Yolanda Adams - Day by Day

Recorded in the aftermath of personal turmoil and the dissolution of Elektra as a record label proper, Yolanda Adams' tenth career album, Day by Day, had every reason to get lost in the shuffle. It almost did, as the album appeared nearly four years after Believe, the underwhelming follow-up to the singer's now-classic Mountain High...Valley Low -- the benchmark against which all other Adams albums must be assessed. Day by Day sees the songstress grabbing hold of her gospel heritage with more aplomb than ever before, if not in sound, at least in message, sidestepping the inspirational pleasantries of previous semi-hit "I Gotta Believe" or her cover of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly." Here, Adams doesn't succumb to niceties and offers unabashed declarations of triumph in Christ ("Victory"), praise ("Lift Him Up"), and gratitude ("I'm Grateful"), all of which are delivered with such joy and gladness that you'd never think Adams recorded them in the face of trials. More striking still is Adams' ability to switch gears and slow things down, entertaining her urban soul sensibilities with the class of an Anita Baker or a Toni Braxton, but suffusing them with her own brand of uplifting contemporary R&B. What sets her apart from other smooth divas is that she's an encourager first and a singer second, something that's self-evident in the chart-topper "Be Blessed," the slow-burning "Someone Watching Over You," and the stirring "This Too Shall Pass," collectively some of the most inspiring material Adams has recorded. She isn't just content with singing to her audience, but she outright demands their attention -- not forcefully, but with poise and elegance, using her own victory over hardships as leverage. It all amounts to one stunning, well-balanced collection -- and the de facto follow-up to her beloved Mountain High. ~ Andree Farias, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Scheuerman Mixing Assistant Andy Weiner Keyboards, Copyist, Orchestration Anthony Lavon Evans Vocals (Background) Ariel Chobaz Assistant Engineer Barry Eastmond Engineer, Guitar (Bass), Producer, Drum Programming, Keyboards Blake Eiseman Engineer Bobby Ross Avila Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Producer, Strings, Keyboards Bobby Sparks Programming, Keyboards, Mini Moog Brad Dutz Tympani [Timpani] Bruce Dukov Violin, Concert Master Candy West Vocals (Background) Carla Gentry Hair Stylist Charles Stegeman Violin Chris Godbey Programming, Engineer Darrale Jones A&R Dave Pensado Mixing Dave Reitzas Engineer, Mixing David Delhomme Keyboards David Ewart Violin Demeka Jackson Vocals (Background) Derrick Rutledge Make-Up Dirk Vanoucek Digital Engineer Donnie McClurkin Vocals (Background) Dorothy Low Photography Faith Anderson Vocals (Background) Franny "Franchise" Graham Engineer, Mixing Gabriel Varde Engineer Gordon Chambers Producer, Vocals (Background) Grant Green Mixing Assistant Herman Jackson Piano Issiah "IZ" Avila Producer Jac Colman Representation James "Big Jim" Wright Vocals (Background), Bass, Organ (Hammond), Producer, Keyboards Jeffrey Penn Assistant Engineer Jerome Allen Guitar (Bass) Jimmy Jam Producer John Wittenberg Violin Keith Allen Vocals (Background) Keith Taylor Guitar (Bass) Kevin Ricard Percussion Kirk Franklin Producer Lanre Gaba A&R Latoya Sterling A&R Lauren Evans Vocals (Background) Lesa Terry Violin Luis Conti Percussion Marilyn Baker Viola Mark Obriski Design, Art Direction Matt Marrin Mixing, Engineer Mike City Producer Myron Butler Vocals (Background) Nathan East Guitar (Bass) Nick Marshall Assistant Engineer Patrice "ButtaPhly" Stewart Vocals (Background) Paul Jackson, Jr. Guitar Peter Mokran Mixing Phil Galdston Producer, Rhythm Arrangements, Keyboards, Engineer, Strings Phil Hamilton Guitar Ray Bardini Mixing Rick Watford Guitar Ricky Minor Producer, Conductor Robin Ross Viola Ronald Clark Violin Roni Burks Stylist Shanika Leeks Vocals (Background) Sharon Bryant Vocals (Background) Shelea Melody Frazier Vocals (Background) Shep Crawford Multi Instruments, Vocal Arrangement, Producer Steven Lewis Keyboards Susannah Chapman Violin Suzie Katayama Celli Teddy Campbell Drums Terry Lewis Producer Tim Roberts Pro-Tools Todd Parsnow Guitar Troy Taylor Drum Programming, Keyboards, Engineer, Guitar (Bass), Producer Yolanda Adams Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement, Executive Producer