Description
Not Just for Dancing is the sixth full-length album by American singer and songwriter Andy Pratt, released in the Netherlands on Aztec Records in 1985, marketed, manufactured, and distributed by EMI. Also released on Mega Records in Denmark the following year, licensed from Aztec. (Re-issued on CD by Pila Music in 1988 with “I Always Will Love You” and “It Will Get Better” from the original vinyl release replaced by two new tracks – “Stupid World” and “Carry You” – and as well featuring the five tracks from the 1982-EP Fun in the First World as a bonus. Re-issued once again on CD in 2004 as The Age of Goodbye, featuring the original album tracks as well as all bonus tracks.) The album was recorded in the US at Blue Jay Recording Studio in Carlisle, Massachuchetts; with additional recording done in Europe at Farmsound Studio in Heelsum, The Netherlands and Sound Studio N in Cologne, Germany. Engineered by Michael Golub, Ron St. Germain, and Walter Turbitt with Leroy Radcliffe of Robin Lane & The Chartbusters fame producing (except tracks A3 and A5 produced by Andy Pratt and Paco Saval). Mixed by Stephen Hague and Turbitt at Syncro Sound in Boston, Massachuchetts, except track A1 mixed by Bob Clearmountain at the Power Station in New York City, as well as tracks A3 and A5 mixed by Paco Saval at EMI Holland. All tracks written by Andy Pratt except The Beatles classic “I’m Only Sleeping” written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and “I Always Will Love You” by Jane Cann.
Featuring Andy Pratt on piano and vocals backed by Stephen Hague on guitar, keyboards (and drum programming); Tony Levin on bass and Chapman Stick; and Andy Newmark on drums; with Stanley Strickland sitting in on saxophone and flute (as well as vocal solo on track A4). The two tracks produced by Andy Pratt and Paco Saval features Saval on keyboards and and Face to Face (a.k.a. Gerhard Barth of Pieces fame) on guitar, bass, and drums, with background vocals provided by Jody Pijper and Lisa Boray.
On the strength of Fun in the First World Andy Pratt got a deal offered from Lamborghini Records in London, UK. The label that also signed fellow-Bostian Peter C. Johnson, Stiff’s Joana Lewie, and reggae artist Jack Miller, started with great media hype, but unfortunately never got off the ground and thus Andy Pratt’s album got shelved. In Europe the Lamborghini recordings (with rhythm tandem Andy Newmark and Tony Levin) were briefly available on the album Not Just For Dancing on EMI/Aztec Records in Holland and Megadisc in Denmark.
Once again, as with Charlie Peacock and Steve Scott, we have a product that due to limited distribution must be considered independent, but is clearly a first class, professional effort. Many will remember Andy Pratt for the FM “classic” format staple «Avenging Annie», his post-conversion mainstream release, ‘Motives‘, or his classic early independent Christian EP ‘Fun in the First World‘, in 1982.
Although Pratt has played rare performances, little of his activity has been made available to the average consumer. Until now. This German import CD, made available entirely due to some forward thinking buyer at Spring Arbor, brings Pratt back in his finest form to date. High-tech Euro-pop and conceptual ballads mark this artist’s approach to important political, emotional and ultimately spiritual (they’re not truly capable of separation anyway) issues, with a relevance of style similar to Mark Heard, John Fischer and early Larry Norman. In fact, the CD contains ‘Fun in the First World’ as an added bonus, and these five tracks personify a Norman-esque approach. The eight other originals and the cover of Lennon and McCartney’s «I’m Only Sleeping» draw more on Pratt’s independent musical vision and sensitive vocal renderings.
