''Syreeta'' is the debut studio album by American R&B and

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

singer and songwriter

Syreeta Wright Syreeta Wright (born Rita Wright, February 28, 1946 – July 6, 2004), known mononymously as Syreeta, was an American singer-songwriter, best known for her music during the early 1970s through the early 1980s. Wright's career heights were songs ...

, released on June 20, 1972, on MoWest, a subsidiary of

Motown Records Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...

. The self-titled debut album was produced by Wright's ex-husband, frequent collaborator and musician

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris (; Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th c ...

; it was released following the couple's separation and divorce. The album featured compositions by both Wonder and Wright, and also featured Wright's takes on other artists' songs. This included a Wonder-produced, funk-oriented version of his earlier recording, "I Love Every Little Thing About You", which was initially recorded by Wonder for his ''

Music of My Mind ''Music of My Mind'' is the fourteenth studio album by American singer, songwriter, and musician Stevie Wonder. It was released on March 3, 1972, by Tamla Records, and was Wonder's first to be recorded under a new contract with Motown that allow ...

'' project, released earlier that year. Wonder and Wright used the

talk box A talk box (also spelled talkbox and talk-box) is an effects unit that allows musicians to modify the sound of a musical instrument by shaping the frequency content of the sound and to apply speech sounds (in the same way as singing) onto the so ...

prominently on Wright's cover of

the Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...

' "

She's Leaving Home "She's Leaving Home" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, and released on their 1967 album '' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''. Paul McCartney wrote and sang the verse and John Lenno ...

" while Wright provided a smoother vocal take of

Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he ...

's "

What Love Has Joined Together "What Love Has Joined Together" is a song written and composed by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers, and was recorded by six Motown acts: Mary Wells, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Barbara McNair, Syreeta, ...

". Wright wrote the ballad "Happiness" and she and Wonder co-wrote "Baby Don't You Let Me Lose This", and their featured duet " To Know You Is to Love You" together. The album failed to generate success, though Wright would go on to a productive solo career throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Wright and Wonder continued working together for several decades.

Track listing

Side one #"I Love Every Little Thing About You" (

) –4:58 #"Black Maybe" (Wonder) –4:35 #"Keep Him Like He Is" (Wonder,

) –2:53 #"Happiness" (Wright) –5:19 Side two #"

" (

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...

) –4:20 #"

" (

Bobby Rogers Robert Edward Rogers (February 19, 1940 – March 3, 2013) was an American musician and tenor singer, best known as a founding member of Motown vocal group the Miracles from 1956 until his death. He was inducted, in 2012, as a member of the Mira ...

) –3:37 #"How Many Days" (Wonder) –3:35 #"Baby Don't You Let Me Lose This" (Wonder, Wright) –2:57 #" To Know You Is to Love You" (Wonder, Wright) –5:18

Personnel

*Syreeta Wright – lead vocals, backing vocals * Buzzy Feiten – guitar *Scott Gordon Edwards – bass *Keith Copeland – drums *Trevor Lawrence – bell tree on "Keep Him Like He Is" *Gloria Barley,

Jim Gilstrap James Gilstrap is an American singer and session musician. He is best known for his 1975 solo hit single " Swing Your Daddy", as well as singing co-lead to the theme from the TV series ''Good Times''. Career Gilstrap was born November 10, 1946 ...

, Lani Groves, Linda Tucker – backing vocals *

– all other instruments, vocals on "To Know You Is to Love You" *Julian Gaillard Orchestra – strings ''Technical personnel * Stevie Wonder, Trevor Lawrence, Yusuf Rahman – arrangements *

Robert Margouleff Robert Margouleff is an American record producer, recording engineer, electronic music pioneer, audio expert, and film producer. Career The Birth of TONTO Margouleff was an early customer, friend and collaborator of fellow New Yorker and music ins ...

and

Malcolm Cecil Malcolm Cecil (9 January 1937 – 28 March 2021) was a British jazz bassist, record producer, engineer, electronic musician and teacher. He was a founding member of a leading UK jazz quintet of the late 1950s, the Jazz Couriers,1972 debut albums Syreeta albums Motown albums Albums produced by Stevie Wonder Albums recorded at Olympic Sound Studios Albums recorded at Electric Lady Studios