Track Listing

1. Mr Briefcase
2. Tell Me Pretty Lies
3. No Sympathy
4. Is It You
5. Dream Walk
6. Countdown
7. Good Question
8. On The Slow Glide

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #154944 in Music
• Released on: 1995-05-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Customer Reviews

If Quincy Jones produced Toto...
Unfortunately, anyone interested enough in Lee Ritenour to read this review will probably only know him as a major purveyor of the dreaded 'smooth jazz'. But beware: if it's smooth jazz you're after, Rit ain't it! Rit came out in '81, and it represents the peak of the late 70s/early 80s 'sessionman' albums alongside 'Thriller', 'The Dude', 'Secret Combination', 'Gaucho' and other stuff by Toto, Larry Carlton and Robben Ford. In other words, it's classy rock/pop with a jazz sensibility and lovely early '80s reverb-drenched production. Basically, think Quincy Jones producing Toto.

Although early Ritenour albums had more in common with George Duke or Alphonso Johnson's music, Rit sees him leave behind the classic 'fusion' sound and concentrate more on top-class songs like Mr Briefcase, Is It You and No Sympathy, all featuring the Stevie-meets-Fagen vocals of Eric Tagg. When things get too mellow, Ritenour always seems to know the right time to up the temperature with a spicy solo (in the days when he could deliver high-octane jazz/rock playing a la Steve Lukather or Larry Carlton). The instrumentals are an appealing mixture of early '80s technology (Linn drums abundant) and the sparky funk of Abe Laboriel's bass playing and Don Grusin's soulful Fender Rhodes. And Jerry Hey's horn arrangements are instantly recognisable and a great addition.

Any Steely Dan, Larry Carlton or Quincy Jones fans should investigate this album.