Earl Klugh - Low Ride (1984) (vinyl Lp) - €10,00

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Low Ride is the 9th studio album by Earl Klugh released in 1983. 

The album features Klugh’s signature sound of blending “heavy, rhythm-and-blues-oriented background with the feathery sound of Klugh”. Conductor and arranger David Matthews joins Klugh on the orchestrated song “Christina”.

There were connections with other artists all over this album. Most of the album’s personnel were extremely well known. 

Ronnie Foster and Greg Phillinganes had worked with George Benson (Foster appeared on Benson’s award-winning Breezin’ (1976) LP as well as Benson’s In Flight (1977) and Living Inside Your Love (1979)). 

Greg Phillinganes also appears on Living Inside Your Love with Earl Klugh amongst others – Earl wrote the title track. 

Paulinho Da Costa was a popular musician that worked with many artists whilst carving out a very interesting solo career, notably releasing the critically acclaimed club classic Deja Vu. Earl Klugh had honed much of his craft from George Benson. Benson himself did not appear on the Low Ride project due to the fact that he was recording his own album which was released at the same time as Low Ride, entitled In Your Eyes.

Charles Meeks played bass on the album’s lead track Back In Central Park and then appears only on Christina, and If You’re Still In Love With Me (which also features James Bradley, Jr. on drums). 

Denzil Miller, known affectionately as “Broadway” Miller at the time, plays the solo electric piano on the title track. 

Lucio Harper appears for one track namely “Just Like Yesterday” which got a lot of airplay on radio in the US and UK though was never released as a single in the UK.

“Back in Central Park” is a departure from much of the other tracks in that it has an underlining “live” party feel to the recording. 

Featuring the chatter and vocals of Frank Floyd, Merle Miller and Dana Kral, the lead album track was released as a single in the US and UK just ahead of the album’s release by Capitol. 

The single, available in both 7″ and 12″ formats in the UK scaled the top 10 of the UK Jazz Funk and Soul charts and performed well in the UK Jazz Fusion Forty Chart.

On the title track, the sessions were joined by vocalists Marti McCall, Carolyn Dennis and Myrna Matthews. 

Orchestral arrangements for If “You’re Still In Love With Me” were in the hands of Johnny Mandel; with Clair Fischer taking care of Christina. Responsibility for all horn arrangements on the album rested with Dave Matthews.

Leading UK Jazz Funk DJ Robbie Vincent played the outstanding track Night Drive on his famous Radio London “Saturday Show” when the album was still only available as an import. 

This caused a big scurry of fans and DJs to the London record shops that same weekend where import copies quickly sold out. 

Within two weeks, the album was released officially in the UK by EMI and sold well. Night Drive has been released in an edited format for radio play since but is now restored to full version on all pressings.

Low Ride is significant in many regards. It was a dramatic and inspiring collection of contemporary jazz compositions, featuring some of the finest musicians of the time. 

Earl Klugh himself appeared to really come to the fore with this album and achieved one of the highest points of his career. 

The album also took its place alongside other albums at the time which included Bob James’ All Around The Town (which featured Earl Klugh), Joe Sample The Hunter, Lonnie Liston Smith Dreams of Tomorrow, McCoy Tyner Looking Out and Sadao Watanabe How’s Everything.

The album’s original cover shot was taken by Jerry Farber with the album’s overall design concept led by Pete Parsons.

Side A

A1.  Back In Central Park - 3:47  

A2.  (If You Want To) Be My Love - 5:18

A3.  Low Ride - 5:36 

A4.  Just Like Yesterday - 4:26

Side B

B1.  If You’re Still In Love With Me - 2:37  

B2.  I Never Thought I’d Leave You - 3:46  

B3.  Christina - 4:09 

B4.  Night Drive - 6:48

Companies, etc.

• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Capitol Records, Inc.
• Pressed By – EMI Electrola GmbH
• Printed By – 4P Nicolaus GMBH
• Recorded At – A&M Studios
• Recorded At – Mediasound
• Mixed At – A&M Studios
• Mixed At – Mediasound
• Mastered At – Masterdisk
• Published By – Colgems-EMI Music Inc.
• Published By – Earl Klugh Music

Credits

• Acoustic Guitar, Arranged By [Rhythm Arrangements], Keyboards – Earl Klugh
• Arranged By [Horn Arrangements] – Dave Matthews
• Bass – Louis Johnson
• Co-producer – Roland Wilson
• Design, Art Direction – Pete Parsons
• Drums – Raymond Pounds
• Electric Guitar – Paul Jackson
• Engineer – Dave Palmer, Tom Jung
• Engineer [Assistant] – Andy Hoffman, Jim Cassell
• Keyboards, Synthesizer, Arranged By [Rhythm Arrangements] – Greg Phillinganes
• Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
• Mixed By – Dave Palmer, Earl Klugh, Roland Wilson
• Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
• Photography By – Jerry Farber
• Written-By, Producer – Earl Klugh

Notes

Release:  1983

Format:  LP, Vinyl

Genre:  Crossover jazz, Soul, Funk

Label:  Capitol Records

Catalog#  1C 064-400166

Vinyl:  Goed (VG)

Cover:  Goed (VG)

Prijs: €10,00