Continental American
Encyclopedia
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
".
, 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. A portrait of Allen, taken at Reno Sweeney's, is featured on the back cover of Continental American.
The album was 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."
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.
Peter Allen
Peter Allen was an Australian songwriter and entertainer. His songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Elkie Brooks, Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, with one, Arthur's Theme, winning an Academy Award in 1981...
, released in 1974. The album was his first for A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, and is notable for the inclusion of Allen's version of his co-authored hit for Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
, among others, "I Honestly Love You
I Honestly Love You
"I Honestly Love You" was a worldwide pop hit single for Olivia Newton-John in 1974. The song was Newton-John's first number-one single in the United States and Canada, thus cementing her as a household name in North America....
".
History
Allen's previous two studio albums, Peter Allen (1971) and Tenterfield Saddler (1972) had been released on Metromedia RecordsMetromedia
Metromedia was a media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and owned Orion Pictures from 1986-1997.- Overview :...
, 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. A portrait of Allen, taken at Reno Sweeney's, is featured on the back cover of Continental American.
The album was 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."
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
Taught By Experts
Taught By Experts is the fourth studio album by Peter Allen. It spawned the hit "I Go To Rio". The album featured such musicians as Thom Rotella, Jerome Richardson, Lesley Gore, and Dusty Springfield.-Track listing:#"Puttin' Out Roots" 3:32...
album (1976), was also originally from Tenterfield Saddler.
Track listing
- Just a GigoloJust a Gigolo (song)"Just a Gigolo" is a popular song, adapted by Irving Caesar in 1929 from the Austrian song "Schöner Gigolo, armer Gigolo", written in 1928 by Leonello Casucci and Julius Brammer .-History:...
(Schöner Gigolo) (Irving CaesarIrving CaesarIrving Caesar was an American lyricist and theater composer who wrote lyrics for "Swanee," "Sometimes I'm Happy," "Crazy Rhythm," and "Tea for Two," one of the most frequently recorded tunes ever written. He was born and died in New York.Caesar, the son of Morris Keiser, a Romanian Jew, was...
, Leonello CasucciLeonello CasucciLeonello Casucci was a composer.Casucci is best known for composing the music of the world-famous song "Schöner Gigolo" in 1929, with lyrics by Julius Brammer). The English lyrics for "Just a Gigolo" were provided by Irving Caesar....
, Julius BrammerJulius BrammerJulius Brammer was an Austrian librettist and lyricist. Some of his better-known works were written in conjunction with the composers Emmerich Kálmán, Oscar Straus, Leo Ascher, Edmund Eysler and Robert Stolz....
) 3:14 - Everything Old Is New Again (Peter Allen, SagerCarole Bayer SagerCarole Bayer Sager is an American lyricist, songwriter, singer, and painter.-Introduction:Born in New York City, Sager graduated from New York University, where she majored in English, dramatic arts and speech...
) 2:35 - The Natural Thing to Do (Allen, Sager) 4:11
- Pretty, Pretty (Allen, Hal Hackaday) 3:32
- Continental American (Allen, Sager) 5:15
- Just Ask Me I've Been There (Allen) 4:35
- I Honestly Love You (Allen, Jeff BarryJeff BarryJeff Barry is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer.-Early career:...
) 3:32 - This Side Show's Leaving Town (Allen, Sager) 7:38
- Just a Gigolo (Schöner Gigolo) (Reprise) (Caesar, Casucci) 3:15
Credits
- Peter AllenPeter AllenPeter Allen was an Australian songwriter and entertainer. His songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Elkie Brooks, Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, with one, Arthur's Theme, winning an Academy Award in 1981...
Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals - Julien Barber Viola
- Seymour Berger Trombone
- Alfred Brown Viola
- Garnett BrownGarnett BrownGarnett Brown is a jazz trombonist who has worked with The Crusaders, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, and others.He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and later studied film scoring and electronic music at UCLA In 1974 he won the Down Beat Reader's poll for trombonist, and...
Trombone - Sam T. Brown Guitar
- James BuffingtonJames BuffingtonJames Lawrence Buffington was an American jazz hornist....
French Horn - Leonello CasucciLeonello CasucciLeonello Casucci was a composer.Casucci is best known for composing the music of the world-famous song "Schöner Gigolo" in 1929, with lyrics by Julius Brammer). The English lyrics for "Just a Gigolo" were provided by Irving Caesar....
Composer - Francisco Centeno Bass
- Arthur Clark Saxophone
- Selwart Clarke Violin
- Harry Cykman Violin
- Joseph DeAngelis French Horn
- Joel DornJoel DornJoel Dorn was an American jazz and R&B music producer and record label entrepreneur. He worked at Atlantic Records, and later founded the 32 Jazz, Label M, and Hyena Records labels...
