written by Al Jarreau, Tom Canning & Jay Graydon

Al Jarreau was a rare talent. Mr. Jarreau’s (March 12, 1940 to February 12, 2017) 1981 masterpiece, Breakin’ Away, was produced by Jay Graydon and set the benchmark of excellence for the LA sound of those years. The late vocal legend with Graydon, his frequent collaborator, Tom Canning and an A-list team of players and engineers created an innovative musical architecture that fused Jarreau’s jazz roots with sophisticated soul sounds.

Think Earth, Wind & Fire meets the harmonic brightness of pop genius Burt Bacharach. Through the years on this page, there have been writings of amazing melodies from Breakin’ Away including “My Old Friend” and the title track that can still be mined in the archives.
This week, the spotlight is on “Our Love,” an achingly beautiful love song that closes the first side of the album. Co-written by Graydon, Canning and Jarreau, “Our Love” was a romantic song with a powerful melody that can melt the coldest hearts. The legendary singer’s tender phrasing and moving performance on the verses and chorus are pure ear-candy and evidence of his God-given talent. On “Our Love,” the Milwaukee-born sensation was supported by the golden vocal harmonies of two other fixtures in Graydon’s camp; Richard Page and Steve George of Pages. Graydon’s genius boosted the tune with a refined rhythm arrangement that is perfectly supported by his friend David Foster who delivered superb performances on piano, rhodes and synthesizer. Foster also enhanced the tune’s sweetness with a top-notch string arrangement. The rhythm section on “Our Love” was rounded out by Graydon on guitar, Steve Gadd on drums and Abe Laboriel on bass. “Our Love” was the last single from Breakin’ Away coupled with the funky groove of “Roof Garden” also found on the album. “Our Love” was just one of the gems that makes it easy to understand why Al Jarreau will remain as one of the most gifted, original and great singers that ever walked into a recording studio in music history.

Listen

Lead Vocals: Al Jarreau
Drums: Steve Gadd
Bass: Abraham Laboriel
Acoustic Piano, Fender Rhodes & Synthesizer: David Foster
Guitars: Jay Graydon
Synthesizer: Mike Boddicker
Background Vocals: Richard Page & Steve George

Rhythm Arrangement by Jay Graydon, Tom Canning & Al Jarreau
String Arrangement: David Foster
Produced by Jay Graydon
Associate Producer: Tom Canning

Lyrics

There’s a land where lovers dream,
Where poets dwell.
We can sail tomorrow.
There is always room for one
Who wishes well.

There are doubters who
Will be welcome too.
When you can’t afford the fare,
There’s a wish to borrow.

Our love, we must never doubt it.
Our love, when you think about it.
Love like ours will live a
Thousand years.

Yes, I know you’ve heard the story
Without end.And you’re uninspired.
Still, a walk without a wish
Cannot begin,
If you wish at all,
We can conquer all
Learn to walk and run again,
As we chase Goiath.

written by Al Jarreau, Jay Graydon & Tom Canning

The end of 1981 saw the release of Al Jarreau’s new single “Breakin’ Away,” the title track of the singer’s platinum album released earlier that same year. “Breakin’ Away” was a laid-back tune co-written by Jarreau with collaborators Jay Graydon and Tom Canning. Produced by Graydon, the song sports a catchy melody, ear-candy refrain and refined funky beat. This track has smooth rhythms and superior arrangements that gives Jarreau plenty of room to shine with his slick falsetto dancing over the rich instrumental track.

David Foster’s piano keeps time with the fantastic drumming of the late Jeff Porcaro and the impeccable work by Neil Stubenhus on bass. Foster also shines on the song’s synthesizers-laden bridge supported by the great Jerry Hey horns and Graydon’s trademark guitar. The production is top notch and gives the tune an irresistible jazzy and classy feel.

“Breakin’ Away” became a multi-format chart hit that reached #43 on Billboard’s Hot 100, #30 on Adult Contemporary and #25 on R&B. This masterpiece can be considered one of the best examples of the most sophisticated L.A. quality pop sound of that era. The single’s b-side was “(Round, Round, Round) Blue Rondo A La Turk,” a vocal version of Dave Brubeck’s jazz standard. “(Round, Round, Round) Blue Rondo A La Turk” would collect a Grammy Award as Best Jazz Vocal Performance while the entire album “Breakin’ Away” won as “Best Pop Vocal Performance Male.”

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/breakin_away.mp3|titles=Breakin’ Away|artists=Al Jarreau]

Lead & Background Vocals: Al Jarreau
Piano & Fender Rhodes: David Foster
Synthesizers: David Foster & Mike Boddicker
Electric Guitar: Jay Graydon
Drums: Jeff Porcaro
Bass: Neil Stubenhaus
Trumpets: Chuck Findley & Jerry Hey
Trombone: Bill Reichenbach
Rhythm Arrangement by Jay Graydon, Al Jarreau & Tom Canning
Horn Arrangement: Jerry Hey

Produced by Jay Graydon
Associate Producer: Tom Canning

Lyrics

Look what you’ve done for me
You’re making more fun for me
Troubadour me, destined to be
Set in my ways, stuck in my daze

You were the butterfly
Winking at me
Making my fires fly

Brought me romance
Taught me to dance
Making me win, making me grin
Schooling me

[CHORUS]
Breaking away
Your love has opened eyes
That couldn’t see
Breaking away
Your beacon in the night
Discovered me

Show me some parachutes
Away today, sail away
As long as I’m here
Bring me some climbing boots

Open the door
Give me some more
Fasten me in, loosen the pin
Pull for me

[Repeat CHORUS 5x to fade]