Rickie Lee Jones (album)

Last updated
Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones 1979 debut album cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 28, 1979
RecordedSeptember–December 1978
StudioWarner Bros. Recording Studios and The Burbank Studios
Tracks 2, 11 recorded live December 22, 1978 at TBS
Genre
Length42:11
Label Warner Bros.
Producer
Rickie Lee Jones chronology
Rickie Lee Jones
(1979)
Pirates
(1981)

Rickie Lee Jones is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones, released on February 28, 1979 by Warner Bros. Records.

Contents

Background

Jones had begun playing live in the Los Angeles area at the age of 21, and after meeting singer-songwriter Alfred Johnson, the pair began writing and performing live together (most notably at the Ala Carte club.) Two of their collaborations, "Weasel and the White Boys Cool" and "Company," would later be recorded for Jones' debut album. She also sang jazz standards, as well as a song penned by her father ("The Moon Is Made of Gold") in her live sets.

Jones' performances around Los Angeles aroused interest from other local songwriters, as well as local record company executives. At a label showcase, Jones performed originals, including "Chuck E.'s in Love", "The Real Thing Is Back in Town" and "The Moon Is Made of Gold." This showcase performance, plus a demo containing "The Last Chance Texaco", "Easy Money", "Young Blood" and "After Hours" led to a record deal with Warner Bros. For her major label debut, Jones scrapped "The Real Thing Is Back in Town," but used the titular line in one of the album's tracks – "Coolsville."

Recording sessions (which began in September 1978) yielded eleven songs for inclusion on an album. Two of the songs – "On Saturday Afternoons in 1963" and "After Hours" – were recorded live on December 22, 1978.

Cover image

The album cover photo was taken by Norman Seeff, and the art direction and design was by Mike Salisbury. [2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [3]
Smash Hits 8/10 [4]
The Village Voice B− [5]

A retrospective review from AllMusic stated; "With her expressive soprano voice employing sudden alterations of volume and force, and her lyrical focus on Los Angeles street life, Rickie Lee Jones comes on like the love child of Laura Nyro and Tom Waits on her astounding self-titled debut album that simultaneously sounds like a synthesis of many familiar styles and like nothing that anybody's ever done before."

The lead single "Chuck E.'s in Love" peaked at No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, while the album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. [6] The album was further promoted by a performance on Saturday Night Live in April 1979, where she performed "Chuck E.'s in Love" and "Coolsville". [7] A second single, "Young Blood", peaked at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1979. [6] The album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on August 7, 1979, for sales of one million copies. [8] The album was also certified Silver in the UK and 2x Platinum in Australia.

Awards

YearAwardWorkCategoryRecipientResultRef.
1980 Grammy Awards Rickie Lee Jones Best New Artist Rickie Lee Jones Won [9]
"Chuck E.'s In Love" Song of the Year Nominated
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female Nominated
"The Last Chance Texaco" Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female Nominated
Rickie Lee Jones Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical Tom KnoxNominated [10]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [2] All tracks written by Rickie Lee Jones, except tracks 9 and 10, co-written by Alfred Johnson.

Side one

  1. "Chuck E.'s in Love" – 3:28
  2. "On Saturday Afternoons in 1963" – 2:31
  3. "Night Train" – 3:14
  4. "Young Blood" – 4:04
  5. "Easy Money" – 3:16
  6. "The Last Chance Texaco" – 4:05

Side two

  1. "Danny's All-Star Joint" – 4:01
  2. "Coolsville" – 3:49
  3. "Weasel and the White Boys Cool" – 6:00
  4. "Company" – 4:40
  5. "After Hours (Twelve Bars Past Goodnight)" – 2:13

Personnel

Technical

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [20] 2× Platinum140,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [21] Silver60,000^
United States (RIAA) [22] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rickie Lee Jones</span> American singer (born 1954)

Rickie Lee Jones is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. Over the course of a career that spans five decades and 15 studio albums, she has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, pop, soul, and jazz. A two-time Grammy Award winner, Jones was listed at No. 30 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Rock & Roll in 1999. AllMusic stated: "Few singer/songwriters are as individual and eclectic as Rickie Lee Jones, a vocalist with an expressive and smoky instrument, and a composer who can weave jazz, folk, and R&B into songs with a distinct pop sensibility."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Fagen</span> American musician (born 1948)

Donald Jay Fagen is an American musician who was the co-founder, lead singer, co-songwriter, and keyboardist of the band Steely Dan, formed in the early 1970s with musical partner Walter Becker. In addition to his work with Steely Dan, Fagen has released four solo albums, beginning with The Nightfly in 1982, which was nominated for seven Grammys.

<i>In the Pocket</i> (James Taylor album) 1976 studio album by James Taylor

In the Pocket is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor and his last to be released under Warner Bros. Records before signing with Columbia. Released in June 1976, the album found Taylor recording in the studio with many colleagues and friends, mainly Art Garfunkel, Carly Simon, Stevie Wonder and David Crosby, Linda Ronstadt, and Bonnie Raitt, among others.

<i>Minute by Minute</i> 1978 studio album by the Doobie Brothers

Minute by Minute is the eighth studio album by American rock band the Doobie Brothers, released on December 1, 1978, by Warner Bros. Records. It was their last album to include members John Hartman and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.

<i>One Step Closer</i> (The Doobie Brothers album) 1980 studio album by the Doobie Brothers

One Step Closer is the ninth studio album by American rock band the Doobie Brothers. The album was released on September 17, 1980, by Warner Bros. Records. The album included the hit "Real Love", which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. This album is the band's last studio album with Michael McDonald in the lineup until 2014's Southbound, and also the first studio album to feature John McFee as a member of the band.

