1.) Vanilla Tree (5:26)
(C. Scales/G. Scales) CGS Music ( ASCAP)
Gwendolyn – Lead & Background Vocals, Vocal Arrangement
Charles Scales – Keyboards, Bass, Drums, and Arrangement
Gene Dunlap – Drums, Percussion
Lyrics:
ScatYou’re a sister, a winner, a mother, a singer
VERSE
Mama, strange as it seems, I don’t understand it (She doesn’t understand it)
Sometimes, everybody’s looking at me (They’re looking at her don’t you know)
The hue of my exterior makes them feel inferior
Don’t want to go to extremes but they tell me,
Chocolate don’t come from a vanilla bean
CHORUS
It’s not the way she planned it, but it seems
Chocolate fell right off of the vanilla tree
But sometimes makes me want to scream
It’s not the way she planned it, but it seems
Chocolate fell right off of the vanilla tree
Everybody looking at me
VERSE
Mama, am I a victim of circumstance
Do I make a scene, or do I have to control myself
Arrogance, circumspect, what’s wrong with m dialect
Yet, strange as it seems,
I know that chocolate don’t come from a vanilla bean
CHORUS
BRIDGE
Mama, do I make any sense, I know I can’t go on living this way
Don’t you know that I’ve got something that I want to say today
I want to say it, play it my way
Oh in the windows of my mind
I find I’m something of a different kind
A sister, a winner, a mother, a singer I can’t decide
If I can’t confide to you it don’t mean a thing
I know that chocolate don’t come from a vanilla bean
CHORUS
AD LIBS AND OUT
2.) I Surrender (4:41)
(C. Scales/G.Scales) CGS Music ( ASCAP)
Gwendolyn – Lead & Background Vocals, Vocal Arrangement
Charles Scales – Keyboards, Bass, Drum Programming, Arrangements
Lawrence Barris- Acoustic Guitar
Lyrics
I wanna speak about it
Tell the world about you
Your love makes me smile
I surrender to your love (I surrender)
I surrender to your love (In every)
I surrender to your love (I surrender)
I surrender to your love
I surrender to your love in every way
Cause’ every day you woo me
I’m dedicated to your love and baby that’s why
I stutter, I shudder, your love make me smile
I surrender to your love
I surrender to your love
I surrender to your love (I surrender)
I surrender to your love
Every moment I’m with you
You know I’m on fire
Feeling desire, you school me
I’m giving all I have to you
My heart and my soul
Forever, I’m ready to be all yours
I surrender to your love
I surrender to your love
I surrender to your love (I surrender)
I surrender to your love
I can’t imagine life without you baby
How empty life would be without you around me
Every second baby, every minute now,
You’ve got me thinking how you school me
Every second baby, every minute now,
You’ve got me thinking how you woo me
CHORUS
AD LIBS AND OUT
3.) Let’s Get Real (4:23)
(C. Scales/G. Scales) CGS Music ( ASCAP)
Gwendolyn – Lead & Background Vocals, Vocal Arrangement
Charles Scales – Keyboards, Bass, Arrangements
Gene Dunlap – Drums
Wayne Gerrard – Guitar
Ray Manzerolle – Saxophone
Lyrics
If your feelings got you reeling, and the will
They ain’t worth a cent, can’t even be spent or pay your bills
Feelings confuse the words you say
Feelings always get in the way
Just free your mind and clear your soul
Nobody cares bout how you feel
Just let it go and keep it real, so real
Drop the F.E.E. keep the L. and let’s get real
Put your hand out and touch with you heart
And get fulfilled
Real ain’t Hollywood, it’s not TV
