Welcome to the St. James' Club

Welcome to the St. James' Club is the fourth album by the American jazz group the Rippingtons, released in 1990.[2] It reached No. 1 on Billboard's Jazz chart.[3] The group supported the album with a North American tour.[4] The album was produced by Russ Freeman, who chose to give the songs a more rhythmic direction.[5][6]

Welcome to the St. James' Club
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 21, 1990[1]
RecordedMarch–May 1990
GenreJazz, jazz fusion
Length47:13
LabelGRP
ProducerRuss Freeman
The Rippingtons chronology
Tourist in Paradise
(1989)
Welcome to the St. James' Club
(1990)
Curves Ahead
(1991)

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [7]
Chicago Tribune    [8]

The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed the album "generally complex, heavily synthesized music—some of it heavily orchestrated."[9] The Chicago Tribune concluded that "what pop is to rock, the Rippingtons is to jazz—upbeat, modern and able to sell a lot of albums."[8]

Track listing

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(All tracks composed by Russ Freeman).

  1. "Welcome to the St. James' Club" - 4:41
  2. "Wednesday's Child" - 4:53
  3. "I Watched Her Walk Away" - 5:24
  4. "Kenya" - 5:23
  5. "Affair in San Miguel" - 5:04
  6. "Tropic of Capricorn" - 4:59
  7. "Who's Holding Her Now?" - 3:53
  8. "Soul Mates" - 4:57
  9. "Passion Fruit" - 4:34
  10. "Victoria's Secret" - 3:25

Personnel

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The Rippingtons

Guest Musicians and Vocalists

  • Mike Lang – acoustic piano (6)
  • Joe Sample – acoustic piano (9)
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (6, 7, 9)
  • Brant Biles – additional shaker (1)
  • Kirk Whalum – saxophone (2, 8)
  • Judd Miller – EWI controller (2, 4, 10)
  • Brandon Fields – saxophone (3, 5, 7, 9), soprano saxophone (10)
  • Carl Anderson – vocals (1, 4)
  • Lynne Fiddmont – vocals (1)
  • Patti Austin – vocals (3, 8)
  • Dee Dee Bellson – vocals (4)
  • Kevin Guillaume – vocals (4)

Production

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  • Russ Freeman – producer, arrangements, engineer, mixing
  • Dave Grusin – executive producer
  • Larry Rosen – executive producer
  • Anthony Jeffries – additional engineer
  • Robert Margouleff – additional engineer, mixing
  • David Nesse – additional engineer
  • Steve Reid – additional engineer
  • Mike Scotella – additional engineer
  • Brant Biles – mix associate
  • Carl Griffin – additional mixing (2, 4, 8)
  • Bernie Grundman – editing, mastering
  • Bruce Volk – technical support
  • Suzanne Sherman – production coordinator
  • Bill Mayer – front cover artwork
  • Andy Baltimore – creative director
  • David Gibb – graphic design
  • Jacki McCarthy – graphic design
  • Andy Ruggirello – graphic design
  • Dan Serrano – graphic design
  • Jeff Sedlik – photography
    • Mixed at Aire L. A. Studios (Glendale, California).
    • Edited and Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California).

Charts

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Chart (1990) Peak
position
Billboard Jazz Albums 1

References

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  1. ^ "Rippingtons "Welcome to the St. James' Club"". Bullmoose.com. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  2. ^ Okamoto, David (7 Sep 1990). "Man of few words". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. D1.
  3. ^ Doruyter, Renee (16 Nov 1990). "The Rippingtons Travel Incognito". The Province. p. P29.
  4. ^ Abbott, Jim (4 Jan 1991). "The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman...". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 2.
  5. ^ Lannert, John (22 Feb 1991). "Name Game Aside, Freeman Delivers". Features Showtime. Sun-Sentinel. p. 32.
  6. ^ Sutro, Dirk (18 Apr 1991). "Rippingtons' Sound Takes On an Exotic Flavor". Los Angeles Times. p. F1.
  7. ^ "Welcome to the St. James' Club Review by AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  8. ^ a b Herrmann, Brenda (24 Jan 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
  9. ^ Lloyd, Jack (19 Oct 1990). "Rippingtons at Chestnut". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 34.
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