Al Jarreau - Jarreau (1983)

Note: this CD is not the 2009 reissue containing a bonus track (although I've since downloaded that bonus track which is really good and I can't figure out why it was cut from the album).

I'm in a remarkably good mood for a Monday morning and thought I needed to hear Al Jarreau sing the song Mornin'. This collaboration with West Coast sound gurus David Foster, producer Jay Graydon, and session musicians Jerry Hey and Steve Gadd, is a great collection of commercial pop/R&B tunes featuring Jarreau's fantastic voice. Sure, he could have stretched out a little more, but that's only a minor concern - if Jarreau wanted to produce commercially successful music more than scat singing, what does it matter to me? I like this album so I'm glad he went that direction. I just looked at a list of 30 "desert island" CDs I put together in 2004 and this wasn't on it. I should revisit that list because I think that slight was a mistake. This kind of "feel good pop" is easy to criticize and won't make any critic's "best of" list, but none of that matters to me. Probably his best album, released when he was 43(!). This opinion is "confirmed" by besteveralbums.com.

It also got some love at the Grammy Awards: Both Step By Step and Mornin' were nominated for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) while the album itself was nominated for Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical (Ian Eales, Jay Graydon & Eric Prestis) and Producer of the Year, Non-Classical (Graydon).

Reviews/ratings:

• Smash Hits (8 out of 10): "Sensual healing"
• Stereo Review: "makes me feel good inside"
• Musician: "he finally seems to have found the mix that will let him have his cake and hit records, too."
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★

Album chart Peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #13
• Billboard Jazz: #1
• Billboard R&B: #4
• Rolling Stone: #8
• CashBox: #7
• CashBox Jazz: #1
• Radio & Records Jazz Radio National Airplay: #2

Tracks: Even though the video is admittedly cheesy, Mornin' (#21 pop, #2 AC, #6 R&B) is a fantastic picker-upper and probably my favorite song on the album followed closely by Boogie Down (#77 pop, #9 R&B). Also good are Save Me, Trouble In Paradise (#63 pop, #10 AC, #66 R&B), and Love Is Waiting. I've grown so accustomed to listening to this album straight through (it's only 39 minutes long) that I don't even skip the two tunes that I don't like as much: I Will Be Here For You (Nitakungodea Milele) and Black And Blues.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  In 1984, I dubbed a copy of this album from a teacher's LP and was immediately a Jarreau fan. The tape got a lot of playing time in my car and my neighbors were often treated to my vocal stylings as I sang along (very loudly) with Jarreau. On a good day, I'd attempt the A at the end of the bridge of Mornin'. When I saw Jarreau in concert in 1985, I couldn't wait for him to sing Mornin'. He did and I wasn't disappointed.

This album helped a great deal with my transition to college in the fall of 1984. Not only did I listen to it a lot, it helped me find kindred spirits (read: music geeks) that also liked it.

Exclusive CD longbox photos courtesy of
Dirk Digglinator of the Hambonian Archives.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Givin' It Up (2006)
L is for Lover (1986)
High Crime (1984)