Julian Lennon - Valotte (1984) {Atlantic US LP} 24/192

Valotte is the debut album by singer-songwriter Julian Lennon. It was released on October 19, 1984 on Atlantic Records in the US and Canada, and October 15th on Charisma/Virgin Records for the rest of the world. It was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and The Hit Factory in New York City. The album was certified Platinum, selling more than 1,000,000 copies.


The majority of the songs came from demos written by Julian Lennon, Justin Clayton and Carlton Morales during a 3 month stay at the remote Manor de Valotte, a French chateau near Nevers during the fall of 1983.

Valotte was certified Gold by the RIAA on January 9, 1985 and then Platinum by the RIAA on March 13th, 1985. Julian also received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist for his work on the album at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards.


Influence/Guest Appearance

Toots Thielemans may have had a significant impact on The Beatles, John Lennon in particular, during the group's pre-fame formative years.While performing in 1959 in Hamburg, Lennon (sometimes with fellow Beatle George Harrison in tow) would often go over to the club where Toots was performing (in a noontime residency) as a member of The George Shearing Quintet. Lennon was evidently taken with Toots' harmonica playing and guitar selection: an electric American made Rickenbacker with a short scale neck.








Track listing

All songs written by Julian Lennon, except where noted.

1. "Valotte" (Lennon, Justin Clayton, Carlton Morales) - 4:15
2. "O.K. For You" (Lennon, Clayton, Morales, Carmelo Luggeri) - 3:38
3. "On The Phone" - 4:42
4. "Space" - 4:22
5. "Well I Don't Know" - 4:35
6. "Too Late for Goodbyes" - 3:30
7. "Lonely" - 3:50
8. "Say You're Wrong" - 3:25
9. "Jesse" (China Burton) - 3:48
10. "Let Me Be" - 2:12




Musicians:

Julian Lennon: Lead vocals, bass guitar, keyboards, Simmons drums & percussion
Guitars: Justin Clayton & Carlton Morales
Keyboards: Barry Beckett, David Lebolt & Peter Wood
Drums: Roger Hawkins & Steve Holly
Bass Guitars: David Hood, Marcus Miller & Carmine Rojas
Percussion: Ralph MacDonald & Steve Holly
Background Vocals: Rory Dodd, Eric Troyer & Julian Lennon
Trumpets: Jon Faddis & Joe Shepley
Saxophones: Michael Brecker, George Young, Lawrence Feldman & Ron Cuber

Cameo Appearances:

Michael Brecker: Saxophone solo on Lonely
Jean "Toots" Thielemans: Harmonica on Too Late For Goodbyes
Martin Briley: Guitar on Too Late For Goodbyes
Dennis Herring: Guitar on Jesse


Production

Engineers: Michael Somers Abbott, Michael Alliare, Michael Barry, Bobby Cohen, John Davenport, Pete Greene, Scott James, Bradshaw Leigh, Peter Millus, John Penzotti, Bill Straus
Mixing: Bradshaw Leigh
Mastering: Ted Jensen


The cover photo was taken by David Michael Kennedy
Sleeve Design by Bob Defrin & Julian Lennon


Singles

The first US single, Valotte, made it's debut on the Billboard Top 40 on November 10th, 1984. It stayed in the top 40 for 12 weeks and spent a month in the top ten peaking at #9. The second single, Too Late For Goodbyes, was the album's second top ten hit on the national Adult Contemporary charts and stayed there for five weeks with two weeks as number 1.