I Could Have Been a Sailor is a 1979 album by singer-songwriter Peter Allen, released on A&M Records. It is notable as containing Allen’s versions of his songs “Don’t Cry Out Loud” and “I’d Rather Leave While I’m in Love”, which were major successes, as covered by others.
I Could Have Been a Sailor was Peter Allen’s fifth studio album, and his third for A&M Records. It followed the double-album live release, It Is Time for Peter Allen (1977), on the same label. The album is notable for its association with producer Marvin Hamlisch. Allen also performs his versions of two songs he co-wrote with Carol Bayer-Sager, “Don’t Cry Out Loud” and “I’d Rather Leave While I’m in Love”.
“Don’t Cry Out Loud” had been popularized by Melissa Manchester prior to Allen’s release. Manchester’s recording of the song was released in late 1978 and spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also the title song of Manchester’s related album. The song had been co-written by Allen and Carol Bayer-Sager; Bayer-Sager was also a co-writer with Manchester. “I’d Rather Leave While I’m in Love” was popularized by Rita Coolidge in 1979, as well as being recorded by Dusty Springfield, among others.
The album was Allen’s first to make the US albums chart, peaking at No. 171 on the Billboard 200. The album has been subject to limited reissue on CD. It was reissued on CD in 2001 in Japan, on Universal/A&M. It has not been reissued on CD in North America or elsewhere.
Tracks
1 I Could Have Been A Sailor (Peter Allen) 3:55 2 Don’t Wish Too Hard (Peter Allen, Carole Bayer Sager) 5:14 3 Two Boys (Peter Allen, Carole Bayer Sager) 3:29 4 Angels With Dirty Faces (Peter Allen, Adrienne Anderson) 3:51 5 Don’t Cry Out Loud (Peter Allen, Carole Bayer Sager) 4:11 6 If You Were Wondering (Peter Allen) 4:47 7 Don’t Leave Me Now (Peter Allen, Carole Bayer Sager) 3:24 8 I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love (Peter Allen, Carole Bayer Sager) 3:40 9 We’ve Come To An Understanding (Peter Allen) 3:54 10 Paris At 21 (Peter Allen) 6:58
Media
Musicians
1 I Could Have Been A Sailor
Bass
Will Lee
Drums
Rick Marotta
Guitar
David Spinozza
Guitar
John Tropea
Keyboards
Richard Tee
Piano
Peter Allen
Percussion
Jim Maelen
Background Vocals
Bruce Roberts
Vocals
Peter Allen
2 Don’t Wish Too Hard
Bass
Abraham Laboriel Sr
Drums
Ed Greene
Guitar
Dan Ferguson
Guitar
Ray Parker Jr
Piano
Peter Allen
Percussion
Victor Feldman
Background Vocals
Clydie King
Background Vocals
Marty McCall
Background Vocals
Sherlie Matthews
Background Vocals
Venetta Fields
Vocals
Peter Allen
3 Two Boys
Bass
Will Lee
Drums
Rick Marotta
Guitar
David Spinozza
Guitar
John Tropea
Keyboards
Richard Tee
Piano
Peter Allen
Percussion
Jim Maelen
Vocals
Peter Allen
4 Angels With Dirty Faces
Bass
Leland Sklar
Drums
Steve Schaeffer
Guitar
Jay Graydon
Keyboards
Larry Knechtel
Piano
Peter Allen
Background Vocals
Herb Pedersen
Background Vocals
Joey Scarbury
Background Vocals
Linda Dillard
Vocals
Peter Allen
5 Don’t Cry Out Loud
Bass
Leland Sklar
Bass
Jim Pierce
Drums
Steve Schaeffer
Guitar
Jay Graydon
Keyboards
Larry Knechtel
Piano
Peter Allen
Background Vocals
Herb Pedersen
Background Vocals
Joey Scarbury
Background Vocals
Linda Dillard
Vocals
Peter Allen
6 If You Were Wondering
Bass
David Parlato
Drums
Ed Greene
Guitar
Dan Sawyer
Guitar
Fred Tackett
Piano
Marvin Hamlish
Percussion
Paulinho Da Costa
Vocals
Peter Allen
7 Don’t Leave Me Now
Bass
Will Lee
Drums
Rick Marotta
Guitar
David Spinozza
Guitar
John Tropea
Keyboards
Richard Tee
Piano
Peter Allen
Synthesizer
Greg Phillinganes
Percussion
Jim Maelen
Vocals
Peter Allen
8 I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love
Bass
Will Lee
Drums
Rick Marotta
Guitar
David Spinozza
Keyboards
Richard Tee
Piano
Peter Allen
Synthesizer
Greg Phillinganes
Programming
Michael Boddicker
Background Vocals
Clydie King
Background Vocals
Marty McCall
Background Vocals
Sherlie Matthews
Background Vocals
Venetta Fields
Vocals
Peter Allen
9 We’ve Come To An Understanding
Bass
Leland Sklar
Drums
Steve Schaeffer
Guitar
Jay Graydon
Keyboards
Larry Knechtel
Piano
Peter Allen
Vocals
Peter Allen
10 Paris At 21
Bass
Leland Sklar
Drums
Steve Schaeffer
Guitar
Jay Graydon
Keyboards
Larry Knechtel
Piano
Peter Allen
Percussion
Geoff Howe
Percussion
Mike Post
Percussion
Victor Feldman
Vocals
Peter Allen
Liner Notes
Producer – Marvin Hamlisch Engineer – Geoff Howe, Les Cooper, Neal Ceppos Mastered By – Mike Reese Arranged By – Bob Alcivar (Track 1) Arranged By – Velton Ray Bunch (Track 2) Arranged By – Marvin Hamlisch (Tracks 3, 6, 7, 8) Arranged By – Mike Post (Tracks 4, 5, 9, 10)
Art Direction – Roland Young Design – Junie Osaki Photography By – Brian Hagiwara
Phonographic Copyright (p) – A&M Records, Inc. Copyright (c) – A&M Records, Inc. Recorded At – Sound Mixers Recorded At – Wally Heider Recording Studio, Los Angeles Mastered At – The Mastering Lab