Routes (album)

Last updated
Routes
Ramsey Lewis-Routes.jpeg
Studio album by
Released1980 (1980)
Genre Jazz
Label Columbia
Producer Allen Toussaint, Larry Dunn
Ramsey Lewis chronology
Ramsey
(1979)
Routes
(1980)
Three Piece Suite
(1981)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

Routes is a studio album by American jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis, released in 1980 on Columbia Records. [3] [4] The album reached No. 7 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart. [5]

Contents

Production

The album was produced by Larry Dunn and Allen Toussaint. [6]

Critical reception

The Washington Informer called the album "a mixture of African and Caribbean flavor," deeming it "a further extension of Ramsey Lewis' innovation." [7] The Boston Globe called it "little more than funky cocktail lounge music which smoothly blends into the woodwork." [6]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Whisper Zone" Al McKay, Jon Lind, Larry Dunn 3:00
2."High Point"Al McKay, Larry Dunn3:48
3."Tondelayo"Larry Dunn, Lenny White 4:52
4."Caribbean Blue"Larry Dunn4:14
5."Looking Glass" Ramsey Lewis 3:33
6."Come Back Jack"Terry Marie Poret3:36
7."Colors In Space"Larry Dunn, Maurice White 2:57
8."Crystals 'N Sequence" Allen Toussaint 2:39
9."You Are The Reason"James L. Mack4:56
10."Hell On Wheels" Allen Toussaint 4:08

[3]

Personnel

Charts

YearChartPeak
position
1980 Billboard Jazz Albums [5] 7
Billboard Top Soul Albums 52

Related Research Articles

<i>Gratitude</i> (Earth, Wind & Fire album) 1975 live album by Earth, Wind & Fire

Gratitude is a double live album by American band Earth, Wind & Fire, issued in November 1975 by Columbia Records. The album spent six weeks atop the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and three weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart. Gratitude has also been certified Triple Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

<i>L.A. Is My Lady</i> 1984 studio album by Frank Sinatra

L.A. Is My Lady is the fifty-seventh and final solo studio album by American singer Frank Sinatra, released in 1984 and produced by Quincy Jones. While the album was Sinatra's last, he recorded five further songs, only four of which have been officially released.

<i>Sun Goddess</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Ramsey Lewis

Sun Goddess is a jazz album by Ramsey Lewis, released on Columbia Records in 1974. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart. Sun Goddess was also certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Catching the Sun</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Spyro Gyra

Catching the Sun is the third album by the American jazz group Spyro Gyra, released in 1980 on MCA Records. The album was given gold status by the RIAA on June 5, 1985.

<i>Breakin Away</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Al Jarreau

Breakin' Away is an album by Al Jarreau, released on June 30, 1981, through the Warner Bros. Records label. To quote AllMusic, "Breakin' Away became the standard bearer of the L.A. pop and R&B sound."

<i>This Time</i> (Al Jarreau album) 1980 studio album by Al Jarreau

This Time is the fourth studio album by Jazz vocalist Al Jarreau, released in 1980 on Warner Bros. Records. The release marked a change in Jarreau's sound to a more R&B-oriented flavor. As a result, the album achieved more success on the mainstream charts than his previous works, while also topping the Jazz Charts. It also reached No. 6 on the R&B charts and No. 27 on the Billboard 200." In 1981 "Never Givin' Up" gave Jarreau a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male.

<i>Bringing Back the Funk</i> 2008 studio album by Brian Culbertson

Bringing Back the Funk is a studio album by Brian Culbertson released in 2008 on GRP Records. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.

<i>Urban Knights II</i> 1997 studio album by Urban Knights

Urban Knights II is an album by the Urban Knights which was issued in 1997 on GRP Records. The album reached No. 5 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums Chart.

<i>Song Bird</i> (Deniece Williams album) 1977 studio album by Deniece Williams

Song Bird is the second studio album by American singer Deniece Williams. It was produced by Maurice White and released on October 28, 1977, by Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 23 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 5 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart.

<i>Released</i> (Patti LaBelle album) 1980 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Released is the fourth studio album by the American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by Epic Records on March 14, 1980, in the United States. The album featured the hits "I Don't Go Shopping", written by previous collaborator David Lasley and musician Peter Allen, and the title track, "Release ", which was written by Allen Toussaint, who produced the entire album. The title track found some international success upon its release while "I Don't Go Shopping" was her first top 40 R&B charted single since 1977. Along with her frequent collaborator, James "Budd" Ellison, LaBelle lyrically co-wrote the last five songs on the album.

<i>Tender Togetherness</i> 1981 studio album by Stanley Turrentine

Tender Togetherness is a studio album by tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, released in April 1981 on Elektra Records. The album reached No. 13 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Fragile</i> (Cherrelle album) 1984 studio album by Cherrelle

Fragile is the debut studio album by American singer Cherrelle. It was released on April 8, 1984 by Tabu Records and was the first of four records for the label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Stone</span> 1979 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"In the Stone" is a song by R&B/funk band Earth, Wind & Fire issued as a single in 1979 on Columbia Records. The song rose to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Goddess (song)</span> 1975 single by Ramsey Lewis featuring Earth, Wind & Fire

"Sun Goddess" is a smooth soul song by jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis featuring the band Earth, Wind & Fire issued as a single in 1975 on Columbia Records. The song peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

<i>Bad for Me</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Dee Dee Bridgewater

Bad for Me is the fourth studio album by American jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater, released in 1979 by Elektra Records. The album reached at No. 29 on the Cashbox Top Jazz Albums chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Keys to the City</i> (Ramsey Lewis album) 1987 studio album by Ramsey Lewis

Keys to the City is a studio album by American jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis, released in May 1987 on Columbia Records. The album peaked at #22 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and #11 on the Cashbox Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Tequila Mockingbird</i> 1977 studio album by Ramsey Lewis

Tequila Mockingbird is an album by the American jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis, released in 1977 on Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Play Date</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Euge Groove

Play Date is the second studio album of saxophonist Euge Groove issued in July 2002 by Warner Bros. Records. The album rose to No. 10 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and No. 13 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Mr. Nice Guy</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Ronnie Laws

Mr. Nice Guy is the seventh studio album by American saxophonist Ronnie Laws, released in 1983 by Capitol Records. The album reached No. 19 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums chart and No. 24 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guiding Lights (song)</span> 2012 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Guiding Lights" is a song by the band Earth, Wind & Fire, released as a single in 2012 by Sony Music/Legacy. The song reached No. 16 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.

References

  1. "Routes - Ramsey Lewis | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  2. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 214.
  3. 1 2 3 Ramsey Lewis: Routes. Columbia Records. 1980.
  4. "Ramsey Lewis: Routes". Stereo Review. 45: 108. December 1980.
  5. 1 2 "Billboard Best Selling Jazz LPs" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 92, no. 41. Billboard. October 11, 1980. p. 66.
  6. 1 2 Simon, James (1 Oct 1980). "Routes". The Boston Globe. News. p. 1.
  7. White Jr., Ernest P. (Oct 12, 1983). "Ramsey's Coming To Town". The Washington Informer. No. 51. p. 14.