Long Time Friends is the fifth album by Alessi (The Alessi Brothers). It was released in 1982 on Qwest.
From Tommy Taylor on instagram: The recording of Long Time Friends was mainly done in Austin, Texas, at Pecan Street/Studio South Recording Studios. This was the newly renovated room that all of the Christopher Cross demo work had been done in for nearly a decade. It was recorded by Chet Himes our engineer. The tracking utilized the Alessi brothers, Rob Meurer – keyboards, of Christopher Cross (the band), Roscoe Beck – bass, a local stalwart who would later go on to be Jennifer Warnes producer and Leonard Cohen’s musical director, as well as being the bassist for Robben Ford and the Blue Line and Eric Johnson, myself, Tommy Taylor – Drums of Christopher Cross (the band) and Christopher Cross himself – guitars. Sessions were over seen by Chris and Michael Ostin the co/producer.
All tracks were cut with this team at that studio except “How Long How Much” and “Still In Love With You.” We tracked “Still In Love With You” but I think Chris felt the drums were not up to par and decided to have Jeff Porcaro give it a go in L.A.. Jeff brought a different less conventional feel to the track and did a wonderful job as he always did.
Tracking was basically done but Bobby decided last minute that he really wanted to include “How Long How Much.” I’m not sure how the decision was made. Everything had moved to L.A. at that point…but somehow, I got the call. Either the guys or Chris felt like I was the guy for the track so they paid to have my entire kit flown out to L.A., from Texas and for me to fly out as well and put me up at the Beverly Garland for a few days.
When I arrived to record, I had been working with Bobby’s demo at home for about a week so that I could walk in and ace it. I don’t read charts. I was a band guy and we always just learned songs and recorded them. The session world was totally foreign to me. It was the beginning of my career really.
Tracks
1 Jagged Edge (Billy Alessi, Bobby Alessi, Don Wood) 3:34
2 You Got The Way (Billy Alessi, Bobby Alessi) 3:08
3 As Far As I’m Concerned (Billy Alessi) 4:10
4 Rise Up (Billy Alessi, Bobby Alessi) 3:38
5 I’m Gonna Tell Her Tonight (Billy Alessi) 3:46
6 Put Away Your Love (Billy Alessi, Bobby Alessi) 3:36
7 What A Way To Go (Billy Alessi, Bobby Alessi) 4:32
8 Still In Love (Billy Alessi, Bobby Alessi) 4:22
9 How Long, How Much (Bobby Alessi) 4:08
10 Forever (Billy Alessi) 3:52
11 Long Time Friends (Billy Alessi, Bobby Alessi) 2:48
Musicians
1 Jagged Edge
Bass |
Roscoe Beck |
Drums |
Tommy Taylor |
Guitar |
Christopher Cross |
Keyboards |
Rob Meurer |
Keyboards |
Billy Alessi |
Synthesizer |
Robbie Buchanan |
Synthesizer |
Billy Alessi |
Percussion |
Lenny Castro |
2 You Got The Way
Bass |
Roscoe Beck |
Drums |
Tommy Taylor |
Guitar |
Christopher Cross |
Fender Rhodes |
Rob Meurer |
Synthesizer |
Michael Omartian |
Synthesizer |
Robbie Buchanan |
Synthesizer |
Billy Alessi |
Percussion |
Lenny Castro |
3 As Far As I’m Concerned
Bass |
Roscoe Beck |
Drums |
Tommy Taylor |
Acoustic Guitar |
Christopher Cross |
Keyboards |
Robbie Buchanan |
Synthesizer |
Michael Boddicker |
Synthesizer |
Robbie Buchanan |
Synthesizer |
Billy Alessi |
Percussion |
Lenny Castro |
4 Rise Up
Bass |
Roscoe Beck |
Drums |
Tommy Taylor |
Guitar |
Eric Johnson |
Acoustic Guitar |
Christopher Cross |
Keyboards |
Rob Meurer |
Keyboards |
Billy Alessi |
Percussion |
Lenny Castro |
Background Vocals |
Christopher Cross |
5 I’m Gonna Tell Her Tonight
Bass |
Roscoe Beck |
Drums |
Tommy Taylor |
Guitar |
Christopher Cross |
Fender Rhodes |
Michael Omartian |
Synthesizer |
Michael Boddicker |
Synthesizer |
Billy Alessi |
Lyricon |
Tom Scott |
Vibraphone |
Victor Feldman |
Percussion |
Victor Feldman |
6 Put Away Your Love
Bass |
Roscoe Beck |
Drums |
Tommy Taylor |
Guitar |
Christopher Cross |
Keyboards |
Rob Meurer |
Keyboards |
Billy Alessi |
Synthesizer |
Robbie Buchanan |
Synthesizer |
Michael Boddicker |
Synthesizer |
Billy Alessi |
7 What A Way To Go
Bass |
Roscoe Beck |
Drums |
Tommy Taylor |
Guitar |
Steve Lukather |
Keyboards |
Rob Meurer |
Keyboards |
Billy Alessi |
Synthesizer |
Robbie Buchanan |
Sax |
Ernie Watts |
Percussion |
Lenny Castro |
Vocals |
Patti Austin |
8 Still In Love
Bass |
Roscoe Beck |
Drums |
Jeffrey Porcaro |
Guitar |
Christopher Cross |
Keyboards |
Michael Omartian |
Synthesizer |
Billy Alessi |
Lyricon |
Tom Scott |
Percussion |
Victor Feldman |
Percussion |
Lenny Castro |
9 How Long, How Much
Bass |
Neil Stubenhaus |
Drums |
Tommy Taylor |
Guitar |
Larry Carlton |
Acoustic Guitar |
Christopher Cross |
Fender Rhodes |
Robbie Buchanan |
Synthesizer |
Robbie Buchanan |
Percussion |
Lenny Castro |
10 Forever
Bass |
Roscoe Beck |
Drums |
Tommy Taylor |
Guitar |
Christopher Cross |
Fender Rhodes |
Billy Alessi |
Synthesizer |
Michael Boddicker |
Synthesizer |
Billy Alessi |
Background Vocals |
Christopher Cross |
11 Long Time Friends
Other Musicians
Sax |
Ernie Watts |
Sax |
Jim Horn |
Trombone |
Bill Reichenbach |
Trumpet |
Jerry Hey |
Trumpet |
Chuck Findley |
Vocals |
Billy Alessi |
Vocals |
Bobby Alessi |
Liner Notes
Producer – Christopher Cross, Michael Ostin
Producer (Executive ) – Quincy Jones
Arranged By (Horns) – Jerry Hey (Track 1)
Arranged By (Strings) – Michael Omartian
Concertmaster – Assa Drori
Engineer – Richard Mullen
Engineer (Second) – Tom Cummings
Mixed – Chet Himes
Programming – Michael Boddicker, Billy Alessi
Recorded – Chet Himes
Design – Mac James
Photography – Norman Seeff
Mixed At Kendun Recorders
Overdubbed At Kendun Recorders
Recorded At Studio South, Austin
Phonographic Copyright Qwest Records
Copyright Qwest Records