Written by Attitudes/B.J. Cook & Eric Mercury

At the dawn of 1975, the great George Harrison (1943-2001) was about to start the recording of his new album Extra Texture (Read All About It). He decided to follow the advice of legendary drummer Jim Keltner who suggested David Foster’s name as a smart addition to the album’s line-up. The former Beatle immediately called Foster and asked him to join them for those sessions. As a result, Foster and Keltner apperared on several tracks of the album along with a young bass player named Paul Stallworth.

Soon after, those three talented cats with the great Danny Kortchmar on guitar,  became the group Attitudes that recorded two albums for Harrison’s Dark Horse label. Their debut, simply titled Attitudes, was also released in 1975 and presented an interesting mix of funk, rock and soul.  Unfortunately, Attitudes went unnoticed. The material included was good, but not great even though the group’s superior musicianship and masterful arrangements still gave listeners plenty of reasons to enjoy the effort.

For this week’s review, the pick is “You And I Are So In Love,” a soulful ballad co-written by singer/songwriter Eric Mercury with Foster’s then-wife, B.J. Cook.

“You And I Are So In Love,” was preceded by an instrumental titled “A Moment” that showcases Foster’s skills on electric piano and goes into the smooth ballad that features Stallworth’s tender and melodious vocal performance. Stallworth said in an interview that he became the group’s main singer only by chance when it was needed to add vocals to the intrumental tracks. It must be said that he did an excellent job and added the right amount of soulfulness to this song. “You And I Are So In Love” was also a nice listen for Foster fans because it featured his great work on the electric piano and synths. The arrangement was a fine example of sophisticated pop/soul. It could even be said it gave a good preview of Foster’s fantastic work for acts including Hall & Oates, Earth, Wind & Fire and Boz Scaggs.

For those interested, there’s a review in the archives of “Ain’t Love Enough,” another track from Attitudes that’s absolutely worth a listen.

Listen

• Lead Vocals & Bass: Paul Stallworth
• Keyboards: David Foster
• Guitar: Danny Kortchmar
• Guitar: Jesse Ed Davis
• Drums: Jim Keltner
• Backing Vocals: Carmen Twillie, Venette Gloud & kathryn Collier
• Arranged by Attitudes
• Produced by Lee Kiefer & Attitudes

Lyrics

No lyrics

Gwen Owens was an R&B singer better known as a member of the pop/soul vocal trio Hot that gained some popularity in the second half of the seventies. The late, Cathy Carson (1953-2014) and Juanita Curiel were the other voices of the group. Together, Hot scored a Top Ten hit and million-selling single with the 1977 “Angel In Your Arms.” Hot released three albums between 1977 and 1980 that were produced by Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford, two key figures of the Muscle Shoals studio scene. Those albums showcased various music styles from pop and soul to disco and country.

The three singers delivered some very nice vocals throughout the records that were perfectly crafted by their two producers with the support of the Muscle Shoals scene cream of the crop including Roger Clark on drums, Mac McAnally and Larry Byron on guitar, Bob Wray on bass and the famed Muscle Shoals Horns doing what they do best.
In 1979, Ivey and Woodford recorded a song with Owens called “I Don’t Wanna Dance No More.” The song was released as a solo single just for her. Owens had the most distinctive voice of Hot and she delivered the goods on this solo tune. “I Don’t Wanna Dance No More” was a pop/disco composition co- written by David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager who went on to recorded the song on her 1978 Too… album. This cover by the Muscle Shoals gang holds nicely in comparison with Bayer Sager’s original that was impeccably crafted by Foster. Ivey and Woodford pushed a bit more on the disco flavor comparedj to Foster’s more refined LA pop atmosphere, but Ivey and Woodford’s trademark soulful groove makes “I Don’t Wanna Dance No More” total ear candy. Owens’ superior vocals were evidence that she could have had a successful solo career, but soon after Hot disbanded and Owen quickly disappeared from the scene.
For those interested, the Bayer Sager/Foster Too… version of “I Don’t Wanna Dance No More” can be found in the archives.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Gwen-Owens-I-Don-’t-Want-To-Dance-No-More.mp3|titles=Don’t Eant To Dance No More|artists=Gwen Owens]

All Vocals: Gwen Owens
Keyboards: Clayton Ivey
Horns: Muscle Shoals Horns
Strings & Horns Arranged by Clayton Ivey & Charles Rose
Produced by Clayton Ivey & Terry Woodford

Lyrics

No Lyrics

August 2018 saw the welcome digital release of Ain’t Love Enough – The Best Of Attitudes. Attitudes was the supergroup that a young but already super-talented David Foster formed in the mid-seventies with revered drummer, Jim Keltner, top notch guitarist, Danny Kortchmar and skilled bassist and vocalist, Paul Stallworth.

