Valotte

Labels

Occupation

  • Barry Beckett
  • David Lebolt
  • Peter Wood
  • Rory Dodd
  • Eric Troyer
  • Julian Lennon

Studios

  • Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Muscle Shoals ( Alabama)
  • Bear Tracks Recording Studio, Suffern
  • The Hit Factory, NYC
  • A & R Recording Studios, NYC
  • Clinton Recording Studios, NYC

Valotte is the debut album of the singer Julian Lennon. It was published worldwide by Atlantic Records in the USA and Canada and by Charisma / Virgin Records on 15 October 1984. It remained to this day the most successful album of Lennon.

Formation

Shortly after the assassination of his father John Lennon Julian Lennon standing in the public eye. His father had taught him in childhood play guitar and even teenage Lennon played in the amateur band " Lennon Drops" where he worked as a drummer, guitarist and singer. Early 1981, Lennon commented that he " would start my career in the music business in any case. However, I do not want to raise as a solo singer from the fishing world. First, I want to learn everything you need to produce plates can. " There was a time in the gossip columns of the tabloid press, before it was quiet around him. He tried to establish himself as a sound engineer walk, but it was " behind the mixing desk [ ... ] not stand, I had to make music. "

He began writing his own songs, but they were too complicated at the beginning. " Then I listened again to the solo albums of my father. This has opened my eyes. The songs were so right, there was Feelings behind, character, "said Lennon in an interview in 1984. First titles in collaboration with his school friend Justin Clayton and his friend, the musician Carlos Morales.

This was followed by their first demo recordings and a recording contract with Atlantic Records. Lennon then went to the village Valotte at Nevers in France, where he wrote more titles in a rundown Chateaux. His debut album is named after the village. On the black -and-white cover Lennon sitting on a chair and looking directly at the camera. The cover photo was taken by photographer David Michael Kennedy ( b. 1950 ).

The most successful title of the album, Too Late For Goodbyes, Lennon wrote in his former apartment in London. He describes a dispute between Lennon and his then-girlfriend in March 1984, which led to a brief separation.

Looking back, saw Lennon in 1989, the emergence of his debut album critically: " Today I think that I have been controlled in the first [ HD] - from the industry, the record company of all. "

Title

All tracks were written by Julian Lennon, who plays on the album also bass, keyboard, Simmons drums and percussion. Exceptions are Valotte, written by Julian Lennon, Justin Clayton and Carlton Morales, OK For You, written by Julian Lennon, Justin Clayton, Carlton Morales and Carmello Luggeri, and Jesse, written by China Burton.

Some singles are heard in guest appearances artists. The saxophone solo on Lonely is by Michael Brecker, while Toots Thielemans on Too Late For Goodbyes grossed the characteristic harmonica solo. In the music video Julian Lennon is shown playing the harmonica.

Chart success

Criticism

The youth magazine Bravo wrote after the release of the album and the debut single that Lennon " musical a big name all the glory [ does ]. The 21 year old is an excellent songwriter, singer and musician. " The magazine Music Express noted that " even if this were a blind date, in which you do not have more information than that it is the debut album by a 21 year old Englishman [ ... ] one of the striking vocal resemblance to a certain ex jump - Beatles immediately catches the eye / ear [ would ]. " was the album " an all-around solid production [ ... ], with pleasing, even if not too profiled songs of a quite talented musician and composer. "

Davitt Sigerson compared in the magazine Rolling Stone Lennon style with the Harry Nilsson and saw stylistic connections to works of John Lennon's solo years as ( Just Like ) Starting Over and Jealous Guy.

Record label Genre Rock music Singing Electronic keyboard Bass guitar Phil Ramone Muscle Shoals (Alabama) The Secret Value of Daydreaming Kensington Media-Control-Charts
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