| Front Seat | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Sadao Watanabe | ||||
| Released | June 25, 1989 | |||
| Recorded | April—May1989 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 45:29 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producer |
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| Sadao Watanabe chronology | ||||
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Front Seat is a 1989 jazz album by the Japanese saxophonist Sadao Watanabe. The album features vocals by Patti Austin on two tracks, one of which, "Any Other Fool", reached number 6 during its 31 weeks on Billboard magazine's Adult Contemporary chart.
Release and commercial performance
Front Seat was released on June 25, 1989. It spent 21 weeks on Billboard magazine's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, where it reached number 8 in the issue dated March 3, 1990.
Critical reception
The editors of Billboard magazine selected "Only in My Mind", "Any Other Fool", "Front Seat", "Anga la Jua" and "Wild Flowers" as the album's "standout tracks".
Track listing
All songs written by Sadao Watanabe, except as noted.
- "Sailing" - 5:55
- "One More Time" - 4:59
- "Only in My Mind" (with Patti Austin) (Watanabe, Jeff Pescetto) - 4:44
- "Miles Apart" - 4:10
- "Any Other Fool" (with Patti Austin) (Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren) - 5:06
- "On the Way" - 5:18
- "Anga la Jua (Place in the Sun)" - 4:22
- "Wild Flowers" - 3:22
- "Front Seat" - 2:56
- "Takin' Time" - 4:37
Personnel
- Sadao Watanabe – Alto saxophone (1, 2, 4–10), Sopranino saxophone (3)
- George Duke – arranger (1, 2), Yamaha TX816 (1, 2), Roland D-550 (1, 2), Synclavier (1, 2)
- Robbie Buchanan – arranger (3, 4, 5, 6, 10), keyboards (3, 4, 5, 6, 10), synthesizers (3, 4, 5, 6, 10)
- Russell Ferrante – arranger (7, 8, 9), keyboards (7, 8, 9)
- Oscar Castro-Neves – acoustic guitar (9)
- Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (1–6, 10)
- Jimmy Haslip – bass (7)
- Abraham Laboriel – bass (1, 2, 6)
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass (3, 4, 5, 10)
- Alex Acuña – drums (7, 9), percussion (3–7, 9, 10)
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 2)
- Jeff Porcaro – drums (3, 4, 5, 10)
- John Robinson – drums (6)
- Efrain Toro – percussion (7, 9)
- Carlos Vega – drums (1, 2)
- Patti Austin – lead vocals (3, 5), backing vocals (3, 5)
- Alex Brown – backing vocals (1)
- Carl Carwell – backing vocals (1)
- Syreeta Wright – backing vocals (1)
Production
- Sadao Watanabe – executive producer
- Robbie Buchanan – producer (3, 4, 5, 6, 10)
- George Duke – producer (1, 2)
- Russell Ferrante – producer (7, 8, 9)
- Erik Zobler – recording (1, 2), mixing (1, 2)
- Kevin Fisher – assistant engineer (1, 2)
- Debbie Johnson – assistant engineer (1, 2)
- Steve Holroyd – assistant engineer (1, 2)
- Dave Ridean – additional engineer (1, 2)
- Stephanie McCravey – production coordinator (1, 2)
- Jeff Balding – recording (3, 4, 5, 10), mixing (3, 4, 5, 6, 10)
- Ken Allandyce – assistant engineer (3, 4, 5, 10)
- Derrick Marcel – assistant engineer (3, 4, 5, 6, 10)
- Frank Wolf – recording (6)
- Wade Jaynce – assistant engineer (6)
- Bart Stevens – assistant engineer (6)
- David Hentschel – recording (7, 8, 9)
- Keith Blake – assistant engineer (7, 8, 9)
- Duane Seykora – assistant engineer (7, 8, 9)
- Marylata Elton – production coordinator (7, 8, 9)
- Miki Cannon – production coordinator
- Kyle Davis – production coordinator
- Hiroshi Makishima – production coordinator
- Riki Ninomiya – production coordinator
- Akihiko Sato – production coordinator
- Akio Ohno – photography
- Yoshihiko Matsubara – artwork design
Charts
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums | 8 |
References
- ^ "Front Seat – Sadao Watanabe". sadao.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- Whitburn 2007, p. 292.
- "Top Contemporary Jazz Albums" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 17. April 28, 1990. p. 42. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ "Top Contemporary Jazz Albums" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 9. March 3, 1990. p. 60. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- "Album Reviews > Jazz > Recommended > Sadao Watanabe – Front Seat" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 43. October 28, 1989. p. 100. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
Bibliography
- Whitburn, Joel (2007), Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961-2006, Record Research Inc., ISBN 978-0898201697