Your Move (album)
Encyclopedia
Your Move is the eleventh original studio album
by American
folk rock
duo America
, released by Capitol Records
on June 3, 1983
.
. Two of the tracks on that album, including the Top 10 single "You Can Do Magic
," were written and produced by Russ Ballard
. Desiring to maintain their commercial momentum, Gerry Beckley
and Dewey Bunnell turned to Ballard once again, this time to produce their entire follow-up album.
Beckley and Bunnell began work on the new album by trading songs with Ballard. The recording sessions, however, did not end up as planned. Beckley recalls:
This time around, it was America's input with Ballard that led to a hit single. One of the songs written by Ballard, called "The Border," had potential, but Bunnell was dissatisfied with its lyrics. "Because he was very British, [Ballard] had used some cliche
lyrics that, to us as Americans, sounded incongruous," Bunnell remembered. "He was trying to get a desperado-type feel but used words like Pasadena
. The lyrics just didn't get the whole border thing and that Mexicali
feel that he was envisioning. I asked to rewrite it, and he was receptive, so I wrote a story about running away and trying to escape something."
The album included a number of Ballard-penned ballads, including "She's A Runaway," "Tonight Is For Dreamers," "Honey," and "Don't Let Me Be Lonely," along with the upbeat "My Kinda Woman." "Cast The Spirit," which had originally appeared on Ballard's 1978 album At The Third Stroke, was a more hard-edged entry. Bearing lead vocals by Bunnell, it became the album's second single, but failed to make a dent in the charts.
Bunnell's sole composition for the album was the psychadelic-tinged "My Dear." The album ended with "Someday Woman," an acoustic-driven track written by Beckley, Bill Mumy
, and Robert Haimer
.
Your Move was first issued in the CD format in the United States by the now-defunct One Way Records in 1998.
and an energetic saxophone
solo by Raphael Ravenscroft
, hit number 33 on the Billboard singles chart - what would turn out to be America's last Top 40 pop hit to date. The single fared far better on adult contemporary radio, peaking at number 4. This even bested "You Can Do Magic," which had peaked at number 5 on the adult contemporary charts the year before. However, lacking a major hit single, Your Move was unable to replicate the success of View From The Ground, peaking at number 81 on the Billboard album charts. With that, America's collaboration with Ballard came to an end.
Allmusic's retrospective review panned the album, asserting that it follows the trends of 1983 pop radio but fails to show any inspiration. They singled out "The Border" as the one strong piece on the album, concluding "There's a distinct lack of spark in the material, production, and performance".
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
duo America
America (band)
America is an English-American folk rock band that originally included members Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. The three members were barely out of their teens when they became a musical sensation during 1972, scoring #1 hits and winning a Grammy for best new musical artist...
, released by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
on June 3, 1983
1983 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.-January-April:*January – ZTT Records is founded.*January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization...
.
History
In 1982, America experienced renewed commercial success with the hit album View From The GroundView from the Ground
View from the Ground is the tenth original studio album by American folk rock duo America, released by Capitol Records in July 1982.This album marked a major comeback for a group that had been generally written off since Dan Peek's departure five years before...
. Two of the tracks on that album, including the Top 10 single "You Can Do Magic
You Can Do Magic (song)
"You Can Do Magic" is a song by singer-songwriter Russ Ballard which was recorded as a 1982 single by folk rock duo America from their album View from the Ground....
," were written and produced by Russ Ballard
Russ Ballard
Russell Glyn Ballard is an English singer, songwriter and musician.-Career:Ballard was initially a guitarist with Buster Meikle & The Day Breakers in 1961, together with Roy Ballard, Russ's older brother on piano and Bob Henrit on drums...
. Desiring to maintain their commercial momentum, Gerry Beckley
Gerry Beckley
Gerald Linford "Gerry" Beckley is a founding member of the band America.Beckley was born to an American father, and an English mother. He began playing the piano at the age of three and the guitar a few years later. By 1962, Beckley was playing guitar in The Vanguards, an instrumental surf music...
and Dewey Bunnell turned to Ballard once again, this time to produce their entire follow-up album.
