Pieces of a Dream first started playing throughout the Tri-State area, and were soon featured on Temple University’s pioneering jazz radio station, WRTI-FM. Long before the “Young Lions” era of Wynton Marsalis, Lloyd and Harmon were swinging so hard as teenagers that the great Count Basie once proclaimed them “a tough act to follow.” But it was another jazz legend, the late Grover Washington Jr., the sax man who made Philadelphia his home, who helped Pieces of a Dream become the internationally known stars they are today.
After quickly becoming popular around Philadelphia, the trio landed a spot as the house band for a local television show called City Lights. Their experience widened as they played backup on the broadcasts to a wide variety of artists, and that’s where Washington first heard them. One day while the teenagers were playing at the Bijou (where Grover had recorded his Live at the Bijou album), he sat in with them to play “Mr. Magic.” Soon Washington announced that he was starting a production company and that Pieces of a Dream would be his first act. Lloyd was only a senior in high school when his first record came out.
From 1981 to 1984, Pieces of a Dream built their reputation with three albums on Elektra that would come to define the musical essence of the smooth jazz radio explosion: Pieces of a Dream, We Are One and Imagine This. Those seminal records yielded some of their earliest hits, including “Warm Weather,” “Mount Airy Groove” and “Fo Fi Fo.” Soon after completing Joyride, their last effort for Elektra, Pieces of a Dream moved to EMI/Blue Note and went on to record seven more albums. During this period, the group amicably parted ways with long time friend Cedric Napoleon.
In 2001, Pieces of a Dream signed with Heads Up International and celebrated their 25th anniversary with what was undoubtedly their best album in years, Acquainted with the Night. The group’s silver anniversary release featured guitarist Ronny Jordan, vocalist Maysa Leak, and saxophonists Gerald Albright and Kenny Blake. Highlights included compositions from Albright and Michael Bearden, along with remakes of “Mahogany” and “Upside Down.” Acquainted with the Night generated two top-five singles on R&R's NAC chart. The follow up album Love's Silhouette also scored top radio chart positioning and Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart top 10 status. Their April 2004 release, No Assembly Required, is sure to be another hit album in their long and illustrious career.
One of their former singers Norwood Young is now a cast member on the E! Cable channel's TV show High Maintenance 90210.
Addition - May 9,2009
Formed: 1975 in Philadelphia, PA
Styles: Crossover Jazz, Urban, Smooth Jazz
Group Members: Curtis Harmon, Ron Kerber, James K. Lloyd, Cedric A. Napoleon
Biography
Comprised of bassist Cedric Napoleon, drummer Curtis Harmon, and keyboardist James Lloyd, Pieces of a Dream were founded in 1975 in Philadelphia when the principal members were all teenagers. Originally somewhat jazz-oriented, Pieces of a Dream have mostly emphasized R&B, although they usually include a few jazz numbers in their performances. Grover Washington, Jr. produced their first three albums (all for Elektra during 1981-1983); they have since recorded for Manhattan and Blue Note. Saxophonist Ron Kerber became a member in the 1990s, preceding the four varied releases that appeared throughout the decade. A collection appeared at the turn of the century, but the band proved to still be going strong with 2001's Acquainted with the Night and 2002's Love's Silhouette. No Assembly Required was released in 2004 on Cleveland's Heads Up label, followed by 2006's Pillow Talk, also on Heads Up. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
How Much I Feel
Pieces Of A Dream Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of you thinkin' that I have been untrue.
But if you think that we'd be better parted,
It's gonna hurt me, but I'll break away from you.
Well, just give me the sign and I will be gone, yeah.
That's how much I feel, feel for you, baby.
How much I need, well I need your touch.
That's how much, that's how much,
That's how much, that's how much.
I sleep alone, and late at night I'm dreamin'
Of the togetherness that seems to be leaving me.
I'd give it all and then I'd give some more
If you would only love me like you had before.
Well, take hold of my hand and all will be forgiven, yeah.
That's how much I feel, feel for you, baby.
How much I need, well I need your touch.
How much I live, I live for your loving.
That's how much, that's how much,
That's how much, that's how much.
So you try, try to stay in the middle.
And then you cry, well you cry just a little.
Then you both realize
Just how foolish you've been.
And you try to make amends
But you're better off as friends.
'Cause that's how much, that's how much,
That's how much, that's how much.
How's your life been goin' on?
I've got a wife now. Years we've been goin' strong.
There's just something that I've got to say:
Sometimes when we make love,
I still can see your face.
Ooh, just try to recall
When we were as one, yeah.
That's how much I feel, feel for you, baby.
How much I need, well I need your touch.
How much I live, I live for your loving.
That's how much, that's how much,
That's how much, that's how much.
How Much I Feel by Pieces Of A Dream is a love song about the depth of the singer's feelings for their partner. The song starts with the singer claiming ignorance of how their partner started suspecting them of being unfaithful but is willing to break away if their partner thinks it's best for them. However, the singer then goes on to express just how much they feel, need, and live for their partner's love. They dream of togetherness at night and would give it all and then some more for their partner's love. The singer extends an olive branch, wanting to forgive and forget everything and take their partner's hand in forgiveness.
The singer then recalls how they both tried to stay in the middle before realizing how foolish they were and tries to mend things, but in the end, they're better off as friends. The final verse is a conversation between two ex-partners, the singer now happily married, but still haunted by memories of their former lover. The song ends with the singer lamenting that they still think of their past lover when they make love to their current partner, asking their former flame to remember when they were as one.
Overall, How Much I Feel delivers a heartfelt and emotionally honest message about the depth of love and longing, the pain of loss, and the hope of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know how this whole business started
I am not sure on how the misunderstanding between us began.
Of you thinkin' that I have been untrue.
You believe that I have been unfaithful to you.
But if you think that we'd be better parted,
If you think it’s best for us to separate,
It's gonna hurt me, but I'll break away from you.
It will bring me pain, but I will accept it and let you go.
Well, just give me the sign and I will be gone, yeah.
Give me a clear indication and I’ll walk away definitely.
That's how much I feel, feel for you, baby.
I feel so much for you that words cannot explain.
How much I need, well I need your touch.
I am longing for your touch like oxygen.
How much I live, I live for your loving.
My life revolves around the affection you give me.
I sleep alone, and late at night I'm dreamin'
I lie in bed by myself, and every night I dream.
Of the togetherness that seems to be leaving me.
The closeness we used to have is fading away.
I'd give it all and then I'd give some more
I'm willing to do whatever it takes, and more than that.
If you would only love me like you had before.
If you could just care for me as you did previously.
Well, take hold of my hand and all will be forgiven, yeah.
Take my hand, and the wrongs of the past will be forgotten.
So you try, try to stay in the middle.
You attempt to keep the relationship neutral.
And then you cry, well you cry just a little.
At times you get emotional and shed a few tears.
Then you both realize
You both come to recognize
Just how foolish you've been.
How silly both of you were.
And you try to make amends
You attempt to make things right
But you're better off as friends.
You're better suited as friends.
'Cause that's how much, that's how much,
Because the love once shared was so strong
That's how much, that's how much.
And no amount of time can make it wrong
How's your life been goin' on?
How has your life been?
I've got a wife now. Years we've been goin' strong.
I am now married and our relationship has lasted for years.
There's just something that I've got to say:
There’s one thing that I have to tell you:
Sometimes when we make love,
At times, when I indulge in sexual intimacy
I still can see your face.
Your face still manifests before me.
Ooh, just try to recall
Remember and keep in mind
When we were as one, yeah.
When our bond was unbreakable.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID PACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BillKnighton1 Knighton
Love this version!!!