Valotte
Encyclopedia
Valotte is the debut album by singer-songwriter
Julian Lennon
. It was released on October 15, 1984 on Atlantic Records
in the US and Canada, and Charisma
/Virgin Records
for the rest of the world. It was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
and The Hit Factory
in New York City
. The album was certified Platinum
, selling more than 1,000,000 copies.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Julian Lennon
Julian Lennon
John Charles Julian Lennon is an English musician, songwriter, actor, and photographer. He is the son of John Lennon and Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Powell. Beatles manager Brian Epstein was his godfather. He has a younger half-brother, Sean Lennon. Lennon was named after his paternal...
. It was released on October 15, 1984 on Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in the US and Canada, and Charisma
Charisma Records
Charisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
/Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
for the rest of the world. It was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,in 1969 when musicians Barry Beckett , Roger Hawkins , Jimmy Johnson and David Hood left FAME Studios to create their own studio...
in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
and The Hit Factory
The Hit Factory
The Hit Factory was a recording studio in New York City famous for its clientele. It was officially closed for business April 1, 2005 whereas other Hit Factory studio locations remained open, such as in Miami, Florida.-History:...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The album was certified Platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
, selling more than 1,000,000 copies.
Track listing
All songs written by Julian Lennon, except where noted.- "ValotteValotte (song)"Valotte" is a song by British singer Julian Lennon, the title track and second single from his debut album Valotte. It was a top-ten hit single in January of 1985 on the U.S...
" (Lennon, Justin Clayton, Carlton Morales) - 4:15 - "O.K. for You" (Lennon, Clayton, Morales, Carmelo Luggeri) - 3:38
- "On the Phone" - 4:42
- "Space" - 4:22
- "Well I Don't Know" - 4:35
- "Too Late for GoodbyesToo Late For Goodbyes"Too Late for Goodbyes" is the first single from Julian Lennon's 1984 album Valotte. It featured the harmonica of Jean "Toots" Thielemans, and it was a top-ten hit in the UK and the US, reaching number six in the UK Singles Chart in November 1984, and number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles...
" - 3:30 - "Lonely" - 3:50
- "Say You're Wrong" - 3:25
- "Jesse" (China Burton) - 3:48
- "Let Me Be" - 2:12
Personnel
- Julian Lennon: lead vocals, bass guitar, keyboards, Simmons drum machine & percussion
- Guitars: Justin Clayton, Carlton Morales
- Keyboards: Barry BeckettBarry BeckettBarry Edward Beckett was a keyboardist who worked as a session musician with several notable artists on their studio albums...
, David Lebolt, Peter Wood - Drums: Roger HawkinsRoger HawkinsRoger G Hawkins , is an American drummer best known for playing as part of the studio backing band known as The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section of Alabama...
, Steve Holley - Bass guitars: David HoodDavid HoodDavid Hood , is a bassist from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He also plays the trombone and is a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame....
, Marcus MillerMarcus MillerMarcus Miller is an American jazz composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Miller is best known as a bassist, working with trumpeter Miles Davis, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, as well as maintaining a prolific solo career...
, Carmine RojasCarmine RojasCarmine Rojas, Bassist, Musical Director, Composer & Producer born February 14, 1953, Brooklyn, NY.With the efforts and support of his family, friends and professional relationships, Carmine has traveled the World earning the reputation as one of the most renowned and respected bass players in the... - Percussion: Ralph MacDonaldRalph MacDonaldRalph MacDonald is an American percussionist and song-writer. He joined Harry Belafonte's band at age 17. He wrote the Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway song "Where is the Love" with songwriting partner William Salter. Probably his best-known composition is the Grover Washington, Jr...
, Steve Holley - Background: Rory DoddRory DoddRory Dodd is a Canadian rock vocalist who has performed many songs written by Jim Steinman. He is probably best known for singing the "Turn around, bright eyes" lyrics on Bonnie Tyler's version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart."...
, Eric Taylor, Julian Lennon - Trumpets: Jon FaddisJon FaddisJon Faddis is an American jazz trumpet player, conductor, composer, and educator renowned for both his highly virtuosic command of the instrument and for his expertise in the field of music education...
, Joe Shepley - Saxophones: Michael BreckerMichael BreckerMichael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
, George Young, Lawrence Feldman, Ron CuberRonnie CuberRonnie Cuber is a jazz saxophonist. He has also played in Latin, pop, rock and blues sessions. In addition to his primary instrument, baritone sax, he has also played tenor sax, soprano sax and flute, the latter on an album by Eddie Palmieri. As a leader, Cuber is known for hard bop and Latin jazz...
Additional personnel
- Michael BreckerMichael BreckerMichael Leonard Brecker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Acknowledged as "a quiet, gentle musician widely regarded as the most influential tenor saxophonist since John Coltrane," he has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer and was inducted into Down Beat Jazz...
: Saxophone solo on "Lonely" - Jean "Toots" ThielemansToots ThielemansJean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans , known as Toots Thielemans, is a Belgian jazz musician well known for his guitar and harmonica playing as well as his whistling. Thielemans is credited as one of the greatest harmonica players of the 20th century...
: Harmonica on "Too Late For Goodbyes" - Martin BrileyMartin BrileyMartin Briley is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist.He has recorded with and written for a variety of well-known musicians, as well as releasing four solo albums in his own right.-Beginnings and early bands:...
: Guitar on "Too Late For Goodbyes" - Dennis Herring: Guitar on "Jesse"
Production
- Engineers: Michael Somers Abbott, Michael Alliare, Michael Barry, Bobby Cohen, John Davenport, Pete Greene, Scott James, Bradshaw Leigh, Peter Millus, John Penzotti, Bill Straus
- Mixing: Bradshaw Leigh
- Mastering: Ted Jensen