Art Stewart (producer)

Art Stewart is an American record producer, audio engineer, and composer who has worked on many Motown recordings. He worked on the Blue album by Diana Ross, and recordings by Teena Marie, including her Wild and Peaceful album, released in 1979. With Marvin Gaye, he has worked on the Let's Get It On album and Gaye's single "Got to Give It Up". He has also worked with Rick James on his Motown debut album Come Get It!, and his second Motown album, Bustin' Out of L Seven.

Art Stewart
NationalityAmerican
OccupationAudio engineer, record producer, song writer
Years active1960s - ?

Background

Stewart has been a staff engineer for Motown Records and had worked on sessions with Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross.[1] His work as a producer appears on the Motown Grammy Rhythm & Blues Performances Of The 1960s & 1970s various artists compilation album.[2] He is also a songwriter and has composed songs for the group Platypus, which appear on the Cherry album, released on Casablanca Records in 1980.[3][4] He worked on the mixing of the Has Arrived album for The Whole Darn Family, a group that featured Tyrone Thomas.[5] In 1977, he was rated No 45 in a list of 100 pop producers by Billboard magazine in the December 1977 issue.[6]

Due to the thinning out of the staff of Motown, a downsizing plan, and after having been an engineer with the record label, Stewart later was working at a television station in the video production department.[7]

He is also the president of music publishing company Famosonda Music / A. Stewart Publications which in the 1990s was located at Canoga Park, California,[8] which has been a publisher for recordings by the Eboni Band, Jack Ashford, and Platypus.[9]

Producer

Rick James

After hearing "Got To Give It Up" by Marvin Gaye and knowing that the session was produced by Stewart, Rick James was interested in him. As a producer, James found him to be modest and easy going, and with his work in the studio, he saw a flair that he had not seen before. James said that with the subtle suggestions that he made for the positioning of the horns or changes to the bass line, he was just the man he needed.[10] He co-produced Rick James's 1978 Come and Get It which was released in April 1978.[11] According to James, Suzanne de Passe said that he couldn't have made a better choice to use Stewart.[12] Jet Magazine credits Stewart with helping to put together the album that gave James overnight success.[13] He reunited with James and co-produced Bustin' Out of L Seven,[14] as well as the single "Bustin' Out" which was released in 1979.[15] He had also worked on James's other single "Spacey Love".[16]

Marvin Gaye

Stewart had a working relationship with Marvin Gaye for nearly a decade.[17] According to Michael Eric Dyson, in his book Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Loves and Demons of Marvin Gaye, Stewart had worked on some of Gaye's finest recordings.[18] He had a significant influence on the "Bobby Scott sessions" with Gaye.[19] He was the producer and engineer on "Got To Give It Up" by Marvin Gaye. With the percussion which was played by Jack Ashford, Stewart managed to make a coke bottle sound like a cowbell by rolling off the highs.[20][21]

Other

During the 1970s, one of the artists he co-produced for was Jack Ashford. he co-produced Ashfords Hotel Sheet album which was released in 1977 on the Magic Disc label.[22] Other productions include the single for Jimmy Sterling, "Let's Do It", which was released in 1981 on Americom Records.[23][24] He had previously produced "At Least I Tried" for Sterling. After Sterling left Americom Records, Stewart got him in the studio to record Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give It Up".[25] He produced the Lil' Suzy album by eight-man group, Ozone. The album which was released on Motown in 1982 also featured Mel Carter and Syreeta Wright on a couple of tracks.[26] He was engineer and producer on the Connections album by The Charades, which was released in 2010.[27][28]

Compositions, production (selective)
Compositions
Song Artist Release Year Notes #
"Get Right On Top (Cause I Need Someone)" Jack Ashford Hotel Sheet (album) 1977 Co-written with Jack Ashford
"Bustin' Out" Rick James Love Gun (single) 1979 Co-written with Rick James
"Color Blind" Platypus Cherry (album) 1980 Co-written with Henry A. Hayes
"Comin' After Your Love" Ozone Li'l Suzy (album) 1982 Co-written with David L. Stewart, Anthony Haynes, Tracy Greathouse
"You'll Never Know How Much (I Love You)" Ozone Li'l Suzy (album) 1982 Co-written with Mel Carter
" Li'l Suzy " Ozone Li'l Suzy (album) 1982 Co-written with Ozone
"Shake It Down" Ozone Li'l Suzy (album) 1982 Co-written with David L. Stewart, Gregg Middleton
"Shake It Down" Eboni Band Shake It Down / Get Together (single) Sole composer
"Get Together" Eboni Band Shake It Down / Get Together (single) Sole composer[29]
Production
Song Artist Release Year Notes #
"Got To Give It Up" Pt.1 Marvin Gaye "Got To Give It Up" Pt.1 / "Got To Give It Up" Pt.2 (single) 1977
"Got To Give It Up" Pt.2 Marvin Gaye "Got To Give It Up" Pt.1 / "Got To Give It Up" Pt.2 (single) 1977
'You And I" Rick James "You And I" / "Hollywood" (single) 1978
"Hollywood" Rick James "You And I" / "Hollywood" (single) 1978
"Mary Jane" Rick James "Mary Jane" / "Dream Maker" (single) 1978
"Dream Maker" Rick James "Mary Jane" / "Dream Maker" (single) 1978
"High On Your Love Suite" Rick James "High On Your Love Suite" / "Stone City Band, Hi!" (single) 1979
"Stone City Band, Hi!" Rick James "High On Your Love Suite" / "Stone City Band, Hi!" (single) 1979
"Bustin' Out" Rick James "Bustin' Out" / "Sexy Lady" (single) 1979
"Sexy Lady" Rick James "Bustin' Out" / "Sexy Lady" (single) 1979
"Fool On The Street" Rick James "Fool On The Street" / "Jefferson Ball" (single) 1979 Co-produced with Rick James
"Jefferson Ball" Rick James "Fool On The Street" / "Jefferson Ball" (single) 1979 Co-produced with Rick James
"I'm A Sucker For Your Love" Teena Marie "I'm A Sucker For Your Love" / "De Ja Vu" (I've Been Here Before) (single) 1979 Co-produced with Rick James
"De Ja Vu" (I've Been Here Before) Teena Marie "I'm A Sucker For Your Love" / "De Ja Vu" (I've Been Here Before) (single) 1979 Co-produced with Rick James
"Don't Look Back" Teena Marie "Don't Look Back" / "I'm Gonna Have My Cake" (And Eat It Too) (single) 1979 Co-produced with Rick James
"I'm Gonna Have My Cake" (And Eat It Too) Teena Marie "Don't Look Back" / "I'm Gonna Have My Cake" (And Eat It Too) (single) 1979 Co-produced with Rick James
"Appreciate Your Love" Platypus "Appreciate Your Love" (mono) / "Appreciate Your Love" (stereo) (single) 1980
"Li'l Suzy" Ozone "Li'l Suzy" / "I'm Not Easy" (single) 1982 Co-produced with Ozone
"I'm Not Easy" Ozone "Li'l Suzy" / "I'm Not Easy" (single) 1982 Co-produced with Ozone[30]
"Rock House" Sir Arthur "Rock House" / "Rock House" (single) 1988 [31]
"Shake It Down" Eboni Band "Shake It Down" / "Get Together" (single)
"Get Together" Eboni Band "Shake It Down" / "Get Together" (single) [32]

