Sedaka's Back
Encyclopedia
Sedaka's Back is an album
by American singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka
. The record, a compilation of his last three albums, which had been released only in the UK, was released on Elton John
's Rocket Records
label in 1974
. Three singles were released from this album: "Laughter in the Rain
" (a #1 hit), "The Immigrant
" (dedicated to John Lennon
) and "That's Where The Music Takes Me." The latter two songs were both Top 40 hits. Also included were songs that were turned into hits by other artists: "Solitaire" (The Carpenters
) and "Love Will Keep Us Together
" (The Captain & Tennille). The album reached No. 23 on the US Billboard album charts and was certified Gold for shipping half a million sales.
(The italicized tracks are bonus tracks included in the 1998 CD re-release.)
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...
. The record, a compilation of his last three albums, which had been released only in the UK, was released on Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's Rocket Records
Rocket Records
The Rocket Record Company was a record label founded by Elton John, with Bernie Taupin, Gus Dudgeon and Steve Brown among others, in 1972. The name is from the hit, "Rocket Man"...
label in 1974
1974 in music
-January–April:*January 3 – Bob Dylan and The Band kick off their 40-date concert tour at Chicago Stadium. It's Dylan's first time on the road since 1966.*January 17...
. Three singles were released from this album: "Laughter in the Rain
Laughter in the Rain
"Laughter in the Rain" is a song recorded by Neil Sedaka and composed by Sedaka with lyrics by Phil Cody. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 1, 1975. The song also spent two weeks atop the adult contemporary chart.-Covers:...
" (a #1 hit), "The Immigrant
The Immigrant (Neil Sedaka song)
"The Immigrant" is a 1975 single written by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody and performed by Sedaka. The single was the second release from his album, Sedaka's Back. "The Immigrant" was dedicated to John Lennon and the immigration problems that he faced. The single peaked at number twenty-two on the...
" (dedicated to John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
) and "That's Where The Music Takes Me." The latter two songs were both Top 40 hits. Also included were songs that were turned into hits by other artists: "Solitaire" (The Carpenters
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
) and "Love Will Keep Us Together
Love Will Keep Us Together
"Love Will Keep Us Together" is a popular song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield in 1973. It was first released in the United Kingdom on Sedaka's 1973 LP The Tra-La Days Are Over, which was never released in the U.S. The song arrived in the U.S...
" (The Captain & Tennille). The album reached No. 23 on the US Billboard album charts and was certified Gold for shipping half a million sales.
Track listing
- "Standing on the Inside" (Neil SedakaNeil SedakaNeil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...
) - "That's When the Music Takes Me" (Sedaka)
- "Laughter in the RainLaughter in the Rain"Laughter in the Rain" is a song recorded by Neil Sedaka and composed by Sedaka with lyrics by Phil Cody. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 1, 1975. The song also spent two weeks atop the adult contemporary chart.-Covers:...
" (Sedaka, Phil Cody) - "Sad Eyes" (Sedaka, Cody)
- "Solitaire" (Sedaka, Cody)
- "Little Brother" (Sedaka, Cody)
- "Love Will Keep Us TogetherLove Will Keep Us Together"Love Will Keep Us Together" is a popular song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield in 1973. It was first released in the United Kingdom on Sedaka's 1973 LP The Tra-La Days Are Over, which was never released in the U.S. The song arrived in the U.S...
" (Sedaka, Howard GreenfieldHoward GreenfieldHoward Greenfield was an American lyricist and songwriter, who for several years in the 1960s worked out of the famous Brill Building...
) - "The ImmigrantThe Immigrant (Neil Sedaka song)"The Immigrant" is a 1975 single written by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody and performed by Sedaka. The single was the second release from his album, Sedaka's Back. "The Immigrant" was dedicated to John Lennon and the immigration problems that he faced. The single peaked at number twenty-two on the...
" (Sedaka, Cody) - "The Way I Am" (Sedaka, Cody)
- "The Other Side of Me" (Sedaka, Greenfield)
- "A Little Lovin'" (Sedaka, Cody)
- "Our Last Song Together" (Sedaka, Greenfield)
- "For The Good Of The Cause"
- "Endlessly"
- "Love Ain't An Easy Thing"
- "Alone In The New York Rain"
(The italicized tracks are bonus tracks included in the 1998 CD re-release.)
Personnel
- Neil Sedaka – organ, piano, keyboards, vocals, clavinet, vibraphone
- Ben Benay – guitar
- Eric StewartEric StewartEric Stewart is an English musician, songwriter and record producer most known for his tenure with The Mindbenders in the 1960s, and 10cc from 1972 to 1995....
– guitar, backing vocals, engineer - Lol CremeLol CrèmeLol Creme is an English musician and music video director, best known for his work in 10cc. He sings, plays guitar and keyboards.-Biography:...
– guitars, backing vocals - Kevin GodleyKevin GodleyKevin Godley is a British musician and music video director.He was born in a family of Jewish descent, and went to North Cestrian Grammar School in Altrincham....
– drums, percussion, backing vocals - Graham GouldmanGraham GouldmanGraham Keith Gouldman is an English songwriter and musician who is a long-time member of British band 10cc.-Early life and 1960s pop career: 1946–1968:Gouldman was born in Broughton, Salford, England...
– bass, guitar, backing vocals - Milt HollandMilt HollandMilt Holland was an American drummer, percussionist, ethnic musicologist, and writer in the Los Angeles music scene who pioneered the use of African, South American, and Indian percussion styles in jazz, pop and film music, traveling extensively on those continents to collect instruments and to...
– percussion - Jim HornJim HornJim Horn is an American saxophonist and woodwind player. He was born in Los Angeles, and after replacing saxophonist Steve Douglas in 1959, he toured with member Duane Eddy for five years, playing sax and flute on the road, and in the recording studio...
– horn arrangements - Dick "Slide" Hyde – horn
- Danny KortchmarDanny KortchmarDanny "Kootch" Kortchmar is a guitarist, session musician, and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as David Crosby, Carole King, Graham Nash, Carly Simon and James Taylor helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s...
– guitar - Russ KunkelRuss KunkelRussell Kunkel , also known as Russ Kunkel, is an American drummer and producer who has worked as a session musician with a number of well-known artists.Kunkel was born in Pittsburgh, PA...
– percussion, drums - Don MenzaDon MenzaDon Menza is an American saxophonist, arranger, composer, session musician, and jazz educator noted for his many contributions to American jazz and big band music. -Early years:...
– horn - Del Newman – string arrangements
- Dean ParksDean ParksDean Parks is an American session guitarist and record producer from Ft. Worth, TX.-Albums:Dean was member of The North Texas State One O'clock Lab Band before moving to Los Angeles to work with Sonny and Cher in 1970. Dean is best-known through his many contributions to albums by Steely Dan...
– acoustic guitar, dobroDobroDobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar... - Brenda Russell – backing vocals
- Brian Russell – backing vocals
- Leland SklarLeland SklarLeland "Lee" Bruce Sklar is an American musician, singer-songwriter and film score composer. A prominent bass guitarist, Sklar has contributed to thousands of albums as a session musician...
– bass - William Smith – keyboards, backing vocals
- Chuck FindleyChuck FindleyChuck Findley is an American session musician. Most widely-known as a trumpet player, he also plays other brass instruments such as flugelhorn and trombone...
– trumpet, horn, horn arrangements