Real is what you touch, not what you see
So put some L.U.V. in what you’re feeling
And keep it real
Nobody cares bout how you feel
Just let it go and keep it real, so real
4.) Just a Little’ Lovin’ (4:44)
(Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil) Screen Gems-Columbia (BMI)
Gwendolyn – Lead & Background Vocals, Vocal Arrangement
Charles Scales – Keyboards, Bass, Drum and Percussion Programming, Arrangements, Background Vocals
Gene Dunlap – Drum Programming
Ray Manzerolle – Saxophone
Perry Hughes – Guitar
Melvin Maxell – Background Vocals
Leslie Ferguson – Background Vocals
Lyrics
Just a little lovin’ early in the morning
Beats a cup of coffee for starting out the day
Just a little lovin’ when the world is yawnin’
Makes you wake up feeling good things are coming your way
This old world wouldn’t be half as bad, wouldn’t be half as sad
If each any everybody in it had
Just a little lovin’ early in the morning
A little extra something to kind of see them through
Nothing turns the day on, really gets it dawnin;
Like a little bit of lovin’ from some lovin’ someone like you
5.) In the Looking Glass (4:59)
(C. Scales/G. Scales) CGS Music ( ASCAP)
Gwendolyn – Lead Vocals
Charles Scales – Keyboards, Bass, Arrangements
Gene Dunlap – Drums
Lyrics
In the looking glass as I look within
I see inside the part of me that’s filled with mystery
I see a set of sparkling eyes, an impish grin
And sun-kissed skin in the looking glass
In the looking glass I can see the way
We’ve spent our nights and lived our days
I see the doubts that dwell within
I see a lover and a friend in the looking glass
And when the sun spreads its golden hues
I’ll think of all the hours I’ll spend with you
Collecting love that’s overdue
And when shadows fall across the pain
I’ll feel your kiss, and call your name
Then I’ll gently kiss the pane of the looking glass
SOLO
And when the sun spreads its golden hues
I’ll think of all the hours I’ll spend with you
Collecting love that is overdue
And when shadows fall across the frame
I’ll feel your kiss, and call your name
Then I’ll gently kiss the pane
Come to the looking glass and see
It’s lovely there, share it with me
We’ll see all that we were meant to be
And when our arms have intertwined
I’ll be yours and you’ll be mine in the looking glass
AD LIBS AND OUT
6.) Help Me (5:26)
(Joni Mitchell) Crazy Crow Music (BMI)
Gwendolyn – Lead & Background Vocals, Vocal Arrangement
Charles Scales – Keyboards, Bass, Background Vocals, Arrangements
David Myles – Guitar, Solo
Darryl Pierce – Drums
Althea Rene – Flute
Ray Manzerolle – Saxophone, Horn Arrangments
Melvin Maxwell – Percussion, Background Vocals
Lyrics
Help me I think I’m falling in love again
When I get that crazy feeling I know I’m in trouble again
I’m in trouble cause you’re a rambler and a gambler
And a sweet-talking ladies man
And you love your loving but not like you love your freedom
Help Me I think I’m falling in love too fast
It’s got me hoping for the future and worrying about the past
Cause’ I’ve seen some hot, hot blazes come down to smoke and ash
We love our loving but not like we love our freedom
Didn’t it feel good?
We were lying there talking or lying there not talking
Didn’t it feel good?
You dance with the lady with the hole in her stocking
Didn’t it feel good?
Didn’t it feel good?
Help me I think I’m falling in love with you
Are you going to let me go there by myself?