Smart, thoughtful and emotionally provocative, Andy Pratt’s music is ‘Not Just For Dancing’, but more often than not it is uplifting, moving and insightful. Available at your local bookstores through Spring Arbor distribution exclusively. It takes intelligent music to provide a sensible soundtrack in this «Stupid World». [Brian Q. Newcomb, CCM, May 1989]
Not Just for Dancing, Pila Music 1988 Edition
Not Just for Dancing is an important CD release by Boston/Belgium songwriter/singer Andy Pratt; shedding the complexities of his first and second albums from the early ’70s, these songs rock out with a smart yet innocently commercial edge. This serious pop music, filled with heartfelt vocals as on «Who Will Be My Friend» and «What Can I Do», is full of moments superstars Billy Joel and Phil Collins only wish they could bring to their repertoire. With close to an hour’s worth of music, a lot of territory is covered, culminating in «Israel», a brilliant gem of a composition which is one of the key pieces of the Andy Pratt catalog. The gorgeous piano fades up with a no-nonsense vocal and pounding drums, everything getting pulled right into the vacuum hook – jazz piano lines being the perfect foil, keeping the burning Billy Loosigian guitar blasts in check. Producer Leroy Radcliffe was guitarist in the second wave of the Modern Lovers and one of the original members of Robin Lane & the Chartbusters. His flawless production on the Massachusetts hit «Girl With the Curious Hand» for Digney Fignus was the precursor to this set of tunes that originally formed the Fun in the First World five-song disc. Combined with outtakes from the sessions for that EP and material performed by Pratt in the Netherlands, these are said to be his last recordings from the 1980s. «Face I Wear» is that introspection from his self-titled second album, his first and only for Columbia – quasi-techno keys play against Pratt’s falsetto with shimmering production.
The liner notes give general information about the artist’s prolific avalanche of material in the new millennium, but they don’t tell listeners which tracks Andy Newmark and Tony Levin play on. Hearing «Carry You» is a real shock – and treat – for longtime Andy Pratt fans, while «Modern Police» has enough mystery, intrigue, and creative spark to give the “repeat” button a good workout. Not Just for Dancing is an impressive combination of emotions and musical styles that begs repeated – and thoughtful – listening. [Joe Viglione, AMG]
Not Just for Dancing, Pila Music 1988 Edition
This CD amalgamates together two of Pratt’s ’80s releases ‘Not Just For Dancing’ (a 1985 album) and ‘Fun In the First World’ (a 1982 EP) and brings back memories of his mainstage Greenbelt performances which drew heavily on these recordings. Unmistakably ’80s in production sounds, some of this stuff has dated better than other tracks but Pratt’s trademark singing and excellent songwriting is equally unmistakable. Ploughing a similar music vision as some of Bruce Cockburn and Peter Gabriel’s material of the same period, tracks like «Stupid World» and «Carry You» are driven by slightly threatening synth sounds and ’80s drums. Highlights include «Face I Wear» and «Modern Police». There’s a great re-working of The Beatles’ «I’m Only Sleeping». Pratt is excellent at re-interpreting other people’s songs, just check out his ‘Cover Me’ album for more fine examples. «Fun In The First World» is another excellent song here as Pratt makes his observations about the state of things. «Burn Up In The Fire» is another strong song and everything closes with the claustrophobic apocalyptic «Paper Money». Hugely talented, largely ignored but still making music, this re-visitation of some of his ’80s output reminds us of the talent of the man. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, June 2007]
> iTunes (as part of the compilation The Age of Goodbye)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Face I Wear” – 3:55
A2. “What Can I Do” – 4:30
A3. “I Always Will Love You” – 5:25
A4. “Modern Police” – 2:47
A5. “It Will Get Better” – 3:24
Side Two
B1. “I’m Only Sleeping” – 4:03
B2. “Age Of Goodbye” – 4:39
B3. “One More Soldier” – 4:46
B4. “I Love You” – 4:25
Note: Re-issued on CD by Pila Music in 1988, paired with Andy Pratt’s 5-track 1982-EP Fun in the First World (though replacing two of the original LP tracks, “It Will Get Better” and “I Always Will Love You”, with “Stupid World” and “I Will Carry You”). The album was remastered and re-issued on CD as The Age Of Goodbye by CoraZong Records in 2004, including the 10 original tracks from the 1983 vinyl LP and the 5 tracks from Fun in the First World vinyl-EP, as well as one bonus track; “Face I Wear” (Previously Unreleased Version).
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