Producer - Jonathan Dorn Tuba
- Sue EvansSue EvansSue Evans is an American jazz percussionist.Evans played piano before switching to drums. She studied under Warren Smith and Sonny Igoe, and graduated in 1969 from the High School of Music and Art. She was Judy Collins's touring drummer from 1969 to 1973, and worked with Gil Evans from 1969 to 1982...
Percussion - 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...
Trumpet - Jeff Fura Project Coordinator
- Steve GaddSteve GaddSteve Gadd is an American session and studio drummer, notable for his work with popular musicians from a wide range of genres.-Biography:...
Drums - Paul Gershman Violin
- Peter GordonPeter Laurence GordonPeter Gordon is an American experimental composer and musician, whose music draws from influences as diverse as jazz, opera, rock and world music...
French Horn - Emanuel Green Violin
- John Gruhler Project Coordinator
- Anthony Jackson Bass
- Jack Jeffers Trombone
- Arthur JenkinsArthur Jenkins (percussionist)Arthur Eugene Jenkins, Jr. was an American keyboardist, composer, arranger and percussionist who worked with many popular music icons such as John Lennon, Harry Belafonte, Bob Marley and Chaka Khan....
Keyboards - Jack JenningsJack JenningsJack Weldon Jennings was a professional American football player who played offensive lineman for eight seasons for the Chicago Cardinals.-References:...
Percussion - Howard JohnsonHoward Johnson (jazz musician)Howard Lewis Johnson in Montgomery, Alabama, is an American jazz musician known mainly for his work on tuba and baritone saxophone, although he also plays the bass clarinet, trumpet and other reed instruments....
Tuba - Walter Kane Saxophone
- Harry Kohn Violin
- Barry Korkin Project Coordinator
- Phil Kross Percussion
- Beverly Lauridsen Cello
- Charles Libove Violin
- Bob Liftin Engineer
- Harry LookofskyHarry LookofskyHarry Lookofsky was an American jazz violinist. He is also the father of keyboardist-songwriter Michael Brown, a member of The Left Banke.-History:...
Violin - Keith Loving Guitar
- 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...
Percussion - Joseph Malin Violin
- Dawn Maze Project Coordinator
- Daniel MooreDaniel MooreDaniel Abdal-Hayy Moore is a U.S. poet, essayist and librettist. In 1970 he embraced the Sufic tradition of Islam and changed his name to Abdal-Hayy...
Trumpet - Kermit Moore Cello
- David Nadien Violin
- Gene Orloff Violin
- Romeo Penque Clarinet
- Seldon PowellSeldon PowellSeldon Powell was an American soul jazz, swing and R&B tenor saxophonist and flautist born in Lawrenceville, Virginia, probably best remembered for his early work with musicians like Tab Smith , Lucky Millinder 1949-51), Neal Hefti or Louis Bellson...
Clarinet, Saxophone - Matthew Raimondi Violin
- George Ricci Cello
- Ernie RoyalErnie RoyalErnest Andrew Royal was a jazz trumpeter.His older brother was clarinetist and alto saxophonist Marshal Royal, with whom he appears on the classic Ray Charles big band recording The Genius of Ray Charles .He began in Los Angeles as a member of Les Hite's Orchestra in 1937...
Trumpet - Bill Salter Bass, Guitar (Bass)
- Sol Schlinger Saxophone
- Billy Slapin Clarinet, Flute, Saxophone
- Andrew Smith Drums
- David SpinozzaDavid SpinozzaDavid Spinozza is an American musician , who worked with former Beatles Paul McCartney and John Lennon during the 1970s, and had a long collaboration with singer-songwriter James Taylor, producing Taylor's album Walking Man....
Guitar - Marvin StammMarvin StammMarvin Stamm is an American bebop trumpeter.Stamm began on trumpet at age 12. He first attended college at, then known as, Memphis State University and then attended college at North Texas State University where he was a member of the world renowned One O'Clock Lab Band...
Trumpet - Tony Studd Euphonium
- Richard TeeRichard TeeRichard Tee was a pianist, studio musician, singer and arranger.Tee graduated from the High School of Music and Art and attended the Manhattan School of Music. Though better known as a studio and session musician, Tee led a jazz ensemble, the Richard Tee Committee, and was a founding member of the...
Keyboards - Brooks Tillotson French Horn
- John TropeaJohn TropeaJohn Tropea is a guitarist with extensive experience in the rock, pop, and jazz genres. Tropea has written for and played with major recording artists from around the world...
Guitar - Amanuel Vardi Viola
- Harold VickHarold VickHarold Vick was an American hard bop and soul jazz saxophonist and flautist born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina....
Saxophone - Bill WatrousBill WatrousWilliam Russell Watrous III is a jazz trombonist. He is perhaps best known by casual fans of jazz music for his rendition of Sammy Nestico's arrangement of the Johnny Mandel ballad "A Time for Love," which he recorded on a 1993 album of the same name...
Trombone - Frank WessFrank WessFrank Wess is an American jazz musician, who has played saxophone and flute.-Biography:...
Flute, Saxophone - Joseph B. Wilder Trumpet