That’s such a lonely thing to do
Both of us flirting around, flirting and flirting, and hurting too
We love our lovin’ but not like we love our freedom
7.) Father’s Eyes (4:28)
(C. Scales/G. Scales) CGS Music (ASCAP)
Gwendolyn – Lead and Background Vocals, Vocal Arrangement
Charles Scales – Keyboards, Bass, Drums, Arrangements
Lyrics
VERSE
Child, look at me when I’m talkin’
Keep your head up when you’re walkin’
Pay attention to your mama
Dot your “I’s” and use those commas
Being grown ain’t bout a conflict
Getting around with who knows what it
Plant a seed with the one you love
Stay in step with the man above
CHORUS
There’s a view from my father’s eyes
He is always in my life
Now I can clearly
The things that he was teaching me (saying to me)
He was all about strength and love
And listening to the One above
La la la, la la la, la la la la, la la la la la
La la la, la la la, la la la la, la la la la la
VERSE
Stay the course and go to school
Knowledge is the golden rule
Practice hard to raise your skills
Keep good health, avoid those ills
Stand up tall, stand up straight
Be on time, don’t be late
Do your best and show some pride
If it hurts go ahead a cry
CHORUS
8.) What I See In You (6:30)
S. Scaggs/C. Scales/G. Scales, CGS Music, Scaggs Music (ASCAP)
Gwendolyn – Lead and Background Vocals, Vocal Arrangement
Charles Scales – Keyboards, Rhythm, Strings Arrangements, Background Vocals
Ray Manzerolle – WX-7 Trombone
Darryl Pierce – Drums
Al Turner – Bass
Lawrence Barris – Guitar
Melvin Maxwell – Percussion
Lyrics
Add the spice of life to a blessing
Add some style and charm just as a dressing
A heart that’s filled with love and with steam
Compassion and dreams
And the will to see them through with good nature
Humility and strength just for good measure
Imagination wide and so deep
That even while you sleep
Your dreams are coming true
That’s what I see in you
The picture seems so clear
It’s good to have you here
The rainbow in your smile is filled with fire
And lights the path that leads to all your desires
Compassion, strength, and love are your tools
While your faith is your fuel
That’s what I see in you
If ever I had a dream come true
I’d have to say that dream is you
Well, I thank my lucky stars
That you were who you are
And that’s what I see in you
AD LIBS AND OUT
9.) Simple Message (4:41)
(C. Scales/G. Scales) CGS Music (ASCAP)
Gwendolyn – Lead and Background Vocals, Vocal Arrangement
Charles Scales – Keyboards, Bass, Background Vocals
Gene Dunlap – Drums
Lenny Price – Saxophone, Horn Arrangements
Kevin Carter – Guitar
Melvin Maxell – Percussion
Lyrics
Oh yeah
Sending out a message, put it in a bottle, attached it to a red balloon
It’s a simple message, let people come together
Couldn’t come a bit too soon
You’re standing on the edge, better watch out you’re gonna fall
There’s a sea of hatred consuming us all, yeah
There’s another way, better step back, look at yourself
It’s a simple message, couldn’t come a bit too soon
To send out your love, ooh love, ooh love
Sending out a message, put it in a bottle, attached it to a red balloon
It’s a simple message, let people come together
Couldn’t come a bit too soon
So people get ready love’s on the way
Get it together, it’s coming
Everybody it’s time to send out your love
Ad Libs
10.) Up & Down (4:37
(C. Scales/G. Scales) CGS Music (ASCAP)
Gwendolyn – Lead and Background Vocals
Charles Scales – Keyboards, Drums, Arrangments
Herschel Boone – Background Vocals
Gene Dunlap – Drum Fills
Kevin Carter – Guitar
Al Turner – Bass
Lyrics
VERSE
Let downs, setbacks, upturns, drawbacks
Bad times like stormy weather
Gotta believe that things always get better
Don’t you know that life shares the darkness with the light
Sometimes the rain must fall
My love will be right here so you have nothing to fear
Nothing at all, no, cause
CHORUS
What goes up must come down as this world
Keeps spinning round and round
First you’re in then you’re out
That’s what like is all about
Moving in, moving out, round and round oh
VERSE
Money, contracts, big deals, high finance
Pressure, is steady rising
Don’t give up cause there’s no compromising
Life is just a game and the rules can sometimes change
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose
This world keeps spinning round, keep your feet on solid ground
Cause no matter what you say or do
CHORUS
AD LIBS AND OUT
11.) Where Do We Go From Here (5:08)
(C. Scales/G. Scales) CGS Music (ASCAP)
Gwendolyn – Lead and Background Vocals
Charles Scales – Keyboards, Percussion, Additional Background Vocals
Gene Dunlap – Drum
Kevin Carter – Guitar
Ray Burton – Bass
Melvin Maxwell, Briana Scales – Additional Background Vocals
Lyrics
It was sometime in September, when I met you
We fell like the leaves fall in a love so sweet
Moved on through December, I remember
Sparks flying like embers
When the birds started singing I was clinging
Our temperatures rising like the mercury
Nights sizzled with romance, a love dance
As you held me tenderly
(I felt your kiss, twelve months of bliss
You held me tight, we danced all night, it felt so right)
Where do we go from here? There are no guarantees
All I know is that, you were made for me
Where do we go from here?
