This Is Niecy

This Is Niecy is the debut album of American R&B singer Deniece Williams released on August 13, 1976 by Columbia Records.[1] The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 33 on the Billboard 200.[2][3] The album has been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA and Silver in the UK by the BPI.[4][5]

This Is Niecy
Studio album by
Deniece Williams
ReleasedAugust 13, 1976
RecordedJune – August 1976
StudioWally Heider Studios
Westlake Audio
(Los Angeles, CA)</y>
Davlen Sound Studios
(North Hollywood, CA)
Kendun Recorders
(Burbank, CA)
GenreR&B, soul, quiet storm
Length34:27
LabelColumbia
ProducerMaurice White, Charles Stepney
Deniece Williams chronology
This Is Niecy
(1976)		 Song Bird
(1977)

Overview

The album was remastered and reissued with bonus tracks in 2013 by Big Break Records.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
BBC(favourable)[7]
Record Mirror[8]
Variety(favourable)[9]

David O' Donnell of the BBC noted that "what really shines from the album is Williams' distinctive soprano voice, range and acrobatic vocal ability which confirms her as one of the greatest R&B and soul singers of her time."[7] Sheila Prophet of Record Mirror gave the album a four out of five star rating. Calling This Is Niecy "a great first album", Prophet added "Niecy's voice combines the silkiness of Diana Ross with the exuberance of Linda Lewis".[8]

Singles

Singles from the album were "Free" which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.[10][11][12]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's Important to Me"Deniece Williams, Clarence McDonald, Fritz Baskett4:21
2."That's What Friends Are For"Deniece Williams, Clarence McDonald, Fritz Baskett, Lani Groves4:27
3."How'd I Know That Love Would Slip Away"Deniece Williams, Clarence McDonald, Lani Groves3:49
4."Cause You Love Me, Baby"Deniece Williams4:08
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Free"Deniece Williams, Hank Redd, Nathan Watts, Susaye Greene5:57
6."Watching Over"Deniece Williams, Maurice White, Freddie White, Verdine White, Jerry Peters, Al McKay3:53
7."If You Don't Believe"Deniece Williams, Clarence McDonald, Fritz Baskett7:54
2012 remastered reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
8."Free" (Short Single Version)2:52
9."That's What Friends Are For" (Single Version)3:47
10."Free" (Long Single Version)3:27

Personnel

Production
  • Producers – Charles Stepney and Maurice White
  • Engineer – George Massenburg
  • Assistant Engineers – Steve Hodge and Dean Rod
  • Mastered by Mike Reese at The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA).
  • Design – Ron Coro and Norm Ung
  • Photography – Ethan Russell and Jimmy Shea
  • Management – Cavallo-Ruffalo Management

Charts
Year Chart Peak
1977 U.S. Billboard Top LPs 33[3]
U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs 3[2]
UK Pop Albums 31[12]

Singles
Year Single Chart positions
US Pop US
R&B		 US
Dance		 UK Pop Singles[12]
1976 "It's Important to Me" — — 13 —
1977 "Free" 25 2 1 1
"Cause You Love Me, Baby" — 74 — —
"That's What Friends Are For" — 65 — 8

References
  1. Deniece Williams: This Is Niecy. Columbia Records. August 1976.
  2. "Deniece Williams: This Is Niecy (Top Soul Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  3. "Deniece Williams: This Is Niecy (Billboard 200)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  4. "Deniece Williams: This Is Niecy". RIAA.com.
  5. "Deniece Williams: This Is Niecy". bpi.co.uk.
  6. Kellman, Andy. "Deniece Williams: This Is Niecy". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  7. O'Donnell, David (2008). "Deniece Williams This Is Niecy Review". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
  8. Prophet, Sheila (May 21, 1977). "Deniece Williams: This Is Niecy" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Record Mirror. p. 16.
  9. "Music-Records: Havens, Parliament, Bridgewater, Connors, Mann, Deodato, Horn, Winchester, Williams Top LPs". proquest.com. Vol. 284 no. 9. Variety. October 6, 1976. p. 62.
  10. "Deniece Williams: Free (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  11. "Deniece Williams: Free (Hot 100)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  12. "Deniece Williams". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
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