Al Jarreau, Jarreau (1983)
I grew up with this. My folks loved this album – Al Jarreau was a hit in our place around the same time that The Manhattan Transfer was a big deal. Dinner-party/cocktail-hour music. But actually my parents spent a lot of their spare time doing an at-home car-valet/detailing service to make some extra money so that their sons could have a nice life. I still have the original (family) copy of this album. My folks gave away most of their records – but I kept a small handful of what was left. And I’ve always felt an attachment to this record even if I stopped listening to it years ago. That said, Jarreau released a smooth album half a decade ago – very smooth. And that got me thinking back to this – and other records that he released and appeared on. Dude can sing. And he always had great players involved. It might all feel a little slick – but I still dig it. Probably because it’s ingrained. But I’m (totally) cool with that.

Sample Track: Love Is Waiting

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown