ProJazz.net

Better Days Ahead is the third studio album by jazz guitarist Norman Brown, released in 1996 on Motown Records. Earth, Wind & Fire Horns appear on the album. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.

Reception.

The AllMusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album 3 stars and stated:”Better Days Ahead showcases Norman Brown’s growth as a musician. Brown seamlessly fuses jazz, R&B, pop, and soul together, creating a distinctive hybrid that has the technique of an accomplished jazz musician and the accessibility of pop. The songs on Better Days Ahead aren’t quite as memorable as those on After the Storm, but Brown’s dazzling ability on the guitar makes it worthwhile listening.”

Track listing:
1. “This Time Around” Norman Brown 4:25
2. “Better Days Ahead” Norman Brown 5:42
3. “After the Love Has Gone” Bill Champlin, David Foster, Jay Graydon 5:03
4. “Places in the Heart” Norman Brown 6:32
5. “Third World” Norman Brown 5:16
6. “Come Closer to Me” Norman Brown 4:59
7. “N-Control” Norman Brown 5:27
8. “Serenade” Norman Brown 6:10
9. “Your Body’s Callin'” R. Kelly 5:49
10. “Facts of Love” Norman Brown, Kenneth William Hirsch, Kimberly Ross 5:55

Personnel:
Norman Brown – guitars (1–9), arrangements (1–9), vocal scat (3), vocal arrangements (3, 6), lead guitar (10)
Gail Johnson – keyboards (1), organ (7), synthesizers (7)
Wayne Livsey – keyboards (1, 7)
Herman Jackson – keyboards (2, 4–6, 8), synthesizer programming (3), drum programming (3), arrangements (3), grand piano (4, 8)
The Characters (Charles Farrar and Troy Taylor) – instruments (9, 10)
Troy Taylor – backing vocals (9, 10), additional arrangements (8), synthesizer programming (10), drum programming (10), rhythm and vocal arrangements (10)
Larry Kimpel – bass (1, 2, 4–8)
James Manning – bass (3)
Rayford Griffin – drums (1, 2, 4–8)
Munyungo Jackson – percussion (1, 2, 4–6)
Gary Bias – horns (6, 7)
Reggie Young – horns (6, 7)
Ray Brown – horns (6, 7), orchestration (6, 7)
Bridgette Bryant – backing vocals (3), vocals (6)
Lynne Fiddmont-Linsey – backing vocals (3), vocal arrangements (3, 6), vocals (6)
Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (3)
Carl “Neuron” Thomas – backing vocals (9)

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Released: June 18, 1996
Studio:
Titan Recording (Van Nuys, California)
In Your Ear Recording (Los Angeles, California)
Ocean Way Recording, Record Plant and Music Grinder Studios (Hollywood, California)
Larrabee Sound Studios (North Hollywood, California)
Saturn Sound (Studio City, California)
The Enterprise (Burbank, California)
Length: 55:18
Label: Motown
Producer:
Norman Brown, The Characters, Charles Farrar, Herman Jackson, Troy Taylor, Michael Vail Blum