<i>Stars</i> (Cher album) 1975 studio album by Cher

Stars is the twelfth studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released in April 1975, by Warner Bros. Records. A covers album of rock, pop and other hits, Stars was one in a string of commercial disappointments for Cher in the late 1970s. It charted at number 153 on the Billboard 200 at the end of May 1975. Cher's earnest delivery of ballads and uptempo numbers was overwhelmed in a market newly dominated by disco. After two more albums that sold even less well, Cher made a successful comeback in 1979 with the disco album Take Me Home.

<i>Strange Angels</i> (Laurie Anderson album) 1989 studio album by Laurie Anderson

Strange Angels is the fifth album overall and fourth studio album by performance artist and singer Laurie Anderson, released by Warner Bros. Records in 1989.

<i>Playing Possum</i> 1975 studio album by Carly Simon

Playing Possum is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on April 21, 1975.

<i>Pirates</i> (Rickie Lee Jones album) 1981 studio album by Rickie Lee Jones

Pirates is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones, released on July 15, 1981, by Warner Bros. Records. The follow-up to her 1979 self-titled debut album, Pirates is partially an account of her break-up with fellow musician Tom Waits after the success of her debut album. The cover is a 1976-copyrighted photo by Brassaï.

<i>Havana Moon</i> 1983 studio album by Carlos Santana

Havana Moon is a solo album by Carlos Santana, released in 1983.

<i>Id Rather Believe in You</i> 1976 studio album by Cher

I'd Rather Believe in You is the thirteenth studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released in September 1976 by Warner Bros. Records. This album was a commercial failure and failed to chart.

<i>Naked Songs – Live and Acoustic</i> 1995 live album by Rickie Lee Jones

Naked Songs – Live and Acoustic is an album by the American singer–songwriter Rickie Lee Jones, released in October 1995 via Reprise Records. It reached No. 121 on The Billboard 200.

<i>So Excited!</i> 1982 studio album by The Pointer Sisters

So Excited! is the ninth studio album by the Pointer Sisters, released in 1982 on the Planet label.

<i>Nicolette</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Nicolette Larson

Nicolette is the debut album by Nicolette Larson, released in 1978 by Warner Bros. Records. It reached #15 on the US pop charts and #1 in Canada and was certified Gold in both markets.

<i>Satisfied</i> (Rita Coolidge album) 1979 studio album by Rita Coolidge

Satisfied is a 1979 album by Rita Coolidge, released on A&M Records. The album is notable for containing Coolidge's comeback single, "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love", as well as for its perceived unique musical direction at the time of its release.

<i>Girl at Her Volcano</i> 1983 EP by Rickie Lee Jones

Girl at Her Volcano is a 10" or 12" vinyl EP consisting mainly of cover versions, and the third release by musician Rickie Lee Jones.

<i>I Love You So</i> 1979 studio album by Natalie Cole

I Love You So is an album by American singer Natalie Cole. Released on March 19, 1979, by Capitol Records, The album reached peak positions of number 52 on the Billboard 200 and number 11 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck E.'s in Love</span> 1979 single by Rickie Lee Jones

"Chuck E.'s in Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones. Released in 1979 on her eponymous debut album Rickie Lee Jones, the song became her biggest hit, reaching number 4 on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100 chart.

<i>Larsen-Feiten Band</i> 1980 studio album by Larsen-Feiten Band

Larsen-Feiten Band is the self-titled album by Neil Larsen and Buzz Feiten, released in 1980 on Warner Bros. Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rickie Lee Jones discography</span>

The discography of Rickie Lee Jones, an American singer, songwriter, and author, consists of 15 studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, one extended play, one video album, and 22 singles, on Warner Bros. Records, Geffen Records, Reprise Records, Artemis Records, V2 Records, New West Records, Fantasy Records, Rhino Entertainment, and the Other Side of Desire Records.

References

  1. 1 2 Deggans, Eric (1998). "Rickie Lee Jones". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 614.
  2. 1 2 Rickie Lee Jones (booklet). Rickie Lee Jones. Warner Bros. 1979.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. Ruhlmann, William. "Rickie Lee Jones – Rickie Lee Jones". AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  4. Starr, Red (August 9–22, 1979). "Albums". Smash Hits . Vol. 1, no. 18. p. 25.
  5. Christgau, Robert (April 30, 1979). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "US Albums and Singles Charts > Rickie Lee Jones". Billboard . Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  7. Saturday Night Live (April 7, 1979). "Richard Benjamin/Rickie Lee Jones". IMDb . Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  8. "American certifications – Rickie Lee Jones". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  9. "Rickie Lee Jones". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  10. "Tom Knox". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  11. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  12. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4544a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  13. "Dutchcharts.nl – Rickie Lee Jones – Rickie Lee Jones" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  14. "Charts.nz – Rickie Lee Jones – Rickie Lee Jones". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  15. "Swedishcharts.com – Rickie Lee Jones – Rickie Lee Jones". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  16. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  17. "Rickie Lee Jones Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  18. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 431. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  19. "Top Selling Albums of 1979 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  20. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  21. "British album certifications – Rickie Lee Jones – Rickie Lee Jones". British Phonographic Industry. October 10, 1979. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  22. "American album certifications – Rickie Lee Jones – Rickie Lee Jones". Recording Industry Association of America. August 7, 1979. Retrieved February 20, 2013.