Written by Danny Kortchmar

 

Good News was the second and final album released in 1977 by pop/rock group Attitudes for George Harrison’s Dark Horse label. The group consisted of session aces with Jim Keltner on drums, Danny Kortchmar on guitar, Paul Stallworth on bass and a young Canadian prodigy named David Foster on keyboards. Both of Attitudes’ releases remained well-kept secrets to this day. The songs were extremely interesting with their unique mix of pop, rock and funk delivered by first-class musicianship. Recently, both albums were finally released on cd and a comprehensive Best Of was also put on the market giving fans the opportunity to listen to their catchy music. Good News was produced by noted engineer and guitarist, Jay Lewis, together with Attitudes. The album presents quite a few highlights that included “Promise Me The Moon,” a Kortchmar original that was the pick for this week.

“Promise Me The Moon” was a latin/rock number with jazzy overtones not far from the refined sounds of Little Feat or The Doobie Brothers. Kortchmar handled the lead vocals with the right energy and also played some great guitar with Lewis and guest Jay Graydon. Foster’s piano licks added some jazz/fusion flavor to the atmosphere. The groovin’ rhythm section of Stallworth and Keltner were reinforced here by Pat Murphy on congas to enhance the latin feel of the track.

Sax legend David Sanborn was evidently a fan of Attitudes. Sanborn covered both “Promise Me The Moon” and “In A Stranger’s Arms” on his next album which was also released in 1977 and titled Promise Me The Moon. Sanborn’s version was very close to Attitudes’ original and was delivered by top players including the great Hiram Bullock (1955-2008) on lead vocals and guitar. 

• Lead Vocal & Guitar: Danny Kortchmar
• Keyboards: David Foster
• Bass: Paul Stallworth
• Drums: Jim Keltner
• Background Vocals: Attitudes

• Produced by Jay Lewis & Attitudes

Lyrics

Can’t recall the color of her eyes
Though they have the power to paralyze
And I can’t recall the color of her hair
But I feel so all alone when she’s not there
What she said, it still echoes in my head

Won’t you promise me the moon?
Promise me that sunny day, though it’s way too soon
Make that promise anyway, promise me the moon
Promise me the stars above, though it’s way too soon
Promise all your love

So if in the night our ships collide
We cannot avoid it if we tried
But it seems like I can’t get no sleep
If I make a promise I can’t keep
What she said, it still echoes in my head

Won’t you promise me the moon?
Promise me that sunny day, though it’s way too soon
Make that promise anyway, promise me the moon
Promise me the stars above, though it’s way too soon
Promise all your love

What she said, it still echoes in my head

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 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