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This Is Niecy is the debut album of American R&B singer Deniece Williams released on August 13, 1976 by Columbia Records.[1] The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 33 on the Billboard 200.[2][3] The album has been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA and Silver in the UK by the BPI.[4][5]

This Is Niecy
Studio album by Deniece Williams
Released	August 13, 1976
Recorded	June – August 1976
Studio	Wally Heider Studios Westlake Audio (Los Angeles, CA) Davlen Sound Studios (North Hollywood, CA) Kendun Recorders (Burbank, CA)
Genre	R&B, soul, quiet storm
Length	34:27
Label	Columbia
Producer	Maurice White, Charles Stepney
Deniece Williams chronology
This Is Niecy (1976) Song Bird (1977)
Singles from This Is Niecy
"Free" Released: October 26, 1976 "It's Important to Me" Released: June 1977

Overview

The album was remastered and reissued with bonus tracks in 2013 by Big Break Records.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
BBC	(favourable)[7]
Record Mirror	[8]
Variety	(favourable)[9]

David O' Donnell of the BBC noted that "what really shines from the album is Williams' distinctive soprano voice, range and acrobatic vocal ability which confirms her as one of the greatest R&B and soul singers of her time."[7] Sheila Prophet of Record Mirror gave the album a four out of five star rating. Calling This Is Niecy "a great first album", Prophet added "Niecy's voice combines the silkiness of Diana Ross with the exuberance of Linda Lewis".[8]

Singles

Singles from the album were "Free" which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.[10][11][12]

Track listing

Personnel

• Deniece Williams – lead and backing vocals
• Maurice White – drums, backing vocals
• Freddie White – drums, percussion
• Verdine White – bass
• Al McKay – guitar
• Jerry Peters – acoustic piano, electric piano
• George Bohanon, Randy Aldcroft – trombone
• Gale Robinson, Sidney Muldrow – French Horn
• Oscar Brashear, Steve Madaio – trumpet
• Ernie Watts, Plas Johnson, Ray Pizzi, Terry Harrington – woodwinds
• Sidney Barnes – backing vocals

Production

• Producers – Charles Stepney and Maurice White
• Engineer – George Massenburg
• Assistant Engineers – Steve Hodge and Dean Rod
• Mastered by Mike Reese at The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA).
• Design – Ron Coro and Norm Ung
• Photography – Ethan Russell and Jimmy Shea
• Management – Cavallo-Ruffalo Management

Charts

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions
		US Pop	US R&B	US Dance	UK Pop Singles[12]
1976	"It's Important to Me"	—	—	13	—
1977	"Free"	25	2	1	1
	"Cause You Love Me, Baby"	—	74	—	—
	"That's What Friends Are For"	—	65	—	8

References

External links

• This Is Niecy at Discogs (list of releases)

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