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
Warm Weather
Pieces Of A Dream Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a warm Summer's day
The sun is shining
And the soft wind serenades
We can walk in the park
Make love after dark
Love in the night time.
I like the warm weather
It's like a natural,
Natural high
I've got to get outdoors
It's too nice,
Too nice to be inside
We can ride to the beach
Boy just you and me
Said we're just gonna take it easy
I like the warm weather.
I like the warm weather
Just you and me together
Can think of nothing better
Just you and me together.
Just you and me together.
And I think about you all the time
I like the warm weather
Can think of nothing better, hey, hey
Just you and me together.
The lyrics to Pieces of a Dream's "Warm Weather" speak to the joys of summer days and the accompanying feelings of relaxation, freedom, and love. The song celebrates the simple pleasures of being outside in warm weather, such as walking in the park, making love in the night time, and riding to the beach. The warm weather is described as having a natural high, which is a reference to the euphoric feeling of being immersed in nature and enjoying the warmth of the sunshine.
The lyrics express a desire to be outside, to enjoy the warm weather with a special someone. The phrase "just you and me together" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the sense of intimacy and connection that comes with being outdoors in the sunshine. The song's message is one of joy, love, and the simple pleasures of life.
Overall, the lyrics to "Warm Weather" by Pieces of a Dream capture the essence of summertime and the joys of being outside in the warm sunshine. The song celebrates the natural high that comes with enjoying nature, and the relaxation, love, and intimacy that are part of the experience.
Line by Line Meaning
There is nothing
Nothing compares to the feeling of a warm summer's day
Like a warm Summer's day
The warmth of the sun is unmatched by anything else
The sun is shining
The day is bright and beautiful
And the soft wind serenades
The gentle breeze provides a relaxing backdrop
We can walk in the park
Enjoying nature and each other's company
Make love after dark
Enjoying the intimate moments of the night
Love in the night time.
Sharing love during the peaceful hours of the night
I like the warm weather
Warm weather makes me feel good inside
Feels so mellow
It has a calming effect on my emotions
It's like a natural,
A feeling that comes naturally without effort
Natural high
It's like being on top of the world
I've got to get outdoors
It's impossible to stay inside on such a beautiful day
It's too nice,
The weather is too perfect to pass up
Too nice to be inside
Staying indoors would be a waste of such a beautiful day
We can ride to the beach
Enjoying the scenery as we travel to the beach
Boy just you and me
Spending quality time with the one I love
Said we're just gonna take it easy
No need to rush, just enjoying the moment
I like the warm weather.
Reiterating the love for warm weather and all the joy it brings
Just you and me together.
Expressing the importance of shared experiences with loved ones
And I think about you all the time
Constantly thinking of loved ones and cherishing them
Can think of nothing better
No better feeling than being with loved ones on a warm day
Hey, hey
A cheerful expression of joy and happiness
Contributed by Xavier K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cynthia El
Greetings François JAZZ: FYI, I am Cynthia (Biggs) El, co-writer and co-publisher of Warm Weather. Dexter Wansel and I wrote this in 1980, and it features Philly's own Barbara Walker on lead vocals. She did a fantastic job, given that Dexter originally wrote it as an instrumental. When I heard the music I fell in love with it and surprised Dexter with the lyrics. The late Cecil Womack, brother of the late Bobby Womack, recorded the original demo. Thank you for your interest in our music, and I trust you honor my claim of rights as the co-author/co-creator. Peace! All Rights Reserved Allodial without Prejudice/Recourse.
Jarreau Golden
Thank you Mrs. El.
My elder brother introduced this album to me in 1985 when I was 20 years old. I fell head over heels in love with it! Just listening to it again brings back many fond memomories with their smells. Aaaahhhhh.....wonderful.
Thank you for a beautiful song.
Sean's World
Greetings, I grew up on this music in philly & I just wanted to say I really appreciate the writing, production, musicianship that went into the music. Lately as I play your music, its brought me to tears but also bringing me to a higher vibration. I'm grown now and living in LA & just thinking how I can keep this music alive now more than ever. Respect!
Karyn Dagen
Mmmm..nothing but love here. Beautiful. This reminds me of my Marine Corps days. We were young (19,20), and thought we knew a little something about jazz and this album was definitely in the "have you heard this one" category. I just heard Will Downing 95.1 (download the app) feature this song. I've replayed it fifty times, since I downloaded it. Much love to all involved in this awesome cut.
DJ TONE
Thank you Ms. Cynthia (Biggs) El for this timeless classic!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾❤️❤️❤️🌞🌞🌞
Info Specialist
Hello Professor El. I hope you are doing well.
NONEXISTENT
Sensual and ever so classy. I love the lyrics, this is most assuredly some kind of fine smooth sound. Their voices are fantastic and the music equally as pleasing. Smooth as the finest silk, smoooooooth jazz. Just one knock you out good song!!! Thank you for this post.
Richard Hammonds
Very logical
Alan Pallace
Absolutely brilliant 👏
Martin Platt
One of Dexter Wansel's greatest. Wow what an incredible piece of music. I love this. Well done Dexter and of course the amazing Pieces of a Dream. Luckily promoted in the early 80s over here in the UK by Robbie Vincent, the R1 DJ.