1978 Bob James – Touchdown
Touchdown is the sixth album by Bob James, released in 1978 on his Tappan Zee label thru Columbia.
The album’s title is a reference to this being James’ sixth solo album (a touchdown being worth six points in American football), a pattern also followed by his previous album Heads (featuring a five cent coin on its cover) and next album Lucky Seve. Touchdown was a commercial breakout album for him due to its containing the song “Angela”, the popular theme song to the 1970s television sitcom Taxi. The song was named after a guest character in the third episode of the first season (“Blind Date”), but after hearing the song, the producers made this the show’s main theme, replacing their previous choice, which became this album’s title track.
Tracks
1 Angela Theme (Theme From ‘Taxi’) (Bob James) 05:44
2 Touchdown (Bob James) 05:42
3 I Want To Thank You (Very Much) (Bob James) 07:10
4 Sun Runner (Bob James) 06:19
5 Caribbean Nights (Bob James) 09:20
Musicians
| Electric Piano | Bob James |
| Piano | Bob James |
| Synthesizer | Bob James |
| Clarinet | Howard Johnson |
| Clarinet | Harvey Estrin |
| Flute | George Marge |
| Flute | Harvey Estrin |
| Flute | Jerry Dodgion |
| Flute | Phil Bodner |
| Horn | George Marge |
| Oboe | George Marge |
| Oboe | Phil Bodner |
| Recorder | George Marge |
| Sax | Jerry Dodgion |
| Sax | Phil Bodner |
| Sax | Howard Johnson |
| Sax | George Marge |
| Sax | Harvey Estrin |
| Trombone | Alan Raph |
| Trombone | Dave Bargeron |
| Trombone | Wayne Andre |
| Trumpet | Jon Faddis |
| Trumpet | Mike Lawrence |
| Trumpet | Randy Brecker |
| Trumpet | Ron Tooley |
Other Musicians
1 Angela Theme (Theme From ‘Taxi’)
| Bass | Gary King |
| Drums | Idris Muhammad |
| Guitar (solo) | Eric Gale |
| Percussion | Ralph MacDonald |
2 Touchdown
| Bass | Gary King |
| Drums | Steve Gadd |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Guitar | Hiram Bullock |
| Sax | David Sanborn |
| Percussion | Ralph MacDonald |
3 I Want To Thank You (Very Much)
| Bass | Ron Carter |
| Drums | Steve Gadd |
| Guitar | Hiram Bullock |
| Acoustic Guitar | Earl Klugh |
| Acoustic Guitar | Richard Resnicoff |
| Flute | Hubert Laws |
4 Sun Runner
| Bass | Ron Carter |
| Drums | Steve Gadd |
| Guitar | Hiram Bullock |
| Acoustic Guitar | Earl Klugh |
| Flute | Hubert Laws |
| Percussion | Ralph MacDonald |
5 Caribbean Nights
| Bass | Ron Carter |
| Drums | Steve Gadd |
| Guitar (solo) | Hiram Bullock |
| Guitar | Eric Gale |
| Acoustic Guitar | Earl Klugh |
| Flute | Hubert Laws |
| Percussion | Mongo Santamaria |
| Vocals | Hiram Bullock |
Cello – Charles McCracken, Jonathan Abramowitz, Richard Locker, Seymour Barab
Viola – Emanuel Vardi, Jean Dane, Sue Pray, Theodore Israel
Violin – Diana Halprin, Harold Kohon, Harry Cykman, Harry Lookofsky, Herbert Sorkin, John Pintavalle, Lewis Eley, Louis Gabowitz, Matthew Raimondi, Max Ellen, Richard Sortomme
Liner Notes
Producer – Bob James
Producer (Associate) – Jay Chattaway, Joe Jorgensen
Arranged By – Bob James
Concertmaster – David Nadien
Conductor – Bob James
Engineer – Joe Jorgensen
Engineer (Assistant) – Harold Tarowsky, Lou Jannone, Ted Brosnan, Tim Bomba
Mastered By – Vlado Meller
Design – Paula Scher
Photography – John Paul Endress
Mastered At Columbia Mastering
Recorded At CBS Studios, New York
Recorded At Soundmixers, New York City
Recorded At A&R Studios
Remixed At Soundmixers, New York City
Phonographic Copyright Tappan Zee Records Inc
Copyright CBS Inc