Rickie Lee Jones (album)

Rickie Lee Jones
Studio album by Rickie Lee Jones
Released	February 28, 1979
Recorded	September-December 1978
Studio	Warner Bros. Recording Studios and The Burbank Studios Tracks 2, 11 recorded live December 22, 1978 at TBS
Genre	Rock
Length	42:11
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Lenny Waronker, Russ Titelman
Rickie Lee Jones chronology
Rickie Lee Jones (1979) Pirates (1981)

Rickie Lee Jones is the debut album of singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones. After arriving in California in the mid-1970s, Jones started taking songwriting more seriously, and by 1977 had met singer-songwriters Chuck E. Weiss and Tom Waits (Jones consequently became romantically involved with Waits).

Overview

Jones had begun playing live in the Los Angeles area at the age of 21, and after meeting singer-songwriter Alfred Johnson, the pair began writing and performing live together (most notably at the Ala Carte club.) Two of their collaborations, "Weasel and the White Boys Cool" and "Company," would later be recorded for Jones' debut album. She also sang jazz standards, as well as a song penned by her father ("The Moon Is Made of Gold") in her live sets.

Jones' performances around Los Angeles aroused interest from other local songwriters, as well as local record company executives. At a label showcase, Jones performed originals, including "Chuck E.'s in Love", "The Real Thing Is Back in Town" and "The Moon Is Made of Gold." This showcase performance, plus a demo containing "The Last Chance Texaco", "Easy Money", "Young Blood" and "After Hours" led to a record deal with Warner Bros.. For her major label debut, Jones scrapped "The Real Thing Is Back in Town," but used the titular line in one of the album's tracks - "Coolsville."

Recording sessions (which began in September 1978) yielded eleven songs for inclusion on an album. Two of the songs - "On Saturday Afternoons in 1963" and "After Hours" - were recorded live on December 22, 1978.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Smash Hits	8/10
The Village Voice	B−

The album was released in the spring of 1979 to mostly favorable reviews propelled by the substantial jazz-pop hit single "Chuck E.'s in Love," based on a rumored romance of her friend Chuck E. Weiss. The single became a US #4 hit during the summer, while the album, which went on to become a million seller, hit US #3. Jones was supported by a memorable slot on Saturday Night Live in April 1979, where she performed "Chuck E.'s in Love" and "Coolsville." A second single, "Young Blood," cracked the US Top 40 in late 1979, when Jones went on an international tour. By June 1981, the album had sold over two million copies in the US alone.

Image

The album cover photography and design was by Norman Seeff.

Awards

22nd Annual Grammy Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1980
	Rickie Lee Jones	Best New Artist	Won
	"Chuck E.'s In Love"	Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female	Nominated
		Song of the Year	Nominated
	"The Last Chance Texaco"	Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female	Nominated
	Tom Knox	Best Engineered Recording - Non-Classical	Nominated

Track listing

Songs written by Rickie Lee Jones, except where noted.

1. "Chuck E.'s in Love" 3:28
2. "On Saturday Afternoons in 1963" – 2:31
3. "Night Train" – 3:14
4. "Young Blood" – 4:04
5. "Easy Money" – 3:16
6. "The Last Chance Texaco" – 4:05
7. "Danny's All-Star Joint" – 4:01
8. "Coolsville" – 3:49
9. "Weasel and the White Boys Cool" (Rickie Lee Jones, Alfred Johnson) – 6:00
10. "Company" (Rickie Lee Jones, Alfred Johnson) – 4:40
11. "After Hours (Twelve Bars Past Goodnight)" – 2:13

Personnel

• Rickie Lee Jones – vocals, keyboards, percussion, guitar, horn arrangements
• Dr. John – keyboards
• Michael McDonald – vocals
• Randy Newman – synthesizer
• Victor Feldman – percussion, drums, keyboards
• Tom Scott – horns
• Ralph Grierson – keyboards
• Michael Boddicker – synthesizer
• Red Callender – bass
• Nick DeCaro – accordion, orchestral arrangements
• Buzz Feiten – guitar
• Chuck Findley – horns
• Steve Gadd – drums
• Randy Kerber – keyboards
• Neil Larsen – keyboards
• Arno Lucas – background vocals
• Johnny Mandel – orchestral arrangements
• Andy Newmark – drums
• Jeff Porcaro – drums
• Leslie Smith – background vocals
• Mark Stevens – drums, percussion
• Fred Tackett – guitar, mandolin
• Joe Turano – background vocals
• Ernie Watts – horns
• Willie Weeks – bass
• Matthew Weiner – background vocals

Technical

• Lee Herschberg, Loyd Clifft – engineer
• Mike Salisbury – art direction, cover design
• Norman Seeff – photography

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1979	US (Billboard 200)	3
1979	UK	18
1979	Australia	1

Singles - Billboard

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1979	"Chuck E's In Love"	R&B Singles	79
1979	"Chuck E's In Love"	Pop Singles	4
1979	"Young Blood"	Pop Singles	40