 BOPS (2023), we select highlights from 🏆 Grammy-winning soul musician, 🎙 Deniece Williams. Okay, let’s get into it!

1. Deniece Williams, “Free”  

💿 This is Niecy • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 1976 

“But I want to be free, free, free / And I just got to be me, yeah, me, me.” On her 1976 debut album, 💿 This Is Niecy, 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B/soul/gospel musician 🎙 Deniece Williams desired freedom on 🎵 “Free”. “Free” ranks among Williams’ biggest hits, earning success on the pop charts (no. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100). “Free” was written by Williams, 🎼 ✍ Susaye Greene, Hank Redd, and Nathan Watts. 

Something that stands out about this soul classic is how chill it is. Williams sings with incredible ease, never breaking a sweat.  Her upper register is especially potent – angelic! Likewise, the groovy backdrop is lush and relaxed – a surefire vibe.  Why does Williams seek freedom?  She wants to be true to herself (“And I just got to be me”), and perhaps most of all, not controlled or tied down by anybody, including a man she clearly enjoys.  Early on, she asserts, “Whispering in his ear / My magic potion / Telling him I’m sincere / And that there’s nothing too good for us.” Still, she goes on to tout being free despite telling him what he wants to hear. There’s no doubt that “Free” is the ultimate women’s empowerment anthem.  Of course, as Williams has attested, its message can mean different things for numerous folks, men included.  All told, “Free” is one of the elite classics of the 1970s.      

Appears in 🔻:   

• Deniece Williams, Free: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 85 (2022) 
• Deniece Williams vs. Seal: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 36 (2022) 
• Incredible Songs: 1970s, Vol. 3 (2023)

2. Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams, “You’re All I Need To Get By”

💿 That’s What Friends Are For • 🏷 John Mat • 🗓 1978

The chemistry when 🎙 Johnny Mathis and 🎙 Deniece Williams collaborated in 1978 was awesome.  The collab was the album, 💿 That’s What Friends Are For.  🎵 “You’re All I Need to Get By” stands out from the duets LP, originally performed by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Gaye and Terrell took “You’re All I Need To Get By” to the top 10 of the pop charts 10 years earlier. Mathis and Williams also achieved a dash of pop success peaking at no. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100. The arrangement and production are sensational on “You’re All I Need To Get By.”  The active, robust bass line is a big selling point, as is the groove and bright, lush strings.  The vocals speak for themselves. Individually, both sing exuberantly, yielding the right personality for this love-oriented number.  Furthermore, they blend and mesh well when duetting, never overpowering each other.  You buy what the duo is selling. Yes, it’s a cover, but a dynamic and fun cover.   

Appears in 🔻:  

• Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams, You’re All I Need to Get By: Covers No. 25 (2023) 
• Marvin Gaye vs. Johnny Mathis: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 25 (2023)

3. Deniece Williams, “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle”  

💿 Niecy • 🏷 Columbia • 🗓 1982    

“Loving you so / I was too blind to see / You letting me go / But now that you’ve set me free,” 🎙 Deniece Williams sings on 🎵 “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle”, continuing, “It’s gonna take a miracle / Yes, it’s gonna take a miracle / To make me love someone new / ‘Cause I’m crazy for you.” Oh, the plight of love – those matters of the heart ❤️!  “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” has the distinction of being one of three top-10 hits by Williams. “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle,” is the song to beat on her 1982, gold certified album, 💿 Niecy, peaked at no. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Williams produced this update of the 🎙 The Royalettes’ 1965 joint alongside the late, great 🎛 Thom Bell. First and foremost, this is a well-written record.  It superbly captures the relatable feeling of struggling to move on from a past relationship – it’s literally gonna take a miracle to get over this person! Williams marvelously brings the lyrics to life authentically with classy, sophisticated lead vocals.  Furthermore, she does some impressive, playful ad-libs.  Also, she receives fine support from backing vocals, upping the soulful ante. Focusing on the production, it is stunning; utterly sublime.  “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” benefits from a superb, soulful groove.  Specifically, the ostinato piano lines are lovely, while the vibraphone hits are timely. Additionally, the string orchestration is lush and warm. All told, the excellence of 🎵 “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” speaks for itself. It’s simply marvelous, darling!  

Appears in 🔻:   

• Deniece Williams, It’s Gonna Take a Miracle: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 112 (2023) 

4. Deniece Williams, “Cause You Love Me Baby”

💿 This Is Niecy • 🏷 Columbia • 🗓 1976

“There’s nothin’ better that I like to do / Than sitting here cuddle up next to you / ‘Cause you love me, baby / Just the way I want to be loved.” Aww 🥰, that’s so romantic, 🎙 Deniece Williams!  Williams is one of my personal favorite soul musicians, period.  She possesses the voice of an angel 😇.  Her range, technical skills, and her ability to be commanding without over singing is incredibly impressive. 🎵 “Cause You Love Me Baby” marks another stellar song from her catalog, appearing as the fourth track on her 1976, gold certified album,  💿 This Is Niecy.  Of course, if you are familiar with This Is Niecy, you’ll know the biggest hit is the song that follows in the track list, 🎵 “Free”.  Even if “Cause You Love Me Baby” peaked modestly at no. 74 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, it still has ample Niecy magic.  Part of the magic of “Cause You Love Me Baby” is the classy, colorful, and soulful production.  This backdrop is comprised of lovely keys, guitar, and winds. The sound is idiomatic of the 1970s brand of R&B/soul.  Furthermore, the melody is tuneful throughout. Of course, it is the talented Deniece Williams who brings that melody to life.  Her vocals are incredibly nuanced and smooth. Even as she ascends into her potent upper register, she does so with ease, barely breaking a sweat.  Furthermore, she’s supported by superb backing vocals, complementing the soulfulness of her pipes and the record itself.  The big takeaway: “‘Cause you love me, baby / Just the way I want to be loved.” PERIOD!  

Appears in 🔻:

• Deniece Williams, Cause You Love Me Baby: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶No. 122 (2023)

5. Deniece Williams, “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”

💿 Let’s Hear It For the Boy • 🏷 Columbia • 🗓 1984  

“My baby, he don’t talk sweet / He ain’t got much to say,” 🎙 Deniece Williams sings in the opening verse from her 1984 no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, 🎵 “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”. Williams was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance while her album, 💿 Let’s Hear It For the Boy, was nominated for the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” appeared in the iconic film and soundtrack, 🎦 Footloose ! Despite the fact he doesn’t have much to say, Williams is impressed that “He loves me, loves me, loves me.” She’s so taken with him that “Every time he pulls me near / I just wanna cheer,” hence why, she encourages in the chorus, “Let’s hear it for the boy / Let’s give the boy a hand / Let’s hear it for my baby.” Her passion, coupled with the energetic production – quintessential 1980s – is lit 🔥! “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” was penned by 🎼 ✍ Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford and produced by the late, great 🎛 George Duke. It is safe to say that it’s not just the boy we should cheer for! Williams is in excellent voice.  The songwriting is fun, down to earth, and innocent! Honestly, it’s just a surefire vibe, four decades after it first arrived!  

Appears in 🔻:  

• Deniece Williams, Let’s Hear It For the Boy: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 30 (2023)
• Hear: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 15 (2023)
• 14 Listen 🔊, Hear👂 Me Out Songs (2023)
• BOY, These Songs Are About You (2023)

Deniece Williams: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 65 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Columbia, John Mat]