Tyrone Davis

BUY CDS

Born May 4, 1938 in Greenville, Mississippi, Tyrone Davis is considered the "king of romantic Chicago soul". The moved to Chicago in 1959, where he found work as a valet for bluesman Freddie King. Eventually, Davis began singing in clubs on the city's West and South Sides, and by 1965 he had signed to the Four Brothers label.. Three years later, Davis moved to producer Carl Davis' Dakar Records and earned his first hit, "Can I Change My Mind," when a local DJ played the B-side of his Dakar debut. The song went to Number One on the R&B charts, and hit the pop Top Five. In the Seventies, he scored other R&B chart-toppers with "Turn Back the Hands of Time" and "Turning Point" before switching to Columbia Records and discofying his soul. It was his smooth bedroom ballads like "In The Mood", however, that burned up the charts. Davis went onto record successfully on various labels like Ichiban and Malaco up to his death. He is one of the most imitated soul singers of the modern era.

Album Discography

"Can I Change My Mind" (Dakar 1969)

"Turn Back The Hands Of Time" (Dakar 1970)

"I Had It All The Time" (Dakar 1972)

"Without You In My Life" (Dakar 1973)

"It's All In The Game" (Dakar 1974)

"Home Wrecker" (Dakar 1975)

"Turning Point" (Dakar 1976)

Final album for Dakar contains the classic title cut (#1 R & B) & "Everlovin Girl" (#38 R & B). Album has a definite disco influence as shown by "I Can't Bump Pts. 1 & 2". Tracks: it's So Good (To Be Home With You)/ Turning Point/ Forever/ I Can't Bump, pt.l/ Saving My Love For You// Ever Lovin' Girl/ Don't Let It Be Too Late/ I Can't Bump, pt.2/ Turn Back The Hands of Time

"Love And Touch" (CBS 1976)

Somewhat discofied soul album was one of his highest charting LPs (#12 R & B) and yielded the hits "Give It Up (Turn It Loose)" (#5 R & B #38 Pop) & "Close To You" (#33 R & B). Special mention must be made to the great "Wrong Doers" as well. TRACKS: Give It Up (Turn It Loose)/ Close To You/ Why Is It So Hard (To Say You're Sorry)/ You're Too Much/ / Put Your Trust In Me/ Givin' Myself To You/ Wrong oers/ Beware, Beware

"Let's Be Closer Together" (CBS 1977)

"Closer" spawned two hits: "This I Swear" (#6 R & B) & "All You Got" (#32 R & B). Other keepers are "I Got Carried Away" and the title track is a slow burning classic. TRACKS: All You Got/ I Just Can't Keep On Going/ If That's What It Takes/ Playing In The Sand / This I Swear/ I Got Carried Away/ You Need Love/ Let's Be Closer Together

"I Can't Go On This Way" (Columbia 1978)

Hits include the great "Can't Help But Say" (#65 R & B) & "Disco (Get On Up)". TRACKS: Get On Up (Disco)/ All I Ever Need/ Funky/ / I Can't Go On This Way/ Can't Help But Say/ It's You, It's You/ I'm Still In Love With You/ Do You Feel It

"In The Mood With Tyrone Davis" (Columbia 1979)

His hit Columbia LP (charted #9 R & B) with the seductive, slinky "In The Mood" (#6 R & B), which became one of Tyrone's standards. Album also contained the hit "Ain't Nothing I Can Do" (#72 R & B), "All The Love I Need" & "I Can't Wait". TRACKS: In The Mood/ You Know What To Do/ I Can't Wait/ Keep On Dancin'/ / I Don't Think You Heard Me/ Ain't Nothing I Can Do/ All The Love I Need/ We Were In Love Then

"Can't You Tell It's Me" (Columbia 1979)

Hearty follow up contains the hits "Be With Me" (#37 R & B) & title track (#58 R & B). Another highlight is the enduring "Heart Failure", which he recorded several times.

