Radioland (album) explained

Radioland
Type:	Album
Artist:	Nicolette Larson
Cover:	Nicolette Larson Radioland 1980 Album Cover.jpg
Released:	January 1981^[1] ^[2]
Studio:	Sunset Sound Recorders (Hollywood, California) Warner Bros. Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Genre:	Pop
Length:	30:22
Label:	Warner Bros. Records
Producer:	Ted Templeman
Prev Title:	In the Nick of Time
Prev Year:	1979
Next Title:	All Dressed Up and No Place to Go
Next Year:	1982

Radioland is the third studio album by American singer Nicolette Larson. It was produced by Ted Templeman and released by Warner Bros. Records in 1981.

Background

Radioland reached No. 62 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the charts for twelve weeks.^[3] Three singles were released from the album during 1981; "Ooo-Eee" in January, "How Can We Go On" in April and "Radioland" in June. All three failed to appear on the Billboard Hot 100. Radioland later received its first release on CD from Wounded Bird Records in 2005.

Critical reception

On its release, Billboard commented that the album "explores the full range of Larson's talent, from hard-rocking numbers like 'Radioland' to a bluesy torch ballad, 'Long Distance Love'". They added, "There are also shades of pretty, sinuous midtempo pop-rock, along the lines of her hit 'Lotta Love'."^[4] Cash Box noted Larson's "inspiring vocal versatility" and Templeman's "beautifully thick production". They concluded, "This something-for-everyone LP is suited to a variety of formats."^[1] In a retrospective review, Bruce Eder of AllMusic felt the album was a "bold, melodic collection of midtempo country-inspired pop/rock". He added, "Her voice isn't always strong or rich enough to sustain interest in which she's singing, but the diversity of sounds holds the interest."

Personnel

• Nicolette Larson – lead vocals, backing vocals (2-8)
• Doug Livingston – Fender Rhodes (1, 2, 7, 8)
• Bill Payne – synthesizers (1, 4), keyboards (5), synthesizer solo (7), organ (8), Fender Rhodes (9)
• Mark Jordan – keyboards (3, 6), synthesizers (3), Fender Rhodes (4), organ (9)
• John McFee – guitars (1-4, 7-8)
• Paul Barrere – guitars (1, 2, 5, 7, 8)
• Patrick Simmons – guitar solo (1)
• Andrew Kastner – guitars (3, 4, 6)
• Fred Tackett – guitars (9)
• Tiran Porter – bass (1-4, 6-8)
• Bob Glaub – bass (5)
• Klaus Voormann – bass (9)
• Keith Knudsen – drums (1, 2, 7, 8)
• Rick Shlosser – drums (3-6, 9)
• Ted Templeman – percussion (1-7), backing vocals (2, 5-8)
• Bobby LaKind – congas (1-8)
• Jerry Jumonville – saxophone (5)
• Gene Meros – saxophone (6)
• Lee Thornburg – trumpet (5)
• Linda Ronstadt – backing vocals (2)
• Maureen McDonald – backing vocals (3-5, 7)

Production

• Ted Templeman – producer
• Jim Isaacson – engineer
• Gene Meros – additional engineer
• Kent Duncan – mastering at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, California)
• Joan Vallejo – production coordinator
• Gribbitt!, Murry Whiteman – design
• Pete Johnson – art direction
• George Holz – photography
• Derek Sutton – management

Charts

Chart (1982)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart^[5]	68
US Billboard 200	62

Notes and References

1. Reviews: Album - Hits out of the Box. Cash Box. 42. 35. 11. January 17, 1981. World Radio History. July 3, 2021.
2. News: Priddy . Tom . Music: Pop-Rock . . 9 January 1981 . 7B . . subscription . 18 October 2023.
3. Web site: Billboard . Nicolette Larson Radioland Chart History . Billboard . 2018-09-19.
4. Billboard magazine – Billboard's Top Album Picks: Pop – January 17, 1981 – page 54
5. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. St. Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. Illustrated. 173. 0-646-11917-6.