David T. Walker - On Love

A top session guitarist since the '70s, David T. Walker has never been an upfront soloist or flashy stylist. But his rhythm guitar and steady timekeeping skills have been heard on sessions by numerous artists. The list includes Marvin Gaye, Pharaoh Sanders, Aretha Franklin, Barry White, Levert, Bobbi Humphrey, Johnny Bristol, Leon Ware, Stephanie Mills, and the Crusaders.

Not to be known solely as a session player, throughout the years Walker has had a number of releases as a headliner as well for such labels as Revue, Zea and Ode among others. Unfortunately, David's foray into solo performance didn't fare so well and his albums never became top sellers.

For this post I've dug out one of Walker's Ode-era albums. 1976's On Love was produced by Crusaders members Joe Sample and Wilton Felder. Overall its a very mellow piece with a few uptempo numbers sprinkled throughout. Walker attempts his own spin on two Minnie Riperton covers, "Our Lives" and "Lovin' You" (both from her Perfect Angel set). The latter features rhythm guitar by Ray Parker Jr. I might be wrong but I could swear singer Leon Thomas also makes and a guest cameo on the album. His name is nowhere on the jacket so, like I said, I might be wrong but you can hear him ad libbing towards the end of "I Wish You Love."

Source: edited & tweaked from an article by Ron Wynn featured on AllMusic.com.

On Love is long out of print on vinyl but you can still get a copy without much trouble right here. In 2007 the album was reissued on CD by the Japanese Visual Arts label. You can pick one up here.

Featured cut: "Windows Of The World"


Listen to the full album here