What makes Lay Your Hands on Me by Art Porter, Jr. notable?

'Lay Your Hands on Me' received critical acclaim, particularly for its seamless production and engaging arrangements, leading to significant radio play within the smooth jazz format. The album helped further popularize Porter’s music, contributing to his reputation as a prominent figure in the genre before his untimely passing. By the time 'Lay Your Hands on Me' was released in 1996, Art Porter, Jr. had already established himself in the smooth jazz scene with his debut album 'Come What May' in 1992. This album represented his artistic evolution, showcasing his growth as a composer and performer while solidifying his place in the genre.

How many songs are on Lay Your Hands on Me?

Lay Your Hands on Me has 10 tracks, running approximately 50 minutes.

Released 30 years ago

Lay Your Hands on Me

Art Porter, Jr. · 1996

50 min · 10 tracks · jazz

Smooth jazz melodies intertwine with soulful grooves, creating a warm and inviting sonic landscape that lingers in the air.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Flight Time — The opening track captivates listeners with its vibrant energy and intricate saxophone lines, setting the tone for the entire album.
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Just Wanna Be With You — This track showcases Porter's emotive playing style, blending romantic themes with lush instrumentation that highlights his signature sound.
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Lay Your Hands on Me — As the title track, it encapsulates the album's essence with its heartfelt melody and soulful delivery, making it a standout piece.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

46 /100

Foothills

Higher than 10% of albums we've rated

The album showcases solid craftsmanship in smooth jazz but lacks standout compositions or distinctiveness.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of smooth jazz instrumentation, with saxophone melodies layered over rhythmic guitar and keyboard grooves.
Each track maintains a mid-tempo pace, with no significant tempo changes throughout the record.
Several tracks incorporate call-and-response patterns between instruments, creating a conversational feel within the arrangements.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 5/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Forever Love

The bridge introduces a poignant shift in perspective, where intimate feelings of longing are expressed through rich imagery and heartfelt sentiment.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Flight Time 5:55
2 Lake Shore Drive 5:04
3 One More Chance 4:19
4 Just Wanna Be With You 4:44
5 DB Blue 5:00
6 Candlelights 4:11
7 Wishful Thinking 4:32
8 Forever Love 5:14
9 We Are One 5:01
10 Lay Your Hands on Me 5:59

What to play next

Go back to

Pocket City

1992

Full Art Porter, Jr. discography Artists like Art Porter, Jr.

jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata