Just a Stone's Throw Away

Last updated
Just a Stone's Throw Away
Valerie Carter - Just a Stone's Throw Away Cover.jpg
Studio album by
Valerie Carter
Released1977
Recorded1976
Studio Wally Heider Recording (San Francisco)
Sunset Sound Recorders
Hollywood Sound Recorders
Westlake Audio (Los Angeles)
Genre Rock
Length33:25
Label Columbia
Producer
Valerie Carter chronology
Just a Stone's Throw Away
(1977)
Wild Child
(1978)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Orlando Sentinel Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
New York Times (favourable) [3]

Just a Stone's Throw Away is Valerie Carter's first full-length solo album. It features guest appearances from artists such as Maurice White, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and Deniece Williams. The album was finally reissued in full as part of the 2019 compilation Ooh Child - The Columbia Years on Cherry Tree Records.

Contents

Critical reception

AllMusic's Rob Caldwell writes, "The album is at once funky and folksy, blending a variety of styles, from the haunting acoustic sounds of "Face of Appalachia" to the jazzy blues of "Back to Blue Some More."" [1]

Parry Gettelman of The Orlando Sentinel gives the album 4 out of 5 stars as well, and says, "Carter's voice has a wonderful delicacy but doesn't lack for power or soul. She captures all the nuances of the R&B; classic "Ooh Child," for instance." [2]

The New York Times called Just a Stone's Throw Away "a record that ranges from lovelorn Los Angeles country‐rock ballads to bluegrassy folk to rambling funk, and the legitimate quest on whether Miss Carter holds up her end in all of this. To this taste she does, most charmingly; it is her presence that links together all these disparate styles and talents." [3]

Blue Desert's review says, "Her first solo album, Just a Stone’s Throw Away, featured an impressive array of guest artists from the 1970s Southern California music scene. The album was well-received and garnered favorable reviews, plus an opening slot for the Eagles in Europe." [4]

Charles Donovan writes in an article for Pop Matters that, "Just a Stone's Throw Away (produced by Lowell George, Maurice White and George Massenburg in 1977), has become something of a cult favorite, despite not breaking through on a massive scale at the time of its release. It's an effective exposition of all the sides of her talent." [5]

In his article announcing the death of Valerie Carter, Paul Guzzo of The Tampa Bay Times remarked, "Known for a soulful, sultry and smoky voice and for being adept at soul, rock, pop and folk, Valerie Carter released four solo albums, most notably her 1977 debut, Just a Stone's Throw Away. That album also featured Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt and Earth Wind and Fire, included the songs "Ooh Child" and "Face of Appalachia" and got her booked as the opening act for the Eagles during a European tour." [6]

The Round Place in the Middle writes, "Valerie Carter had the misfortune to be born with lead singer talent, leading lady looks and the soul of a woman who preferred remaining in the shadows. Absent the first two qualities, she would have been left alone…and probably lived a much happier and longer life. Since she had those qualities in abundance, she was pushed to the front early and often." and "Just a Stone’s Throw Away, in particular, spent a lot of time on my turntable in the eighties." [7]

Al Kooper of The Morton Report remarks that, "Valerie was in a class by herself back then and these two albums became constant companions. The first one is called Just a Stone's Throw Away and her two backup bands are Little Feat and Earth Wind & Fire. The second album is called Wild Child and the backing band is primarily members of Toto. This is everlasting greatness done perfectly." [8]

Echoes in the Wind Archives says of the album, "So what to make of Just A Stone's Throw Away? Well, like a lot of the records that were coming out of L.A. at the time, it can be a little too slick at moments. But it has other moments that are very nice, too." [9]

Track listing

Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ooh Child" (used in the 1979 movie Over the Edge ) Stan Vincent 2:56
2."Ringing Doorbells In The Rain" Valerie Carter, Ron Koss2:40
3."Heartache" Lowell George, Ivan Ulz2:55
4."Face of Appalachia"Lowell George, John Sebastian 4:15
5."So, So, Happy" Skip Scarborough 3:42
Side Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."A Stone's Throw Away" Barbara Keith, Doug Tibbles3:59
7."Cowboy Angel"Valerie Carter, Lowell George3:51
8."City Lights" Maurice White, Larry Dunn, Verdine White, Al McKay, Fred White 3:18
9."Back to Blue Some More"Valerie Carter, Lowell George, William Payne 5:49
Total length:33:25

Musicians

Production

All track information and credits were verified from the LP liner notes. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Ronstadt</span> American singer (born 1946)

Linda Maria Ronstadt is a retired American singer who performed and recorded in diverse genres including rock, country, light opera, the Great American Songbook, and Latin. She has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, and an ALMA Award. Many of her albums have been certified gold, platinum or multiplatinum in the United States and internationally. She has also earned nominations for a Tony Award and a Golden Globe award. She was awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Latin Recording Academy in 2011 and also awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy in 2016. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2014. On July 28, 2014, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts and Humanities. In 2019, she received a star jointly with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their work as the group Trio. Ronstadt was among five honorees who received the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements.

The 30th Annual Grammy Awards were held March 2, 1988, at Radio City Music Hall, New York City. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lowell George</span> American singer-songwriter and founder of Little Feat (1945–1979)

Lowell Thomas George was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, who was the primary guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and founder/leader for the rock band Little Feat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Payne</span> American pianist (born 1949)

William H. Payne is an American pianist who, with Lowell George, co-founded the American rock band Little Feat. He is considered by many other rock pianists, including Elton John, to be one of the finest American piano rock and blues musicians. In addition to his trademark barrelhouse blues piano, he is noted for his work on the Hammond B3 organ. Payne is an accomplished songwriter whose credits include "Oh, Atlanta". Following the death of Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward on August 12, 2010, Payne is the only member of the group from the original four-piece line-up currently playing in the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice White</span> American musician, founder of Earth, Wind & Fire

Maurice White was an American singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter, and producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, and served as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valerie Carter</span> American singer (1953–2017)

Valerie Gail Zakian Carter was an American singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Massenburg</span> American audio engineer

George Y. Massenburg is a Grammy award-winning recording engineer and inventor. Working principally in Baltimore, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Macon, Georgia, Massenburg is widely known for submitting a paper to the Audio Engineering Society in 1972 regarding the parametric equalizer.

<i>Spirit</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1976 studio album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Spirit is the seventh studio album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released on September 28, 1976 by Columbia Records. The album rose to No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Soul Albums charts. Spirit has also been certified Double Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Get Closer</i> (Linda Ronstadt album) Album by Linda Ronstadt

Get Closer is the eleventh studio album by singer Linda Ronstadt, released in 1982.

Andrew Paul Woolfolk II was an American saxophonist. Woolfolk was a longtime member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire from 1973 to 1985, and from 1987 to 1993. He also collaborated with artists such as Deniece Williams, Stanley Turrentine, Phil Collins, Twennynine, Philip Bailey, and Level 42.

<i>Winter Light</i> (Linda Ronstadt album) 1993 studio album by Linda Ronstadt

Winter Light is an album by American singer Linda Ronstadt, released in late 1993 to critical acclaim and commercial disappointment.

Fred E. White is an American drummer. He was one of the early members of Earth, Wind & Fire. He previously played drums on Donny Hathaway's Live album.

<i>This Is Niecy</i> 1976 studio album by Deniece Williams

This Is Niecy is the debut album of American R&B singer Deniece Williams released on August 13, 1976 by Columbia Records. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 33 on the Billboard 200. The album has been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA and Silver in the UK by the BPI.

<i>Warm Your Heart</i> 1991 studio album by Aaron Neville

Warm Your Heart is a 1991 album released by American R&B/soul singer Aaron Neville. It features the singles "Everybody Plays the Fool", "Somewhere, Somebody" and "Close Your Eyes". The "Close Your Eyes" single also featured album producer Linda Ronstadt on guest vocals. The pair had previously collaborated on the songs "Don't Know Much", "All My Life" and "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That Girl Could Sing</span> 1980 single by Jackson Browne

"That Girl Could Sing" is a hit single written and performed by Jackson Browne from his 1980 album Hold Out. The song peaked at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100, charting for 13 weeks after its Sept. 20, 1980 debut. It was also released as a single in Japan. "That Girl Could Sing" was the seventh-biggest hit single of Browne's Top 40 career.

<i>Feels Like Home</i> (Linda Ronstadt album) 1995 studio album by Linda Ronstadt

Feels Like Home is a studio album by American singer Linda Ronstadt released in 1995. It reached #75 and lasted 12 weeks on the Billboard album chart. It received excellent critical reviews upon release. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the disc sold precisely 188,815 copies in the United States. This album is now out of print physically, although it is available digitally and five of its tracks were remixed and subsequently included on Trio II.

<i>Dedicated to the One I Love</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Linda Ronstadt

Dedicated to the One I Love is an album of rock classics reinterpreted as children's lullabies by American singer, songwriter and producer Linda Ronstadt.

<i>Howdy Moon</i> 1974 studio album by Howdy Moon

Howdy Moon was the sole album by the band Howdy Moon, released in 1974. The band included Valerie Carter, Richard Hovey and Jon Lind. The trio of friends moved to Los Angeles where they were signed by A&M Records and played at The Troubadour. Many of the musicians from the band Little Feat are featured on the album.

<i>Wild Child</i> (Valerie Carter album) 1978 studio album by Valerie Carter

Wild Child is the second studio album by Valerie Carter. Some notable musicians on this album are Steve Porcaro, Jeff Porcaro, David Hungate and Steve Lukather of Toto, Mike Utley of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, Jay Graydon of Airplay, Davey Johnstone of the Elton John Band, Verdine White of Earth Wind & Fire and Ray Parker Jr. The album was finally reissued in full as part of the 2019 compilation Ooh Child - The Columbia Years on Cherry Tree Records.

<i>The Way It Is</i> (Valerie Carter album) 1996 studio album by Valerie Carter

The Way It Is is Valerie Carter's third solo album. This album features background vocals by James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Lyle Lovett, Phoebe Snow, David Lasley, Arnold McCuller and Kate Markowitz.

References

  1. 1 2 Caldwell, Rob. Just a Stone's Throw Away at AllMusic
  2. 1 2 Gettelman, Parry (29 April 1994). "Valerie Carter, Just a Stone's Throw Away (Columbia)". www.orlandosentinel.com. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Pop Life". The New York Times . February 4, 1977. p. 53.
  4. "The female west coast voice…". westcoast.dk. Blue Desert. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  5. Donovan, Charles (11 February 2019). "The Voice of an Angel: A Tribute to Valerie Carter". popmatters.com. Pop Matters. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  6. Guzzo, Paul (6 March 2017). "Valerie Carter, St. Petersburg recording artist and backup singer, dies at 64". tampabay.com. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  7. Guzzo, Paul (31 March 2018). "ALMOST WILD (Valerie Carter, R.I.P.)". theroundplaceinthemiddle.com. The Round Place in the Middle. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  8. Kooper, Al (7 September 2012). "New Music for Old People". themortonreport.com. The Morton Report. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  9. Kooper, Al (17 August 2007). "Wait A Second – What Was That?". echoesinthewindarchives.wordpress.com. Echoes in the Wind Archives. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  10. Just a Stone's Throw Away (liner notes). Valerie Carter. Columbia. 1977.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)