Engineer

In the early 1970s Stewart worked on the Lady Sings The Blues album Diana Ross,[33] and the Chameleon album by Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, both released in 1972.[34] Stewart handled the engineering and remixing chores for the soundtrack album to the 1974 Fred Williamson film Hell Up in Harlem by Edwin Starr.[35][36][37] In the late 1970s, he recorded Bonnie Pointer's Bonnie Pointer album which was released on Motown M7-911R1 in 1978.[38][39][40] In the 1980s, he worked on the Leon Ware produced Shadow album, Shadows In The Streets, which was released in 1981.[41][42]

References
  1. Divided Soul: The Life Of Marvin Gaye by David Ritz Page 170
  2. Digital Audio and Compact Disc Review, Volume 1, Issues 8-12 Page 53
  3. Discogs Platypus (2) – Cherry
  4. Song Writer's Market - Julie Whaley Page 263
  5. Discogs The Whole Darn Family – Has Arrived
  6. Billboard December 24, 1977 Page 70 - Pop Producers
  7. Behind the Boogie: How I Became Guitarist for a Motown Legend - By Robert “Boogie” Bowles with Kathleen Greer Greeves Page 109
  8. 1990 Songwriter's market Edited by Mark Garvey Page 290
  9. Discogs Famosonda Music
  10. Glow: The Autobiography of Rick James By Rick James Page 178
  11. Motown Encyclopedia By Graham Betts Come And Get It
  12. Glow: The Autobiography of Rick James By Rick James Page 178
  13. Jet 26 Jul 1979 Page 60 - RICK JAMES: 'Spoilt Brat' Bustin' Out As Musical Rebel
  14. The Afro American Week of April 24 28, 1979 Showtime, Jick James ... By Ida Peters
  15. Billboard April 28, 1979 Page 95 Billboard's Top Single Picks, Soul
  16. The Washington Afro American February 6, 1979 Page 11 - Bill Lane writes from Hollywood
  17. Divided Soul: The Life Of Marvin Gaye By David Ritz Page 347 - Marvin Gaye Discography
  18. Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Loves and Demons of Marvin Gaye by Michael Eric Dyson CHAPTER ONE, "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" The Search for a Style
  19. Sounding Out Pop: Analytical Essays in Popular Music Edited by Mark Stuart Spicer and John Covach Page 94
  20. Soul Train October 18, 2012 Thursday Throwback – Marvin Gaye
  21. WREG Memphis March 10, 2015 Legendary Memphis and Motown musician reacts to “Blurred Lines” ruling by Jessica Gertler
  22. Funk My Soul Jack Ashford – 1977 – Hotel Sheet
  23. Billboard Sept. 12 1981 Page 79 - Billboard's Top Single Picks, Soul, recommended
  24. Discogs Jimmy Sterling – Let's Do It
  25. Page Productions Jimmy Sterling
  26. Billboard July 24, 1982 Page 60 Billboard's Top Album Picks, Survey For Week Ending 7/24/82, Billboard's Recommended LPs, black
  27. All Music The Charades, Connections, Credits
  28. All Music Thre Charades, Connections, Releases
  29. Discogs Art Stewart Discography, Writing & Arrangement
  30. 45Cat
  31. Discogs Sir Arthur (2) – Rock House
  32. Discogs Eboni Band – Shake It Down / Get Together
  33. Discogs Diana Ross – Lady Sings The Blues
  34. Discogs Frankie Valli - The Four Seasons – Chameleon
  35. All Music Edwin Starr Hell Up in Harlem (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), AllMusic Review by Andrew Hamilton
  36. Discogs Edwin Starr – Hell Up In Harlem (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
  37. All Music Edwin Starr Hell Up in Harlem (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Credits
  38. Contemporary Music Almanac 1980-1981 - Ronald Zalkind Page 374
  39. Contemporary Music Almanac 1980-1981 - Ronald Zalkind Page 374 (lower)
  40. Discogs Bonnie Pointer – Bonnie Pointer
  41. Discogs Shadow (21) – Shadows In The Streets
  42. Billboard October 17, 1981 Page 66 General News
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