Starland Vocal Band (album)

Last updated
Starland Vocal Band
StarlandVocalBandAlbum.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 1976
Recorded1975
Length34:34 [1]
Label Windsong Records [2] [3]
Producer Milt Okun [4]
Starland Vocal Band chronology
Starland Vocal Band
(1976)
Rear View Mirror
(1977)

Starland Vocal Band is the self-titled debut album by American pop band Starland Vocal Band. It was released in January 1976 [5] by John Denver's label, Windsong Records. [3]

Contents

The album peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200, [6] and features the band's most well-known song, "Afternoon Delight," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1976. California Day peaked at number 20 in October. [7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]

Scott Garside of the Daily Record wrote in an August 1976 review, "Their smooth, rich vocals and harmonies are unbeatable. However, when the instrumentation becomes prominent, the Starlnnd [ sic ] Vocal Band sounds like an average folk quartet." [9]

In another contemporary review, Joan Baez of The Daily Utah Chronicle wrote, "This album is one of the gratifying surprises of the year so far. [...] Highlights are 'Boulder to Birmingham,' 'California Day,' 'Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight' and a gorgeous accapella [ sic ] version of Paul Simon's 'American Tune.' Get it, it's worth the gamble." [10]

Rob Theakston of AllMusic gave the album a rating of four out of five stars, writing, "Those looking for nine songs that are on par with 'Afternoon Delight' will be sorely disappointed, as most of the songs are somber in nature and don't come anywhere close to the pleasantries of their one major hit. But that's not to say the songs are of poor quality." and "As debut records go this isn't too bad, but those just looking for their finest moments should check their greatest-hits compilation. This one's for die-hards only." [8]

Track listing

Track order sourced from Spotify. [1]

Starland Vocal Band track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Boulder to Birmingham"4:14
2."Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight"3:06
3."American Tune"3:24
4."Starland"3:04
5."California Day"3:35
6."War Surplus Baby"4:21
7."Starting All Over Again"3:10
8."Afternoon Delight"3:13
9."Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll!"2:44
10."Ain't It The Fall"3:39
Total length:34:34

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Baez</span> American contemporary folk musician (born 1941)

Joan Chandos Baez is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing more than 30 albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Denver</span> American singer (1943–1997)

Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer and songwriter. He was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the 1970s and one of the bestselling artists in that decade. AllMusic has called Denver "among the most beloved entertainers of his era".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starland Vocal Band</span> American pop band

Starland Vocal Band was an American pop band, known for "Afternoon Delight", one of the biggest-selling singles of 1976.

The 19th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 19, 1977, and were broadcast live on American television (CBS). It was the seventh and final year Andy Williams hosted the telecast. The ceremony recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down</span> 1969 single by The Band

"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" is a song written by Robbie Robertson. It was originally recorded by his Canadian-American roots rock group The Band in 1969 and released on their eponymous second album. Levon Helm provided the lead vocals. The song is a first-person narrative relating the economic and social distress experienced by the protagonist, a poor white Southerner, during the last year of the American Civil War, when George Stoneman was raiding southwest Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Mack (radio and television host)</span> American broadcaster, radio, and TV host

William Edward Maguiness was an American radio and television host and musician, best known for hosting Ted Mack and The Original Amateur Hour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afternoon Delight</span> 1976 single by Starland Vocal Band

"Afternoon Delight" is a song recorded by Starland Vocal Band. It was written by band member Bill Danoff. In the US, it became a #1 single on July 10, 1976, and earned a gold record.

"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" is a folk song written by Anne Bredon in the late 1950s. Joan Baez, who learned the song from a student at Oberlin College, recorded the first published version for her 1962 album Joan Baez in Concert and a variety of musicians subsequently adapted it to a variety of styles, including the Association (1965), Quicksilver Messenger Service (1968), and Led Zeppelin (1969). Following the credit on Baez's 1962 release as "traditional, arranged by Baez", subsequent releases did not name Bredon until 1990 when, following Bredon's approach to Led Zeppelin, she received credit and royalties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Bailey</span> American musician (born 1951)

Philip James Bailey is an American singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. Noted for his four-octave vocal range and distinctive falsetto register, Bailey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire. Bailey was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his work with the band.