Beckley and Bunnell began work on the new album by trading songs with Ballard. The recording sessions, however, did not end up as planned. Beckley recalls:
"We thought we were involved in the process, but [when] we got over to LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, [Ballard] had cut a lot of the songs that we had nixed, and it became apparent that it was going to be a kind of 75/25 thing, where most of the songs were going to be his. So we were very removed from this album. We did our best to sing these songs as good as we could, but even on the songs we wrote, he basically played all the instruments."
This time around, it was America's input with Ballard that led to a hit single. One of the songs written by Ballard, called "The Border," had potential, but Bunnell was dissatisfied with its lyrics. "Because he was very British, [Ballard] had used some cliche
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
lyrics that, to us as Americans, sounded incongruous," Bunnell remembered. "He was trying to get a desperado-type feel but used words like Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. The lyrics just didn't get the whole border thing and that Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
feel that he was envisioning. I asked to rewrite it, and he was receptive, so I wrote a story about running away and trying to escape something."
The album included a number of Ballard-penned ballads, including "She's A Runaway," "Tonight Is For Dreamers," "Honey," and "Don't Let Me Be Lonely," along with the upbeat "My Kinda Woman." "Cast The Spirit," which had originally appeared on Ballard's 1978 album At The Third Stroke, was a more hard-edged entry. Bearing lead vocals by Bunnell, it became the album's second single, but failed to make a dent in the charts.
Bunnell's sole composition for the album was the psychadelic-tinged "My Dear." The album ended with "Someday Woman," an acoustic-driven track written by Beckley, Bill Mumy
Bill Mumy
Charles William "Bill" Mumy, Jr. is an American actor, musician, pitchman, instrumentalist, voice-over artist and a figure in the science-fiction community. He is known primarily for his work as a child television actor....
, and Robert Haimer
Robert Haimer
Robert Haimer is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He performed in the two-man band Barnes & Barnes as his stage persona Artie Barnes, alongside actor and musician Bill Mumy. Haimer became friends with Mumy in 1965 at his schools Halloween carnival day. Recently, Haimer has sold...
.
Your Move was first issued in the CD format in the United States by the now-defunct One Way Records in 1998.
Reception
The album was released in June 1983. "The Border," featuring Bunnell's reworked lyrics, strings by the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
and an energetic saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
solo by Raphael Ravenscroft
Raphael Ravenscroft
Raphael Ravenscroft is a Scottish saxophonist and author on saxophone play. He now resides in Exeter, Devon, England.He is best known for his work with Gerry Rafferty, performing the saxophone solo on "Baker Street". Ravenscroft was paid £27 for the session, with a cheque that bounced...
, hit number 33 on the Billboard singles chart - what would turn out to be America's last Top 40 pop hit to date. The single fared far better on adult contemporary radio, peaking at number 4. This even bested "You Can Do Magic," which had peaked at number 5 on the adult contemporary charts the year before. However, lacking a major hit single, Your Move was unable to replicate the success of View From The Ground, peaking at number 81 on the Billboard album charts. With that, America's collaboration with Ballard came to an end.
Allmusic's retrospective review panned the album, asserting that it follows the trends of 1983 pop radio but fails to show any inspiration. They singled out "The Border" as the one strong piece on the album, concluding "There's a distinct lack of spark in the material, production, and performance".
Track listing
- "My Kinda Woman" (Russ Ballard)
- "She's A Runaway" (Russ Ballard)
- "Cast The Spirit" (Russ Ballard)
- "Love's Worn Out Again" (Gerry Beckley, Bill Mumy)
- "The Border" (Russ Ballard, Dewey Bunnell)
- "Your Move" (Terry Shaddick, Steve Kipner)
- "Honey" (Russ Ballard)
- "My Dear" (Dewey Bunnell)
- "Tonight Is For Dreamers" (Russ Ballard)
- "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" (Russ Ballard)
- "Someday Woman" (Gerry Beckley, Bill Mumy, Robert Haimer)