School Days (album)

In his book Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust, record producer Ken Scott explains that the album was intended for release in 4-channel quadraphonic sound in 1976. However, at the last minute the record company decided to release only a standard 2-channel stereo version instead. This required Scott to create a "fold down" version from the 4-track mixes for the stereo release. The original quadraphonic version may still exist in the record company vault, but it has never been issued.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|last1=Ginell|first1=Richard S.|title=School Days|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/school-days-mw0000649444|website=AllMusic|accessdate=20 July 2011}}

|rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev2score = {{rating|2|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=2 |page=398}}

|rev3 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev3score = {{rating|1.5|5}}{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=137}}

|rev4 = The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide

| rev4Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book|editor1-last=Swenson|editor1-first=John|title=The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide|date=1985|publisher=Rolling Stone|location=New York|isbn=0-394-72643-X|page=41|edition=1st}}

}}

Dave Thompson, in Funk, called the album a "masterful set dominated by its eight-minute title track."{{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=Dave |title=Funk |date=2001 |publisher=Backbeat Books |page=238}}

All tracks composed by Stanley Clarke.

1. "School Days" – 7:51
2. "Quiet Afternoon" – 5:09
3. "The Dancer" – 5:27

1. "Desert Song" – 6:56
2. "Hot Fun" – 2:55
3. "Life Is Just a Game" – 9:00

• Stanley Clarke – electric bass guitar (1, 3, 5, 6), vocals (1, 6), handbells (1), acoustic piano (2, 3), piccolo bass guitar (2, 3, 6), humming (3), acoustic bass (4, 6), gong (6), chimes (6), arranger, conductor, producer
• George Duke – keyboards (6)
• Ray Gomez – electric guitar (1, 3, 5), rhythm guitar (3)
• Icarus Johnson – acoustic guitar (6), electric guitar (9)
• John McLaughlin – acoustic guitar (4)
• David Sancious – keyboards (1), Minimoog (2, 3), organ (3), electric guitar (5)
• Gerry Brown – drums (1, 3), handbells (1)
• Billy Cobham – drums (6), Moog 1500 (6)
• Steve Gadd – drums (2, 5)
• Milt Holland – percussion (3), conga (4), triangle (4)
• Tom Malone, Dave Taylor – trombone
• Jon Faddis, Alan Rubin, Lew Soloff – trumpet
• Earl Chapin, John Clark, Peter Gordon, Wilmer Wise – horns
• Al Aarons, Stewart Blumberg, George Bohanon, Buddy Childers, Robert Findley, Gary Grant, Lew McCreary, Jack Nimitz, William Peterson, Dalton Smith – brass
• Marilyn Baker, Thomas Buffum, David Campbell, Rollice Dale, Robert Dubow, Janice Gower, Karen Jones, Dennis Karmazyn, Gordon Marron, Lya Stern, Ron Strauss, Marcia Van Dyke, John Wittenberg – strings

• Lynn Dreese Breslin – art direction
• Bob Defrin – art direction
• Ken Scott – producer, engineer, remixing
• Jerry Solomon – assistant engineer
• Ed Thacker – assistant engineer
• Michael Frondelli – assistant engineer

{{Reflist}}

{{Stanley Clarke}}

{{John McLaughlin}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:School Days (Album)}}

Category:1976 albums

Category:Stanley Clarke albums

Category:Albums recorded at A&M Studios

Category:Albums produced by Ken Scott

Category:Albums recorded at Electric Lady Studios

Category:Albums produced by Stanley Clarke

Category:Epic Records albums

Category:Jazz-funk albums