Better Days Ahead

Personnel

Norman Brown – guitars (1–9), arrangements (1–9), vocal scat (3), vocal arrangements (3, 6), lead guitar (10)

Gail Johnson – keyboards (1), organ (7), synthesizers (7)

Wayne Livsey – keyboards (1, 7)

Herman Jackson – keyboards (2, 4–6, 8), synthesizer programming (3), drum programming (3), arrangements (3), grand piano (4, 8)

The Characters (Charles Farrar and Troy Taylor) – instruments (9, 10)

Troy Taylor – backing vocals (9, 10), additional arrangements (8), synthesizer programming (10), drum programming (10), rhythm and vocal arrangements (10)

Larry Kimpel – bass (1, 2, 4–8)

James Manning – bass (3)

Rayford Griffin – drums (1, 2, 4–8)

Munyungo Jackson – percussion (1, 2, 4–6)

Gary Bias – horns (6, 7)

Reggie Young – horns (6, 7)

Ray Brown – horns (6, 7), orchestration (6, 7)

Bridgette Bryant – backing vocals (3), vocals (6)

Lynne Fiddmont-Linsey – backing vocals (3), vocal arrangements (3, 6), vocals (6)

Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (3)

Carl "Neuron" Thomas – backing vocals (9)

Production

Bruce Walker – executive producer

Norman Brown – executive producer, producer (1–8, 10)

Herman Jackson – co-producer (1–8)

Michael Vail Blum – co-producer (1, 2, 4–8), recording, mixing

The Characters – producers (9, 10)

Eliud "Lou" Ortiz – recording, mixing

Ralph Sutton – recording

Richard Huredia – recording assistant

Tony Rambo – recording assistant

James Saez – recording assistant

Michael Sangrey – recording assistant

Erick Labson – mastering at MCA Music Media Studios (North Hollywood, California)

Eric Talbert – A&R direction

Chad Gary – A&R production coordinator

Kimberly Ross – production management assistant

David Irvin – design

Carol Friedman – art direction, photography

Ellen Silverstein – wardrobe styling

Michael Evans – hair stylist

Quitefire – make-up

Bruce Kramer – management