Take It to the People

Description

Take It to the People is the third and final album by the American pop trio Albrecht, Roley, & Moore (Michael Albrecht, Scott Roley and Alan Moore), released on Spirit Records in 1980, manufactured and distributed by Hartsong Corporation. The album was recorded over a six week period during the summer of 1979 by Jack Joseph Puig and Tom Trefethen at the SoundCastle in Hollywood and MartinSound Studios in Alhambra, California; with Al Perkins producing.

Take It To The People would probably get my vote as their best album. They did away with most of the strings, added a few electric country rock edges, and fine-tuned their melodic American-Eagles-CSN style. Clean production, mellow layered harmonies and catchy pop-minded songwriting combine to deliver the fresh sound heard on tracks like «Confrontations», «Sunlight Fell On Me», «Lookin’ For A Lifetime Love», «Someone Is Waiting» and «I’m On My Way». The rocker «Son Of Man» is a standout. Includes assistance from keyboardist Richard Souther. Produced by Al Perkins who also contributes his usual pedal steel. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]

After Starlighter’s success the trio quickly began writing for a follow up album. In the coming year, Spirit Records left Sparrow Records to develop its own distribution organization. The California based company expanded its stable of artists and began to find its niche. Take It To The People was recorded in North Hollywood over a six week period in the summer of 1979.

AR&M had added drummer Dallas Taylor to the band and were touring extensively. Long time friend, Al Perkins, agreed to produce the sessions, which were engineered by Jack Joseph Puig. Dallas and Al played on the recording and again there were several wonderful local session players backing up the trio.

Greg Nelson continued at the helm of Spirit Records and the company became successful. AR&M had high hopes and all looked good until the company began to come under legal investigation. As it would turn out, within six months Greg Nelson had resigned, leaving the company just in time.

The person who followed him as president was also an original investor in the company who had been mishandling the finances. It would take two years to sort everything out, but the final news was the company folded and Take It To The People would be AR&M’s last recording. There were fifteen thousand copies of Take It To The People pressed and sold along with cassettes and eight-tracks.

Note: Take It To The People was the last recording of the group to be released in the eight-track format. None of AR&M’s music was ever manufactured in CD.

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Confrontations” – 3:39
A2. “Take It To The People” – 2:55
A3. “Sonlight Fell On Me” – 4:29
A4. “Looking For A Lifetime Love” – 3:37
A5. “Living Nightdream” – 3:39

Side Two
B1. “Cross On Over” – 3:42
B2. “Son Of Man” – 2:54
B3. “Someone Is Waiting” – 4:14
B4. “Letter To Laura” – 3:24
B5. “I’m On My Way” – 4:07

Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Spirit Records. Available on CD and as download at scottroley.com

---

---

---

CREDITS. Produced by Al Perkins and engineered by Jack Joseph Puig and Tom Trefethen. Rhythm Arrangements by Richard Souther and Al Perkins. Strings Arranged & Conducted by Greg Nelson. Songwriters: Michael Jon Albrecht, Scott Roley, Alan Moore, Ray Nenow. Executive Producers: Greg Nelson and Ray Nenow.

Musicians: Michael Jon Albrecht (Guitars, Vocals), Scott Roley (Guitars, Vocals), Alan Moore (Guitars, Vocals), Randy Mitchell (Guitars), Rick Vito (Guitars), Bobby Warford (Guitars), Al Perkins (Pedal Steel), Richard Souther (Keyboards), David MacKay (Bass), Dallas Taylor (Drums, Percussion).