Radioland (album)
Radioland is the third studio album by American singer Nicolette Larson. It was produced by Ted Templeman and released by Warner Bros. Records in 1981.
Radioland | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 1981[1] | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 30:22 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. Records | |||
Producer | Ted Templeman | |||
Nicolette Larson chronology | ||||
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Background
Radioland reached No. 62 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the charts for twelve weeks.[2] Three singles were released from the album during 1981; "Ooo-Eee" in January, "How Can We Go On" in April and "Radioland" in June.[3][4][5] All three failed to appear on the Billboard Hot 100. Radioland later received its first release on CD from Wounded Bird Records in 2005.[6]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [7] |
Billboard | favorable[8] |
Cash Box | favorable[1] |
Upon release, Billboard commented: "Larson's third album explores the full range of her talent, from hard-rocking numbers like "Radioland" to a bluesy torch ballad, "Long Distance Love". There are also shades of preetty, sinuous midtempo pop-rock, along the lines of her hit "Lotta Love"."[8] Cash Box noted Larson's "inspiring vocal versatility" and Templeman's "beautifully thick production". They concluded: "This something-for-everyone LP is suited to a variety of formats."[1]
In a retrospective review, Bruce Eder of AllMusic felt the album was a "bold, melodic collection of midtempo country-inspired pop/rock". He added: "Her voice isn't always strong or rich enough to sustain interest in which she's singing, but the diversity of sounds holds the interest."[7]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Radioland" | Sumner Mering | 3:08 |
2. | "Ooo-Eee" | Annie McLoone | 3:28 |
3. | "How Can We Go On" | Andrew Kastner | 3:27 |
4. | "When You Come Around" | Nicolette Larson, Kastner, Larry John McNally | 2:51 |
5. | "Tears, Tears and More Tears" | Allen Toussaint | 3:45 |
6. | "Straight from the Heart" | Kastner | 3:35 |
7. | "Been Gone Too Long" | Lauren Wood | 3:26 |
8. | "Fool for Love" | Adam Mitchell | 3:43 |
9. | "Long Distance Love" | Lowell George | 2:59 |
Personnel
- Nicolette Larson - lead vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (tracks 2-8)
- John McFee - guitar (tracks 1-4, 7-8)
- Paul Barrere - guitar (tracks 1-2, 5, 7-8)
- Patrick Simmons - guitar solo (track 1)
- Doug Livingston - electric piano (tracks 1-2, 7-8)
- Billy Payne - synthesizer (tracks 1, 4), keyboards (track 5), synthesizer solo (track 7), organ (track 8), electric piano (track 9)
- Tiran Porter - bass (tracks 1-4, 6-8)
- Keith Knudsen - drums (tracks 1-2, 7-8)
- Ted Templeman - percussion (tracks 1-7), backing vocals (tracks 2, 5-8)
- Bobby LaKind - congas (tracks 1-8)
- Linda Ronstadt - backing vocals (track 2)
- Maureen McDonald - backing vocals (tracks 3-5, 7)
- Rick Shlosser - drums (tracks 3-6, 9)
- Andrew Kastner - guitar (tracks 3-4, 6)
- Mark Jordan - keyboards (tracks 3, 6), synthesizer (track 3), electric piano (track 4), organ (track 9)
- Jerry Jumonville - saxophone (track 5)
- Lee Thornburg - trumpet (track 5)
- Bob Glaub - bass (track 5)
- Gene Meros - saxophone (track 6)
- Fred Tackett - guitar (track 9)
- Klaus Voormann - bass (track 9)
- Production
- Ted Templeman - producer
- Jim Isaacson - engineer
- Gene Meros - additional engineer
- Kent Duncan - mastering
- Other
- Joan Vallejo - production co-ordinator
- Gribbitt!, Murry Whiteman - design
- Pete Johnson - art direction
- George Holz - photography
- Derek Sutton - management
References
- Cash Box newspaper – January 17, 1981 – Album Reviews – page 11
- Billboard. "Nicolette Larson Radioland Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
- "Nicolette Larson - Ooo-Eee / Straight From The Heart - Warner Bros. - USA - WBS49666". 45cat. 1981-02-14. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
- "Nicolette Larson - How Can We Go On / When You Come Around - Warner Bros. - USA - WBS49710". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
- "Nicolette Larson - Radioland / How Can We Go On - Warner Bros. - USA - WBS49763". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
- "Nicolette Larson - Radioland (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
- AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder. "Radioland - Nicolette Larson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
- Billboard magazine – Billboard's Top Album Picks: Pop – January 17, 1981 – page 54
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 173. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.