The quartet released two album, Attitudes and Good News, between 1975 and 1977 for the late, great George Harrison’s (1943-2001) record label, Dark Horse. This new release finally presents in digital form all but three tracks from those two albums including past “songs of the week” like “Being Here With You,” “Change” and “Ain’t Love Enough” all still available in our archives. This time around we focus on a pop/rock mid-tempo entitled, “In A Stranger’s Arms.” Originally included on Attitudes’ sophomore album, Good News, this song featured Mr. Kortchmar, who composed it, on lead vocals and guitar.  There is a very sophisticated instrumental craft on this number with its delicious latin vibe and irresistible refrain not far from the soulful rock of The Doobie Brothers or Little Feat. The great musicality of “In A Stranger’s Arms” attracted saxophone legend, David Sanborn, who covered it on his 1977 album, Promise Me The Moon.  The title-track of that album was another Kortchmar composition also included in Good News. “In A Stranger’s Arms” was eventually covered also by pop songbird, Yvonne Elliman in 1978, and by Australian singer, Jon Stevens in 1980.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/In-A-Strangers-Arms.mp3|titles=In A Stranger’S Arms|artists=Danny Kortchmar]

Lead Vocals & Guitar: Danny Kortchmar
Keyboards, Synthesizer & Backing Vocals: David Foster
Bass & Backing Vocals: Paul Stallworth
Drums & Backing Vocals: Jim Keltner
Percussion: Emil Richards
Congas: Pat Murphy

Produced by Jay Lewis & Attitudes

Lyrics

No Lyrics

written by Paul Stallworth

In this week’s review, David Foster goes funky! Released in 1975, “Ain’t Love Enough” was the first single off Attitudes’ debut album. That all-star group included Foster on keyboards with three session legends: drummer Jim Keltner, bassist Paul Stallworth and guitarist Danny Kortchmar. “Ain’t Love Enough” was a catchy, upbeat song co-written by Foster with his friends Brian and Brenda (Gordon) Russell. A past review of “Ain’t Love Enough” can be read in the archives. The “Ain’t Love Enough” single cover photograph was taken by the late, legendary George Harrison (February 25, 1943 to November 29, 2001). Not only did Harrison signed Attitudes to his Dark Horse label, he was one of the group’s main fans and sponsors.

On this occasion, the focus is on a funky instrumental titled “The Whole World’s Crazy.” Written by Stallworth, “The Whole World’s Crazy” is an especially worthy listen because it wasn’t part of the Attitudes album, but was fortunately considered as the “Ain’t Love Enough” b-side. Attitudes really shines on this tune that’s dangerously close to the meanest, funky jams of seminal names including The Meters, Average White Band, Billy Preston or Booker T. & the MG’s. Stallworth builds a tight, powerful foundation on an irresistible beat while Keltner keeps that beat going, Kortchmar rocks the world on his guitar and Foster beefs up the atmosphere with his wicked licks on the Hammond organ.

Although insanely talented, Attitudes didn’t make it big. Their records are big fun to listen to, but their compositions weren’t up to the top-notch level of the group’s arranging and playing skills.

To round out this review, the site would like to give a shout out to our good friend and supreme Foster collector, Anders Bernstrom. He provided the site with a MP3 file of “The Whole World’s Crazy” and has helped a lot throughout the years.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Attitudes-The-Whole-Worlds-Crazy.mp3|titles=The Whole World’s Crazy|artists=Attitudes]

Bass: Paul Stallworth
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitar: Danny Kortchmar
Drums: Jim Keltner

Produced by Lee Kiefer & Attitudes

Lyrics

No Lyrics

written by David Foster, Danny Kortchmar, Jim Keltner & Paul Stallworth

In 1976, David Foster’s pop/rock quartet, Attitudes, went back into the studio to work on their sophomore album eventually entitled, “Good News.” Again, their new record was released on George Harrison’s label, Dark Horse Records with special guests like Ringo Starr, Booker T. Jones, Jay Graydon and the Tower Of Power horns. “Good News” was another effective mix of pop, soul and rock that was of particular interest for the stellar instrumental performances by the band members Foster, Jim Keltner, Paul Stallworth and Danny Kortchmar.

The first single off the album was a catchy pop/soul number entitled “Sweet Summer Music” that offered a breezy, latin feel with smooth vocals and harmonica that was close to the atmospheres of War, a successful funk band in the seventies. “Sweet Summer Music” was a minor entry on Billboard’s Hot 100 at #94. The single’s b-side, “If We Want To,” could be extremely interesting for David Foster fans cause it’s a track that comes from the sessions of Attitudes 1975 self-titled debut album but didn’t make the final cut.
“If We Want To,” co-written by the group’s four members, is a delicious funky jam with brazilian overtones and fantastic breaks and changes. Attitudes’ musicianship is on the spotlight with great performances by Foster and Kortchmar supported by the tight and powerful rhythm section. With its intricate rhythms and jazzy atmosphere, “If We Want To” could be part of any serious “rare groove” compilation.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/if_we_want_to.mp3|titles=If We Want To|artists=Attitudes]

Guitar: Danny Kortchmar
Drums: Jim Keltner
Bass: Paul Stallworth
Keyboards: David Foster
Percussion & Timbales: Vince Charles

Produced by Attitudes & Lee Kiefer

Lyrics

No Lyrics