Welcome to James D-Train Williams | D-Website
JAMES "D-TRAIN" WILLIAMS - THE VOICE THAT LINGERS...
Like an owl whispering in the night, his voice caresses your mind as you surrender to his melodious songs. His velvet-smooth harmonious vocal is as captivating as his warm, cool and tender demeanour. Over the years, he has created lingering images of love, human struggle and love for the younger generation, messages that the human mind not only craves, but leaves one wondering deep inside–what does it mean?
How
else does one express an emotional intensity when words like "Take
It To The Limits, Touch The Soul From There, All The Way From Heaven
Down To The Earth, Somewhere…" are offered to you in a
song? (Extract: Shadow Of Another Love 1988)
Aside recognizing the constant flow of a well manipulated and
sincere voice, he also creates awareness of the instrumentation
supplied by his carefully assembled personnel, responding to Saxes,
Guitars, Drums, Bass with a smooth blend affirmation of these
identity utterances "hmmm, yeah, yeaahh, Ooh"!
In case you are still wondering the identity of this great artist is, he is James “D-Train” Williams. An accomplished vocalist, a core background session singer, vocal arranger, producer and songwriter. Well known for his vocal performance in the band “D”-Train alongside “Hubert Eaves III.” When “D”-Train disbanded, he pursued a solo career.
According
to how infused I was to James’s solo work, I felt he was searching
for a new musical tempo that would complement his vocal ability, a
sound he could call his own and a solo career that would tear him
far away from "THE" D-Train – stereotypical rhythm
heritage of the early 80s Disco and Dance music. His craft was
ripe enough to be embraced as a soloist.
By the summer of 1986, Columbia Records encouraged a solo project,
thus played safe in suggested his debut solo (Miracles Of The
Heart – BFC-40465) trade under the band name, “D”-Train in
other to attract the “D”-Train crusade. However, this resulted
in getting a handful of fans misled, because the vinyl itself was
credited as James “D-Train” Williams. This issue prompted a
major confusion on how it should be categorized in record libraries,
should it be filed under “W” or “D”. It was not long before
major record outlets followed suit.
Nevertheless, this was no deterrent in the up-spring success of
James “D-Train” Williams as a soloist. The entire album was
produced by the duo, crediting most well known household names, Doc
Powell, Audrey Wheeler, Ed "Tree" Moore, Cindy Mizelle,
Norma Jean Wright, Curtis King, James Batton, Harim Bullock, Buddy
Williams and Clifford Adams.
With "Miracles Of The Heart", James revealed a
startlingly mature genre, determined to prove his interpretations
equal to those of Peabo Bryson, Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson,
Howard Hewett and Alexander O’Neal.
At
the drop of the first up-tempo single "Misunderstanding"
it shot off straight in the charts peaking at #10 thus enjoyed a
reasonable amount of weeks.
While the initial single was been digested by fans and enjoying a
firm ground, a follow-up release of the tender ballad... "Oh
How I Love You (Girl)", a well requested song at weddings
featuring the ex. Crown Height Affair guest vocalist, and once a
Prelude Record label colleague Audrey Wheeler. This instantly
confirmed James “D-Train” Williams’s isolation from
“D”-Train and left fans hunting for more of his solo work.
His delivery on the other two lullabies was jazz-ily cool,
catapulting the carefully crafted and mind-blowing words like "Touch
Another Flower See If It Grows In The Sunshine, Hour By
Hour…" (Extract: Miracles Of The Heart).
The
formula worked once for the duo, so two years later, he and Hubert
Eaves III retraced their footsteps and recorded what had to be the
last recording for Columbia Records. On this occasion, there was
more attention placed on image, weight reduction, clean shave,
well-trimmed haircut with curls and finishing up with a crew neck
and blazer outfit!
The 1988 follow-up was branded "In Your Eyes",
teeming with 11 beautiful cuts, 4 up-tempos, 2 mid fast, 2 slows, 1
tribute song and the outstanding lyrical content/vocal arrangement
of "Child Of Love", I dare you to overlook the
conspicuous background performance by Mr. Willfred (Will) Downing.
Conversely,
I had just turned 20yrs as a radio anchorman and a deep 80s soul
man. Arguably, I could have been easily lured into compositions of
the new age. Oh no! I managed to sustain a balance between the new
beats and the smooth-soul of the early 80s. Whilst each one became
feeble to this new inclination, James “D-Train” Williams took a
back seat and approached the music industry differently. Writing and
recording as a session man for various artists became the new order
of the day.
In the same year (1989) - George Duke had recorded what would be his
best and last album for Elektra records; the album featured two of
James “D-Train” Williams's most prolific songs ever. Suggesting
that, at his best, the singer/songwriter and producer could be
nothing less than compelling.
From the lyrical content of "You Are The Only One In My
Life", George Duke confidently arrived at a title for the
album called "Night After Night ".
Although, James “D-Train” Williams’s solo aspiration never saw the light of day after 1988. He has since remained real to his craft by maintaining a song writing style, delivered by various artists. Due to career fracture, James had time to offer assistance to old time friends, notably is Audrey Wheeler on “Oh How I Love You”, after 6 years he featured on “If You Need Someone”.
His contribution on this song was smoothly balanced between a duet and a background vocalist, on Will Downing’s – a heart-gripping rendition “I Don’t Want to Lose You” and The Late George Howard “If You Were Mine”.
Nowadays, James is well embraced by the fusion jazz personalities – utilising his underrated singing ability to its height. In 1994 & 1995 James performed lead vocals on both Donald Harrison and Michael Davis’ recordings, a duet with Sharon Bryant (ex. Atlantic Star female vocalist), resurrecting Teddy Pendergrass “Close The Door, and Burt Bacharachs’ The Look Of Love plus Solitaire”.
His
exceptional performance on these few tracks to me was a test of fate
for a Re-emerged solo career.
JAMES "D-TRAIN" WILLIAMS - THE VOICE THAT LINGERS... I
SALUTE!
By Christopher Bolarinwa Marquis
Unleashthe80s
Rec/TV Ltd.
Unleashthe80s™
- Preserving Quality Music...
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