Continental American
Continental American | ||||
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Studio album by Peter Allen | ||||
Released | November 15, 1974 | |||
Recorded | 1974 | |||
Studio | Regent Sound Studios, New York City[1] | |||
Genre | Adult contemporary | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Producer | Joel Dorn | |||
Peter Allen chronology | ||||
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Continental American is the third studio album by Peter Allen, released in 1974. The album was his first for A&M Records, and is notable for the inclusion of Allen's version of his co-authored hit for Olivia Newton-John, among others, "I Honestly Love You".
History[]
Allen's previous two studio albums, (1971) and Tenterfield Saddler (1972) had been released on Metromedia Records, with modest results. Prior to the release of Continental American, Allen had assumed residency in New York City and had become a regular performer at the Reno Sweeney nightclub, owned and operated by composer Lewis Friedman between 1972 and 1977.[2] A portrait of Allen, taken at Reno Sweeney's, is featured on the back cover of Continental American.
The album was later described by critic William Ruhlmann as involving a "retrospective, world-weary concept" and a "mood of desperate nostalgia", concluding that the album was "a dour singer/songwriter collection that used show business clichés in music and words to express a world view of regret and resignation."[3]
Metromedia Records had ceased operations as of 1974, resulting in Allen's earlier albums becoming largely unavailable. He used the Continental American and later A&M releases as an opportunity to reintroduce some of his music. "Just Ask Me I've Been There", was originally recorded on the Tenterfield Saddler album. "Harbour", included on his follow-up Taught by Experts album (1976), was also originally from Tenterfield Saddler.[4]
Track listing[]
Side One
- "Just a Gigolo (Schöner Gigolo)" (Irving Caesar, Leonello Casucci, Julius Brammer) 3:14
- "Everything Old Is New Again" (Peter Allen, Sager) 2:35
- "The Natural Thing to Do" (Allen, Sager) 4:11
- "Pretty, Pretty" (Allen, Hal Hackady) 3:32
- "Continental American" (Allen, Sager) 5:15
Side Two
- "Just Ask Me I've Been There" (Allen) 4:35[5]
- "I Honestly Love You" (Allen, Jeff Barry) 3:32
- "This Side Show's Leaving Town" (Allen, Sager) 7:38
- "Just a Gigolo (Schöner Gigolo)" (Reprise) (Caesar, Casucci) 3:15[6]
Personnel[]
- Peter Allen Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals
- Viola
- Trombone
- Viola
- Garnett Brown Trombone
- Sam T. Brown Guitar
- James Buffington French Horn
- Leonello Casucci Composer
- Bass
- Saxophone
- Violin
- Violin
- French Horn
- Joel Dorn Producer
- Tuba
- Sue Evans Percussion
- Jon Faddis Trumpet
- Project Coordinator
- Steve Gadd Drums
- Violin
- Peter Gordon French Horn
- Violin
- Project Coordinator
- Anthony Jackson Bass
- Trombone
- Arthur Jenkins Keyboards
- Jack Jennings Percussion
- Howard Johnson Tuba
- Saxophone
- Violin
- Project Coordinator
- Percussion
- Cello
- Violin
- Engineer
- Harry Lookofsky Violin
- Guitar
- Ralph MacDonald Percussion
- Violin
- Project Coordinator
- Trumpet
- Kermit Moore Cello
- David Nadien Violin
- Gene Orloff Violin
- Clarinet
- Seldon Powell Clarinet, Saxophone
- Violin
- Cello
- Ernie Royal Trumpet
- Bass, Guitar (Bass)
- Saxophone
- Clarinet, Flute, Saxophone
- Drums
- David Spinozza Guitar
- Marvin Stamm Trumpet
- Euphonium
- Richard Tee Keyboards
- French Horn
- John Tropea Guitar
- Viola
- Harold Vick Saxophone
- Bill Watrous Trombone
- Frank Wess Flute, Saxophone
- Trumpet
References[]
- ^ http://labibledelawestcoast.blogspot.com.au/2016/12/peter-allen-continental-american-1974.html
- ^ Overview of Lewis Friedman Archived 2007-12-11 at the Wayback Machine; www.artistswithaids.org.
- ^ William Ruhlmann, Review of Continental American. AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
- ^ Peter Allen discography; www5d.biglobe.ne.jp.
- ^ The song is generally credited to Allen alone, though AllMusic lists Leonello Casucci as co-author, as here.
- ^ With background vocals by well-known cabaret performer Frances Faye.
- 1974 albums
- A&M Records albums
- Peter Allen (musician) albums
- Albums produced by Joel Dorn