Love (Aztec Camera album) explained
| Love |
| Type: | Studio |
| Artist: | Aztec Camera |
| Cover: | Azteclove.jpg |
| Border: | yes |
| Released: | 9 November 1987[1] |
| Recorded: | April–August 1987 |
| Length: | 38:37 |
| Label: | WEA, Sire |
| Prev Title: | Knife |
| Prev Year: | 1984 |
| Next Title: | Stray |
| Next Year: | 1990 |
Love is the third studio album by Scottish pop group Aztec Camera, released in November 1987 on Sire.[2] While it was released under the Aztec Camera name, Roddy Frame was the only remaining permanent member of the group and he recorded the album alongside a group of session musicians.[3] Departing from the indie and folk-rock approach of earlier records, Love incorporated R&B influences, seemingly to break the American market. It failed to do so but did achieve commercial success in the UK, reaching No. 10 on the albums chart, following the success of its third single "Somewhere in My Heart", which reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. As a result, it became the band's most commercially successful album.
Background
The Backwards and Forwards (1985) live EP was released, reaching number 181 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. After this, the band went through a line-up shift, retaining frontman Roddy Frame and drummer David Ruffy, and adding guitarist Steve Jordan, bassist Marcus Miller and keyboardist David Frank of the System.[4]
Reception
Author Dave Thompson wrote in his book Alternative Rock (2000) that the album was a "backward step into pop cliché, an attempt to make a record which would work on American radio."[4]
Upon release, the initially peaked at number 49 on the UK Albums Chart. After the success of its singles, it rose to number 10.[4]
Track listing
All songs written by Roddy Frame.
Personnel
Personnel per booklet.[5]
Musicians
- Roddy Frame - vocals, guitars, background vocals (track 1 and 3)
- Rob Mounsey - bass (track 1), keyboard programming (tracks 1 and 7), keyboards (tracks 3, 6 and 9), programming (tracks 6 and 9), drums (track 7)
- Jimmy Bralower - drum programming (tracks 1, 3 and 4)
- Carol Steele - percussion (tracks 1, 6 and 7)
- Dave Weckl – drums (tracks 1–3)
- Tawatha Agee – background vocals (tracks 1 and 3)
- Jill Dellabates – background vocals (tracks 1 and 3)
- Lani Groves – background vocals (tracks 1, 2 and 6–8)
- Dan Hartman – background vocals (tracks 1 and 3)
- David Frank – keyboards (tracks 2 and 8), programming (tracks 2 and 8)
- Marcus Miller – bass (tracks 2 and 8)
- Robin Clark – background vocals (tracks 2 and 6–8)
- Gordon Grody – background vocals (tracks 2 and 6–8)
- Peter Beckett – keyboards (track 3)
- Robby Kilgore – bass synthesizer (track 3)
- Jeff Bova – bass (track 4), keyboard programming (track 4)
- Scott Parker – background vocals (track 4)
- Michael Jonzun – drums (track 5), keyboard programming (track 5), background vocals (track 5)
- Kent Wagner – bass (track 5)
- Soni Jonzun – saxophone (track 5)
- Gloria Jonzun – background vocals (track 5)
- Steve Jordan – drums (tracks 6 and 9)
- Will Lee – bass (tracks 6 and 9)
- Carroll Thompson – lead vocals (track 7)
- Steve Gadd – drums (track 8)
Production and artwork
- Russ Titelman – producer (tracks 1 and 3)
- Josh Abbey – engineer (tracks 1, 3 and 4)
- Tommy LiPuma – producer (tracks 2 and 8)
- David Frank – producer (tracks 2 and 8)
- Eric Calvi – engineer (tracks 2, 3 and 8)
- Roddy Frame – producer (tracks 4, 6, 7 and 9)
- Michael Jonzun – producer (track 5)
- Sidney H. Burton Jr. – engineer (track 5)
- Nigel Walker – engineer (track 5)
- Rob Mounsey – producer (tracks 6, 7 and 9)
- Richard Alderson – engineer (track 6, 7 and 9)
- Kevin Halpin – engineer (track 6, 7 and 9)
- Jim Groatley – assistant engineer
- Richard Novak – assistant engineer
- Barbara Milne – assistant engineer
- Matt Hathaway – assistant engineer
- Angela Piva – assistant engineer
- Jeff Cox – assistant engineer
- Joel Martin – assistant engineer
- Arun Chakraverty – mastering
- Nick Knight – photography
- The Control Room – artwork, additional design
- Peter Saville Associates – original material
Singles
- "How Men Are" (UK No. 25)
- "Somewhere in My Heart" (UK No. 3)
- "Working in a Goldmine" (UK No. 31)
- "Deep & Wide & Tall" (UK No. 55)
References
Citations
Sources
- Dalton. David. 7 November 1987. New Albums. Music Week. 0265-1548.
- Dickson . Ian . 21 November 1987 . Albums . Record Mirror. 0144-5804.
- Taylor . Neil . Neil Taylor (journalist). 14 November 1987 . 33 . New Musical Express. 0028-6362.
- Book: Thompson, Dave. Dave Thompson (author). Alternative Rock. Third Ear: The Essential Listening Companion. 2000. Miller Freeman Books. San Francisco, California. 0-87930-607-6.
Notes and References
- Dalton ed. 1987, p. 42
- Web site: Love - Aztec Camera | Releases. AllMusic. 13 November 2019.
- Web site: Aztec Camera | Biography & History. AllMusic. 13 November 2019.
- Thompson 2000, p. 165
- Love. Aztec Camera. 1987. booklet. WEA. 242202-2.
