I Could Have Been a Sailor
I Could Have Been a Sailor is a 1979 album by singer-songwriter Peter Allen, released on A&M Records. It is notable as containing Allen's versions of his songs "Don't Cry Out Loud" and "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love", which were major successes, as covered by others.
I Could Have Been a Sailor | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 7 September 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1979 | |||
Studio | Wally Heider Studios, Hollywood and Sound Mixer Studios, New York City[1] | |||
Genre | Adult contemporary | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Producer | Marvin Hamlisch, Mike Post | |||
Peter Allen chronology | ||||
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History
I Could Have Been a Sailor was Peter Allen's fifth studio album, and his third for A&M Records. It followed the double-album live release, It Is Time for Peter Allen (1977), on the same label. The album is notable for its association with producer Marvin Hamlisch. Allen also performs his versions of three songs he co-wrote with Carole Bayer-Sager, "Don't Go Looking", "Don't Cry Out Loud" and "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love".
"Don't Cry Out Loud" had been popularized by Melissa Manchester prior to Allen's release. Manchester's recording of the song was released in late 1978 and spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also the title song of Manchester's related album. The song had been co-written by Allen and Carol Bayer-Sager; Bayer-Sager was also a co-writer with Manchester. "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love" was popularized by Rita Coolidge in 1979, as well as being recorded by Dusty Springfield, among others.
The album was Allen's first to make the US albums chart,[2] peaking at No. 171 on the Billboard 200.[3] The album has been subject to limited reissue on CD. It was reissued on CD in 2001 in Japan, on Universal/A&M.[4] It has not been reissued on CD in North America or elsewhere.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Peter Allen; except where indicated
- "I Could Have Been a Sailor"
- "Don't Wish Too Hard"
- "Two Boys"
- "Angels With Dirty Faces" (Allen, Anderson)
- "Don't Cry Out Loud" (Allen, Sager)
- "If You Were Wondering"
- "Don't Leave Me Now"
- "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love" (Allen, Sager)
- "We've Come to an Understanding"
- "Paris at 21"
Personnel
- Peter Allen - Keyboards, Piano, Vocals
- Michael Boddicker - Programming
- Velton Ray Bunch - Arranger
- Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion
- Linda Dillard - Background vocals
- Victor Feldman - Percussion, Tympani [Timpani]
- Dan Ferguson - Guitar
- Venetta Fields - Background vocals
- Jay Graydon - Guitar
- Ed Greene - Drums
- Marvin Hamlisch - Arranger, Piano, Producer
- Geoff Howe - Percussion
- Clydie King - Background vocals
- Larry Knechtel - Keyboards
- Abraham Laboriel - Bass
- Will Lee - Bass
- Jimmy Maelen - Percussion
- Rick Marotta - Drums
- Sherlie Matthews - Background vocals
- Marti McCall - Background vocals
- Ray Parker, Jr. - Guitar
- Dave Parlato - Bass
- Herb Pedersen - Background vocals
- Greg Phillinganes - Synthesizer
- Jim Pierce - Bass
- Mike Post - Arranger, Percussion
- Bruce Roberts - Background vocals
- Dan Sawyer - Guitar
- Joey Scarbury - Background vocals
- Steve Schaeffer - Drums
- Leland Sklar - Bass
- David Spinozza - Guitar
- Fred Tackett -Guitar
- Richard Tee - Keyboards
- John Tropea - Guitar
References
- https://www.discogs.com/Peter-Allen-I-Could-Have-Been-A-Sailor/release/1878119
- Biography of The Allen Brothers/Peter Allen; www.milesago.com,
- Billboard album chart listing; www.allmusic.com.
- Adult Contemporary Music In Japan, recommended discs May/June 2001; www.bekkoame.ne.jp.