Now love comes full circle, but I’m so sure
Sure that our love is still unexplored
One year of adventure, is there still more?
More love to come
A year’s gone by, will this love die?
Or will we stay in love this way
Is there still more?
Because you know that I’m loving you baby
And all I know is that you were made for me baby
Can you talk to me? Can you tell me?
Where do we go?
Ad Libs and Out
12.) Love Is (5:13)
(Gene Dunlap/C. Scales/G.Scales) CGS Music/Anabri Music (ASCAP)
Gwendolyn – Lead Vocals, “A whole heap” of backgrounds, Vocal Arrangement
Charles Scales – Keyboards, Bass, Arrangements
Ray Manzerolle – Saxophone
Gene Dunlap – Drums, Keyboard
Lyrics
VERSE
Now here’s the part where we talk about love
What kind of love do you ask? All kinds of love
Love in the present tense, love in the past
Love in the future, love that lasts
Love that could have been, love that never was
Love that needs help, love from up above
CHORUS
Talkin’ bout, love, love, love
Talkin’ bout what love is
VERSE
We’re gonna talk about the lack of love in the world today
I just don’t understand it
Cause love makes the world go round, makes the sunshine brighter
The seas bluer, the grass greener, the roses redder
We’re gonna talk about love in the
We’re gonna talk about love in the morning, the afternoon, and evening
We’re gonna talk about the love of your mother, your father
Your brother, your sister, and your lover
CHORUS
VERSE
Love is gentle, warm and kind; love has stood the test of time
Love makes you all tingly inside, love is earthly, love is divine
We’re gonna talk about the love you feel
When you’re holdin’ your honey in a storm
The love you feel from a baby’s warmth
Because you see love is the most natural, most important
Human emotion in the world
Why do we fight it? I just don’t know
That’s Why we’re gonna talk about love
CHORUS
AD LIBS AND OUT
CREDITS
Produced by Charles Scales, III for Urban Jazz Contemporary Records
Co-Produced by Gwendolyn Joy
Executive Producers: Gwendolyn Joy & Charles Scales
A&R Coordinator: Ralph Tee
Recorded and Mixed at Le Crib Studios, Detroit, MI, USA
Recording Engineer: Charles Scales
Mix Engineers: Charles Scales, Dwayne “DJ” Jones
Mastered by Jacko @ Heathmans Mastering, London, UK
Photography: Al Cooper
Sleeve Design: Roger Williams
SPECIAL THANKS
They say that the number three (3) is a charm; I give myself to you heart and soul. To the love of my life Charles, you keep me going strong, thank you for putting up with the good, the bad, and on certain days the ugly! Briana & Lauren, oh ‘What I See In You,’ I love you so! My brother Dwayne, it’s good to believe in each other, I’m always in your corner. To my mom – gee, Mom, who knew that childhood dreams and words could turn into a reality, I know that you persevered; “Vanilla Tree” is a tribute to your strength. (Gram, if you’re near, this one is for you too!) Ray, my soul brother (we don’t look ‘nuttin alike!); Gene, Gene, the Drumming Machine, what a talent; Larry – oops, sorry – Lawrence, you’re so smooth; Lenny, the price is still right! Darryl, (our stepchild) Pierce; David Myles, yeah, you fired it up; Althea Rene, yeah we know who’s the best; Melvin (Maxwell’s in the house) Maxwell for those percolating beats and silver throated tones; Leslie, “Golden Throated Songbird” Ferguson; Perry (“Hey, Nancy”) Hughes. Al “The Burner” Turner, it wouldn’t be a Scales record without your funk; Wayne; “Great Get-ting to Know You” Gerrard; Herschel; “Take 7” Boone; Ray Burton – mucho thanks for your talents! ‘My Father’s Eyes’, oh please take the time to look into them. Dad (Willie) this one’s for you. Sorry you couldn’t be here for this one; I’ll miss those happy birthday songs. To my family, extended family, friends – you give me inspiration. And finally, everything I am I owe to the “One”. I love you all, thanks for making this one special.