Ben Vereen - Ben Vereen (1976) [Hi-Res]

Ben Vereen's self-titled album was released in 1976 on New York's Buddah Records — a label renowned for its work with Gladys Knight, Curtis Mayfield, and other central figures of 1970s Black music. By the time of the recording, Vereen was already an established Broadway star: a Tony Award winner for his role as the Leading Player in Bob Fosse's Pippin (1973), a cast member of the original Broadway productions of Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, and an actor in Funny Lady alongside Barbra Streisand. This album, his second solo effort following Off-Stage (1975), represented an attempt to establish his credentials not merely as a theatrical performer but as a bona fide soul vocalist.
The album was produced by Bert DeCoteaux and Tony Silvester — a duo that had already distinguished themselves with Ben E. King's hit "Supernatural Thing" (1975), as well as their work with The Main Ingredient and Sister Sledge. DeCoteaux, a Juilliard-trained arranger and Grammy winner for his orchestration of B.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone," brought lush orchestral arrangements and an impeccable sense of form characteristic of mid-decade New York soul. Silvester, co-founder of The Main Ingredient, complemented the production partnership with his own understanding of vocal group dynamics and rhythmic structure.
The album's program blends original material with a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)," interpreted in the style of the period — with full-bodied arrangements and a dancefloor groove. Tracks like "By Your Side" lean toward modern soul and early disco aesthetics with large-scale production, while "I'll Keep My Light In The Window" (written by the Caston & Majors team) showcases a more lyrical, ballad-oriented side of the record. The extended "Stop Your Half-Steppin' Ma Ma" — the album's longest track — pays tribute to funk roots, offering space for instrumental passages and vocal improvisation.
The album captures a specific moment in American pop culture history when Broadway performers sought to establish themselves in the recording studio, while New York soul producers crafted sonic tapestries that blurred the line between theatrical entertainment and dancefloor R&B.

Tracklist:
1-1 Ben Vereen - Guess You Know Me Girl [3:28]
1-2 Ben Vereen - By Your Side [3:05]
1-3 Ben Vereen - You and I [3:13]
1-4 Ben Vereen - I'll Keep My Light In The Window [3:11]
1-5 Ben Vereen - Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) [3:35]
1-6 Ben Vereen - Stop Your Half-Steppin' Ma Ma [6:17]
1-7 Ben Vereen - What's The Reason [2:49]