Abraham Laboriel Sr, Al Jarreau, Bill Champlin, Bill Reichenbach, David Foster, George Duke, Jeffrey Porcaro, Jerry Hey, Larry Williams, Michael Boddicker, Michael Omartian, Neil Stubenhaus, Richard Page, Steve Gadd, Steve George, Steve Lukather, Tom Scott
Breakin’ Away is an album by Al Jarreau, released on June 30, 1981, through the Warner Bros. Records label. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Breakin’ Away was the best performance Al Jarreau had on the charts. It stayed on the Billboard 200 for 103 weeks and peaked at #9.The album also hit #1 on both the Jazz and R&B charts.
Three single releases made the charts: “We’re in This Love Together” (#15 pop, #6 AC, #6 R&B), “Breakin’ Away” (#43 pop, #30 AC, #25 R&B), and “Teach Me Tonight” (#70 pop, #19 AC, #51 R&B).
At the Grammy Awards in 1982 the album was given the prize for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, while “(Round, Round, Round) Blue Rondo à la Turk” received the award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male. The album was also nominated for Album of the Year.
Tracks
1 Closer To Your Love (Tom Canning, Jay Graydon, Al Jarreau) 3:57
2 My Old Friend (Steve George, John Lang, Richard Page) 4:29
3 We’re In This Love Together (Roger Murrah, Keith Stegall) 3:47
4 Easy (Tom Canning, Jay Graydon, Al Jarreau) 5:26
5 Our Love (Tom Canning, Jay Graydon, Al Jarreau) 3:53
6 Breakin’ Away (Tom Canning, Jay Graydon, Al Jarreau) 4:13
7 Roof Garden (Tom Canning, Jay Graydon, Al Jarreau) 6:21
8 (Round, Round, Round) Blue Rondo A La Turk (Dave Brubeck) 4:44
9 Teach Me Tonight (Sammy Cahn, Gene De Paul) 4:13
Musicians
1 Closer To Your Love
| Bass |
Abraham Laboriel Sr |
| Drums |
Steve Gadd |
| Fender Rhodes |
Tom Canning |
| Guitar |
Jay Graydon |
| Sax |
Tom Scott |
2 My Old Friend
| Bass |
Abraham Laboriel Sr |
| Drums |
Steve Gadd |
| Guitar |
Steve Lukather |
| Guitar |
Jay Graydon |
| Fender Rhodes |
David Foster |
| Keyboards |
Tom Canning |
| Keyboards |
Michael Boddicker |
| Horn |
Jerry Hey |
| Background Vocals |
Richard Page |
| Background Vocals |
Steve George |
3 We’re In This Love Together
| Bass |
Abraham Laboriel Sr |
| Drums |
Steve Gadd |
| Guitar |
Steve Lukather |
| Guitar |
Jay Graydon |
| Fender Rhodes |
Michael Omartian |
| Keyboards |
Michael Boddicker |
| Sax |
Lon Price |
4 Easy
| Bass |
Abraham Laboriel Sr |
| Drums |
Steve Gadd |
| Guitar |
Jay Graydon |
| Fender Rhodes |
Tom Canning |
| Keyboards |
Peter Robinson |
| Keyboards |
Larry Williams |
| Keyboards |
Michael Boddicker |
| Percussion |
Bob Zimmetti |
5 Our Love
| Bass |
Abraham Laboriel Sr |
| Drums |
Steve Gadd |
| Guitar |
Jay Graydon |
| Piano |
David Foster |
| Keyboards |
Michael Boddicker |
| Background Vocals |
Richard Page |
| Background Vocals |
Steve George |
6 Breakin’ Away
| Bass |
Neil Stubenhaus |
| Drums |
Jeffrey Porcaro |
| Guitar |
Jay Graydon |
| Piano |
David Foster |
| Keyboards |
Michael Boddicker |
| Trumpet |
Jerry Hey |
| Trombone |
Bill Reichenbach |
| Trumpet |
Chuck Findley |
7 Roof Garden
| Bass |
Abraham Laboriel Sr |
| Drums |
Steve Gadd |
| Guitar |
Jay Graydon |
| Fender Rhodes |
George Duke |
| Trumpet |
Jerry Hey |
| Trumpet |
Chuck Findley |
| Trombone |
Bill Reichenbach |
| Background Vocals |
Bill Champlin |
| Background Vocals |
Richard Page |
| Background Vocals |
Steve George |
8 (Round, Round, Round) Blue Rondo A La Turk
| Bass |
Abraham Laboriel Sr |
| Drums |
Steve Gadd |
| Piano |
Milchio Leviev |
| Keyboards |
Tom Canning |
| Keyboards |
Michael Boddicker |
9 Teach Me Tonight
| Bass |
Abraham Laboriel Sr |
| Drums |
Steve Gadd |
| Guitar |
Jay Graydon |
| Fender Rhodes |
Tom Canning |
| Sax |
Lon Price |
Liner Notes
Producer – Jay Graydon
Producer (Associate) – Tom Canning
Arranged By (Horns) – Jerry Hey (Tracks 6, 7)
Arranged By (Rhythm) – Al Jarreau, Jay Graydon, Tom Canning (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9)
Arranged By (Rhythm), Piano – Milcho Leviev (Track 8)
Arranged By (Strings) – David Foster (Track 5)
Arranged By (Strings) – Billy Byers (Track 9)
Arranged By (Vocals) – Al Jarreau, Jay Graydon, Tom Canning (Track 8)
Contractor – Frank DeCaro
Engineer – Joe Bogan
Engineer (Second On “Breakin’ Away”) – Csaba Petocz, Mikey Davis
Engineer (Second) – Debbie Thompson
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Jay Graydon
Recorded By (Basic Track) – Larry Brown (Track 6)
Recorded By (Strings) – Humberto Gatica
Art Direction, Design – Christine Sauers
Photography – Susan Jarreau
Mastered At A&M Studios
Mixed At Garden Rake Studio
Recorded At Dawnbreaker Studios
Recorded At Sunset Sound
Recorded At The Pasha Music House
Overdubbed At Garden Rake Studio
Phonographic Copyright Warner Bros Records Inc
Copyright Warner Bros Records Inc
Breakin’ Away is an album by Al Jarreau, released on June 30, 1981, through the Warner Bros. Records label. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA. Breakin’ Away was the best performance Al Jarreau had on the charts. It stayed on the Billboard 200 for 103 weeks and peaked at #9.The album also hit #1 on both the Jazz and R&B charts.