Silk Degrees

Silk Degrees
Studio album by Boz Scaggs
Released	March 1976
Recorded	September 1975 at Davlen Sound Studios & Hollywood Sound Los Angeles, California
Genre	R&B, Jazz fusion Soul
Length	41:28
Label	Columbia
Producer	Joe Wissert
Boz Scaggs chronology
Slow Dancer (1974) Silk Degrees (1976) Down Two Then Left (1977)

Silk Degrees is the seventh album by Boz Scaggs, released on the Columbia Records label in 1976. The album reached #2 on the U.S. pop albums chart.

Reception

Commercial

The album marked Scaggs' commercial zenith, mainly spearheaded by the R&B/Soul hit "Lowdown". The album is a mix of straight pop rock tracks ("Jump Street" and "Lido Shuffle"), smooth soul compositions ("What Can I Say" and "Lowdown") and appealing ballads ("Harbor Lights" and "We're All Alone"; the latter was later a hit for Rita Coolidge).

"Lowdown" reached the top 5 on the club play, black, disco and pop charts and also did respectably on the AC chart, with its peak at #3 on the pop chart. The song is an airplay staple to this day, particularly on AC, oldies and smooth jazz radio stations. "It's Over", "What Can I Say" and "Lido Shuffle" reached #38, #42 and #11, respectively, on the pop chart. The album was recorded at Davlen Sound Studios and Hollywood Sound Studios, Los Angeles. Among the accompanying musicians, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Porcaro, and David Hungate would go on to form the band Toto.

Ultimately, "Lowdown" earned a Grammy Award, as the Best R&B Song at the Grammy Awards of 1976. Scaggs also received Grammy nominations for Album of the Year, Best LP Package, Best Pop Vocal by a Male and Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Male for "Lowdown".

Critical

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Rolling Stone	link
Robert Christgau	(A-)

Critic reviews for Silk Degrees were equally positive. Rock music critic Robert Christgau praised the album as "white soul with a sense of humor that isn't consumed in self-parody."

Alex Henderson of music database website Allmusic noted that Scaggs "hit the R&B charts in a big way with the addictive, sly "Lowdown" [...] and expressed his love of smooth soul music almost as well on the appealing "What Can I Say."" However, Henderson stated that "Scaggs was essentially a pop/rocker, and in that area he has a considerable amount of fun". He concluded: "Though not remarkable, the ballads have more heart than most of the bland material dominating that format."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Boz Scaggs and David Paich, except where indicated.

1. "What Can I Say" – 3:01
2. "Georgia" (Scaggs) – 3:57
3. "Jump Street" – 5:14
4. "What Do You Want the Girl to Do" (Allen Toussaint) – 3:53
5. "Harbor Lights" (Scaggs) – 5:58
6. "Lowdown" – 5:18
7. "It's Over" – 2:52
8. "Love Me Tomorrow" (Paich) – 3:17
9. "Lido Shuffle" – 3:44
10. "We're All Alone" (Scaggs) – 4:14

Personnel

• Boz Scaggs - vocals, guitar, background vocals
• Fred Tackett - guitar
• Louis Shelton - guitar
• Les Dudek - Slide guitar
• David Paich - keyboards
• Steve Porcaro - keyboards
• Bud Shank - alto saxophone
• Plas Johnson - Saxophone
• Dick Hyde, Jim Horn, Paul Hubinon, Tom Scott, Vincent DeRosa - Horns
• Chuck Findley - Flugelhorn
• David Hungate - bass
• Jeff Porcaro - Drums, Percussion
• Joe Porcaro - Additional Percussion
• Sid Sharp - String Arrangements & Conducting
• Augie Johnson, Carolyn Willis, Jim Gilstrap, Marty McCall, Maxine Green, Pepper Swenson - Backing Vocals

Production

• Produced By Joe Wissert
• Recorded, Engineered & Mixed By Tom Perry
• Mastered By Doug Sax

Charts

Year	Album	Chart positions
		US	US R&B
1976	Silk Degrees	2	6

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions
		US	US R&B	US Dance
1976	"Lowdown"	3	5	5
	"What Can I Say"	42	68 (1977)	—
1977	"Lido Shuffle"	11	—	—

External links

• "Silk Degrees" at discogs