Rickie Lee Jones (album)

Rickie Lee Jones is the debut album of singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones, released in 1979.

Rickie Lee Jones
Studio album by
Rickie Lee Jones
ReleasedFebruary 28, 1979
RecordedSeptember–December 1978
StudioWarner Bros. Recording Studios and The Burbank Studios
Tracks 2, 11 recorded live December 22, 1978 at TBS
GenreRock
Length42:11
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerLenny Waronker, Russ Titelman
Rickie Lee Jones chronology
Rickie Lee Jones
(1979)		 Pirates
(1981)

Background

Jones had begun playing live in the Los Angeles area at the age of 21, and after meeting singer-songwriter Alfred Johnson, the pair began writing and performing live together (most notably at the Ala Carte club.) Two of their collaborations, "Weasel and the White Boys Cool" and "Company," would later be recorded for Jones' debut album. She also sang jazz standards, as well as a song penned by her father ("The Moon Is Made of Gold") in her live sets.

Jones' performances around Los Angeles aroused interest from other local songwriters, as well as local record company executives. At a label showcase, Jones performed originals, including "Chuck E.'s in Love", "The Real Thing Is Back in Town" and "The Moon Is Made of Gold." This showcase performance, plus a demo containing "The Last Chance Texaco", "Easy Money", "Young Blood" and "After Hours" led to a record deal with Warner Bros.. For her major label debut, Jones scrapped "The Real Thing Is Back in Town," but used the titular line in one of the album's tracks - "Coolsville."

Recording sessions (which began in September 1978) yielded eleven songs for inclusion on an album. Two of the songs - "On Saturday Afternoons in 1963" and "After Hours" - were recorded live on December 22, 1978.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Smash Hits8/10[2]
The Village VoiceB−[3]

The album was released in the spring of 1979 to mostly favorable reviews, propelled by the single "Chuck E.'s in Love". The single became a US #4 hit during the summer, while the album, which went on to become a million seller, hit US #3. Jones was supported by a performance on Saturday Night Live in April 1979, where she performed "Chuck E.'s in Love" and "Coolsville". A second single, "Young Blood," cracked the US Top 40 in late 1979, when Jones went on an international tour. By June 1981, the album had sold over two million copies in the U.S.

Image

The album cover photography and design was by Norman Seeff.

Awards

22nd Annual Grammy Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1980
Rickie Lee Jones Best New Artist Won
"Chuck E.'s In Love" Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
"The Last Chance Texaco" Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female Nominated
Tom Knox[4] Best Engineered Recording - Non-Classical Nominated

Track listing

Songs written by Rickie Lee Jones, except where noted.

  1. "Chuck E.'s in Love" 3:28
  2. "On Saturday Afternoons in 1963" – 2:31
  3. "Night Train" – 3:14
  4. "Young Blood" – 4:04
  5. "Easy Money" – 3:16
  6. "The Last Chance Texaco" – 4:05
  7. "Danny's All-Star Joint" – 4:01
  8. "Coolsville" – 3:49
  9. "Weasel and the White Boys Cool" (Rickie Lee Jones, Alfred Johnson) – 6:00
  10. "Company" (Rickie Lee Jones, Alfred Johnson) – 4:40
  11. "After Hours (Twelve Bars Past Goodnight)" – 2:13

Personnel
Technical
  • Lee Herschberg, Loyd Clifft – engineer
  • Mike Salisbury – art direction, cover design
  • Norman Seeff – photography

Charts

Notes
  1. Ruhlmann, William. "Rickie Lee Jones – Rickie Lee Jones". AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  2. Starr, Red (August 9–22, 1979). "Albums". Smash Hits. Vol. 1 no. 18. p. 25.
  3. Christgau, Robert (April 30, 1979). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  4. https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/tom-knox
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 431. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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