<i>Joan Baez, Vol. 2</i> 1961 studio album by Joan Baez

Joan Baez, Vol. 2 is the second studio album by Joan Baez. Released in 1961, the album, like her self-titled 1960 debut album, featured mostly traditional songs. The bluegrass band The Greenbriar Boys provided backup on two songs. Joan Baez, Vol. 2 peaked at #13 on the Billboard album chart and was nominated for a Grammy for "Best Contemporary Folk Performance".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taffy Nivert</span> American singer-songwriter

Mary Catherine "Taffy" Nivert-Danoff is an American songwriter and singer. She is best known for co-writing "Take Me Home, Country Roads", which was popularized by John Denver, and for being a member of the Starland Vocal Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Danoff</span> American songwriter and singer (born 1946)

William Thomas Danoff is an American songwriter and singer. He is known for “Afternoon Delight", which he wrote and performed as a member of the Starland Vocal Band, and for writing multiple hits for John Denver, including "Take Me Home, Country Roads".

Windstar Records is a record label based in Snowmass, Colorado, founded by John Denver in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do You Wanna Touch Me</span> 1973 single by Gary Glitter

"Do You Wanna Touch Me", also referred to as "Do You Wanna Touch Me? " is a song by English glam rock singer Gary Glitter, written by Glitter with Mike Leander and produced by Leander. It was released as the lead single from his second studio album, Touch Me (1973), peaking at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1973, his third successive UK hit. The single also reached No. 9 in Ireland and No. 11 in Australia.

<i>Windsong</i> 1975 studio album by John Denver

Windsong is the ninth studio album recorded by American singer-songwriter John Denver, which was released in September 1975. Denver's popularity was at its peak by this time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Please Come to Boston</span> 1974 single by Dave Loggins

"Please Come to Boston" is a song that was recorded and written by American singer-songwriter Dave Loggins. It was released in April 1974 as the first single from his album Apprentice and was produced by Jerry Crutchfield. It spent two weeks at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1974 and one week atop the Billboard Easy Listening chart. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Male Pop Vocal performance.

"Boulder to Birmingham" is a song written by Emmylou Harris and Bill Danoff which first appeared on Harris's 1975 album Pieces of the Sky. It has served as something of a signature tune for the artist and recounts her feelings of grief in the years following the death of country rock star and mentor Gram Parsons. Early in her career, Harris toured with Gram Parsons and sang on his two solo albums GP and the posthumously released Grievous Angel. The song is known for its chorus:

"I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham/I would hold my life in his saving grace/I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham/If I thought I could see, I could see your face."

<i>Spirit</i> (John Denver album) 1976 studio album by John Denver

Spirit is the eleventh studio album by John Denver. It was released in August, 1976. After the full-blown success of Windsong and its accompanying hit singles, this album began a downward chart trend for the singer, although he continued to have hits on the adult contemporary charts. "Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight" reached #65 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, as well as reaching the Top 40 on the U.S. and Canadian Country and AC charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Baez discography</span>

This is a discography for American folk singer and songwriter Joan Baez.

<i>Whistle Down the Wind</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Joan Baez

Whistle Down the Wind is the 26th studio album by American folk singer and musician Joan Baez, released on March 2, 2018, her first studio album in almost a decade. The album features songs written by such composers as Tom Waits, Josh Ritter and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Joe Henry produced the album.

References

  1. 1 2 "Starland Vocal Band - Album by Starland Vocal Band". Spotify . Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  2. "Starland Vocal Band by Starland Vocal Band on Amazon Music Unlimited". Amazon Music . Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  3. 1 2 Anthony, Michael (April 26, 1976). "John Denver performs before more than 34,000". Star Tribune . Retrieved June 7, 2024 via newspapers.com.
  4. Dunkin, Zach (February 28, 1976). "Denver's Family On Band Wagon". Indianapolis News . Retrieved June 7, 2024 via newspapers.com.
  5. Garner, Jack (January 30, 1976). "Starland Vocal Band, Windsong BHLI-1351". Democrat and Chronicle . Retrieved June 7, 2024 via newspapers.com.
  6. "Starland Vocal Band - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  7. Starland Vocal Band. Billboard .
  8. 1 2 "Starland Vocal Band - Starland Vocal Band". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  9. "Starland Band's First LP Twinkles". The Daily Record . August 29, 1976. Retrieved June 7, 2024 via newspapers.com.
  10. Baez, Joan (April 30, 1976). "A mixed bag". The Daily Utah Chronicle. Retrieved June 7, 2024 via newspapers.com.