Kiki Dee - Kiki Dee (LP) (1977) - €4,99

This 1977 Kiki Dee release is simply one of the best records she ever made, to my musical taste obviously. 

First of all Kiki's voice is beautiful and surely would deserve wider recognition. 

Kiki is best at rock with hints of blues, and with ballads where her voice draws you in and carries you along.

But that's not all: she penned herself five songs on this album and co-wrote another two, which is perhaps a lesser known side of Kiki Dee. 

The contribution of Keyboardist/composer Bias Boshell with two great songs is remarkable. 

Then we have the great musicians (most of them worked with Elton John, producer of the album) with special attention to the great guitar man Davey Johnstone who's all over... and the also the great James Newton-Howard. 

Then we have the exquisite orchestral arrangements, the horn arrangements with the Brecker Brothers (incl. great sax wizard Michael Brecker who sadly passed away recently) and another one of my favourites David Sanborn on alto sax (what a solo on "Keep right on"!).
In any case, some of the best tracks on the album are Into Eternity, Standing Room Only, Chicago, Night Hours, Walking, and First Thing In the Morning.

This is a kind of soul-jazzy-funk-soft rock that I love so much, close to Steely Dan's music, I should say. There are no weak tracks, I love all of them, but I can't help make a special remark on "Keep right on" and "In return".

Side one

1.  How Much Fun - 3:08

2.  Sweet Creation - 3:40

3.  Into Eternity - 3:07

4.  Standing Room Only - 4:18

5.  Bad Day Child - 3:19

6.  Chicago - 4:18

Side two

1.  Night Hours - 4:51

2.  Keep Right On - 4:34

3.  In Return - 3:56

4.  Walking - 3:19

5.  First Thing In The Morning - 5:46 

Companies, etc.

• Produced For – Frank N. Stein Productions Ltd.
• Recorded At – The Manor
• Recorded At – A&R Studios
• Recorded At – EMI Studios Abbey Road
• Recorded At – Sarm West Studios
• Mixed At – Sarm West Studios

Credits

• Acoustic Guitar – Davey Johnstone (tracks: A5, B1)
• Art Direction – David Costa
• Backing Vocals – Kiki Dee (tracks: A3, A5, B1, B3), R & J Stone (tracks: A1, A4, B5), Sunny(tracks: A1, A4, B5), Tony Burrows (tracks: A1, A4, B5)
• Bass – Dee Murray (tracks: A1, A2, A4, A5, B1 - B4), Phil Curtis (tracks: A6, B5)
• Brass – Barry Rogers (tracks: A2, B2, B3), David Sanborn (tracks: A2, B2, B3), Michael Brecker (tracks: A2, B2, B3), Randy Brecker (tracks: A2, B2, B3)
• Brass, Arranged By – James Newton-Howard (tracks: A2, B3), Randy Brecker (tracks: B2)
• Cello, Arranged By – Hugh McDowell (tracks: A3), Melvin Gale (tracks: A3)
• Conductor – Louis Clark (tracks: A1)
• Drums – Steve Holley (tracks: A1, A2, A4 - A6, B1 - B5)
• Electric Piano – Bias Boshell (tracks: A6, B5), James Newton-Howard (tracks: B1)
• Guitar – Brian Holloway (tracks: B5), Davey Johnstone (tracks: A1, A3, A4, B4)
• Guitar [Solo] – Andy Dalby (tracks: B5)
• Management – John Reid
• Mandolin, Dulcimer – Davey Johnstone (tracks: A5)
• Mellotron – James Newton-Howard (tracks: A3)
• Orchestra, Arranged By, Conductor – Gene Page (tracks: A6, B5)
• Organ – James Newton-Howard (tracks: A4, B2, B3)
• Percussion – Ray Cooper (tracks: A5, A6, B1, B3)
• Photography By – Gered Mankowitz
• Piano – Bias Boshell (tracks: A4), James Newton-Howard (tracks: A1, A2, A5, A6, B1, B2, B3, B4)
• Producer – Clive Franks, Elton John
• Saxophone [Solo] – David Sanborn (tracks: B2)
• Strings, Arranged By – Richard Tandy (tracks: A1)
• Synthesizer [ARP] – James Newton-Howard (tracks: A2, A4)
• Synthesizer [Polymoog] – Richard Tandy (tracks: A1)
• Vibraphone – Ray Cooper (tracks: B1)

Notes

Release:  1977

Format:  LP (Gatefold

Genre:  Pop

Label:  The Rock Record Company

Catalog#  5C 062-98681

Vinyl:  Lichte Gebruikerssporen

Cover:  Lichte Gebruikerssporen 

Prijs: €4,99

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