The album starts strong with the dynamic “Brick Intro.” The upbeat, high-energy instrumental features dazzling horns, sensational drumming, and some badass bass.
Brick brings their singular groove magic to the irresistible title track “Stoneheart.” Regis Hargis lights up the song with his fantastic guitar work, and Ray Ransom significantly elevates the funk level with a killer bass line.
The mesmerizing “Magic Woman” is an album highlight. Ransom serves up a deliciously funky bass line on this intoxicating groove. The track boasts an imaginative arrangement with sterling guitar riffs, a hypnotic beat, and an exquisite flute solo from Jimmy Brown.
“By The Moonlight” is a breezy slice of soul that features a marvelous lead vocal performance from Brown. The butter-smooth background harmonies nicely complement his vocals. The song also boasts a terrific horn arrangement, sweet guitar licks, and elegant strings.
The band delivers some feel-good pop/soul on the infectious “Dancin’ Man.” The song has an exuberant, uplifting flow, with Brown contributing another incredible flute solo. It also boasts an amazing vocal breakdown that showcases the band’s strong harmonizing skills.
“Raise Your Hands” is a great rock-flavored mid-tempo groove. It’s impeccably arranged with rousing guitars and soulful vocals, and Brown contributes an awesome sax solo.
Brick slows things down for the majestic instrumental “We’ll Love.” This soothing Quiet Storm cut features a splendid arrangement that's beautifully performed by the band. And Brown’s sax work here is simply sublime.
“Life Is What You Make It” is a pleasant but negligible song. The musicianship on the song is top-notch, but there’s nothing really special about it. It’s the weakest track on the album.
The band closes out the album with the lovely “To Me.” Brown delivers another superb lead vocal performance on this heartfelt ballad. The falsetto-laced background vocals are also excellent.
Stoneheart wasn’t as commercially successful as Brick’s two previous LPs, both of which topped Billboard’s R&B album chart. This collection had a respectable showing on Billboard’s R&B album chart, peaking at #25, but it only reached #100 on the Billboard 200. The song “Raise Your Hands” was a modest hit on Billboard’s R&B singles chart, reaching #34.
The personnel for Stoneheart was Ray Ransom (bass, percussion, lead and backing vocals), Regi Hargis (lead guitar, tambourine, glockenspiel, backing vocals), Eddie Irons (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Donald Nevins (acoustic piano, electric piano, clavinet, synthesizer, organ, backing vocals), and Jimmy Brown (trombone, trumpet, flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flugelhorn, lead and backing vocals).
Ransom contributed to the writing of seven of the album’s nine tracks; Hargis helped pen five of the songs, and Brown co-wrote four. Irons was the sole writer of “Magic Woman.”
Stoneheart was produced by Bill Schnee and arranged by Brick. It was released on Bang Records. This collection doesn’t get the love it deserves. It contains some strong tracks, especially underappreciated gems like “Magic Woman,” “Stoneheart,” “Dancin’ Man” and “We’ll Love."
"Magic Woman"
"Stoneheart"