1981 Yellowjackets – Yellowjackets

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Yellowjackets 1981Yellowjackets is a self-titled debut album by the American jazz group Yellowjackets, released in 1981. The album reached a peak position of number sixteen on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

Formed in 1977 and known originally as the Robben Ford Group, the Yellowjackets consisted of Robben Ford, Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip and Ricky Lawson, all L.A. session musicians. Ford assembled this lineup to record his 1979 solo album The Inside Story. During this initial period the band’s sound combined blues, jazz fusion, and progressive rock. Over the next year the group began moving in a more democratic direction, eliminating Ford’s vocals and embracing a more commercially oriented jazz-funk approach.

Tracks

1 Matinee Idol (Russell Ferrante) 5:10
2 Imperial Strut (Russell Ferrante) 5:26
3 Sittin’ In It (Bobby Lyle, Russell Ferrante) 5:07
4 Rush Hour (Robben Ford, Russell Ferrante) 5:13
5 The Hornet (Jimmy Haslip, Russell Ferrante) 5:30
6 Priscilla (Chris Palmaro, Jimmy Haslip, Robben Ford) 5:10
7 It’s Almost Gone (Russell Ferrante) 5:59

Media

Musicians

Bass Jimmy Haslip
Drums Ricky Lawson
Guitar Robben Ford
Keyboards Russell Ferrante
Flute Gary Herbig
Sax Larry Williams
Sax Kim Hutchcroft
Sax Gary Herbig
Trombone Bill Reichenbach
Percussion Lenny Castro
Percussion Paulinho Da Costa

Other Musicians

1 Matinee Idol

Sax Ernie Watts


3 Sittin’ In It

Piano Bobby Lyle
Guitar Roland Bautista


5 The Hornet

Flugelhorn Jerry Hey
Trumpet Jerry Hey

Liner Notes

Producer – Tommy Lipuma
Arranged By (Horns) – Bill Reichenbach
Arranged By (Horns), Programmed By – Larry Williams
Coordinator (Production Coordination) – Noel Newbolt
Engineer (Assistant) – Don Henderson
Mastered By – Mike Reese
Mixed By, Recorded By (Additional) – Al Schmitt
Recorded By (Additional), Engineer (Assistant) – Stuart Gitlin
Recorded By (Rhythm Tracks) – Lee Herschberg

Art Direction, Design – Simon Levy
Design (Logo) – Michael Manoogian
Illustration – J. Daniel Chapman

Mastered At – Sheffield Lab Matrix
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Recorded At – Warner Bros. Recording Studios
Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Jacksonville
Mixed At – Capitol Studios