"I Just Can't Keep On Going" (Columbia 1980)

This album contains the hit remake of the Marvin Gaye smash "How Sweet It Is (To be Loved By You)" (#36 R & B)

"Everything In Place" (Columbia 1981)

Final album for Columbia failed to chart though the single "Just My Luck" got some radio play.

"In The Mood: The Best Of" (Columbia 1996)

"Tyrone Davis" (Highrise 1982)

Sole album for Highrise contains some energetic dancers ("I'm So Excited") and a smooth slowie, "Are You Serious" (#3 R & B #58 Pop), which was his first song to reach the Pop chart since "Give It Up (Turn It Loose)"... and also his last. Another hit was "A Little Bit Of Loving (Goes A Long Way)" (#49 R & B).

"Something Good" (Ocean Front 1983)

Very strong album contains some of his very best post-Dakar material. "I Found Myself When I Lost You" (#38 R & B), "Let Me Be Your Pacifier" (#33 R & B) plus "You Stay On My Mind", "Be Honest With Me" & "All Because Of Your Love".

"Sexy Thing" (Future 1985)

"Pacifier" (Timeless 1987)

Turning Point/ Are You Serious/ Overdue/ You Can Win If You Want/ Be Honest With Me/ / Let Me Be Your Pacifier/ You Stay On My Mind/ Where Did We Lose/ One In A Million/ Sexy Thing/ More And More

"Man Of Stone" (Future 1987)

Second Future release contains the minor hit "I'm In Love Again" (#84 R & B)

"Flashin' Back" (Future 1988; 601 Music 1998))

Poppy, energetic 80s hit album contained his last 3 charting singles: "Do You Feel It" (#54 R & B), "It Keeps On Flashin' Back" (#61 R & B) & "It's A Miracle" (#32 R & B)

"Come On Over" (Future 1990)

'The Best Of The Future Years" (Ichiban/Ryko 1992)

Tracks: Do You Feel It/ It's A Miracle/ (It Keeps On) Flashin' Back/ Heart Failure/ Overdue/ Sexy Thing/ Come On Over/ Wrong Doers/ I'm So Excited/ Be Honest With Me/ You Stay On My Mind/ All Of Me

"I'll Always Love You" (Ichiban 1991)

"Something's Mighty Wrong" (Ichiban 1992)

"You Stay On My Mind" (Ichiban 1994)

"For The Good Times" (Bellmark 1994)

"Simply Tyrone Davis" (Malaco 1996)

"Pleasing You" (Malaco 1997)

"Ladies Choice: The Dakar Recordings" (Demon 1998)

"Call Tyrone" (Malaco 1999)

"Relaxin' With Tyrone" (Malaco 2000)

"The Best Of" (Rhino 2002)

"Love Line" (Malaco 2002)

"Come To Daddy" (Future 2003)

"The Legendary Hall Of Famer" (End Zone 2004)

"Dakar Hit Singles A's & B's" (Edsel 2004)

2 disc 48-track collection of all his Dakar Records singles and their B-Sides. All The hits from "Can I Change My Mind" to "Everlovin' Girl".

"The Ultimate" (Brunswick 2005)

2 CD 40-song compilation of his Drakar years features less tracks than "Dakar Hit Singles As & Bs" but has better sound quality.

"Give It Up (Turn It Loose): The Very Best Of The Columbia Years" (Columbia 2005)

"Soul Legacy" (Bellmark 2005)

"The Soul Sessions" (D.M. 2006)

Two-disc 23-song collection of his 80s Ichiban period that contains more than is needed but at least collects all the cuts necessary from this era but inexplicably leaves off his best song of the 80s, "Mom's Apple Pie".

"Do You Feel It? The Real Soul Of" (Phanton Sound 2008)

"How Sweet It is: Columbia Hit Singles 1976-1981" (As Is 2010)

BUY CDS