Welcome to the St. James' Club
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Welcome to the St. James' Club
| type = studio
| artist = the Rippingtons
| cover = Welcome_tothe_StJames_Club_Rippingtons_1990_album.png
| alt =
| released = August 21, 1990{{cite web | title = Rippingtons "Welcome to the St. James' Club" | work = Bullmoose.com | url = https://www.bullmoose.com/p/110685/rippingtons-welcome-to-the-st-james-club | access-date = February 27, 2024}}
| recorded = March–May 1990
| venue =
| studio =
- The Slam Shack and Pacifique Studios (North Hollywood, California)
- Aire L.A. Studios (Glendale, California)
| genre = Jazz, jazz fusion
| length = 47:13
| label = GRP
| producer = Russ Freeman
| prev_title = Tourist in Paradise
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = Curves Ahead
| next_year = 1991
}}
Welcome to the St. James' Club is the fourth album by the American jazz group the Rippingtons, released in 1990.{{cite news |last1=Okamoto |first1=David |title=Man of few words |work=Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph |date=7 Sep 1990 |page=D1}} It reached No. 1 on Billboard's Jazz chart.{{cite news |last1=Doruyter |first1=Renee |title=The Rippingtons Travel Incognito |work=The Province |date=16 Nov 1990 |page=P29}} The group supported the album with a North American tour.{{cite news |last1=Abbott |first1=Jim |title=The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman... |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=4 Jan 1991 |department=Calendar |page=2}} The album was produced by Russ Freeman, who chose to give the songs a more rhythmic direction.{{cite news |last1=Lannert |first1=John |title=Name Game Aside, Freeman Delivers |work=Sun-Sentinel |date=22 Feb 1991 |department=Features Showtime |page=32}}{{cite news |last1=Sutro |first1=Dirk |title=Rippingtons' Sound Takes On an Exotic Flavor |work=Los Angeles Times |date=18 Apr 1991 |page=F1}}
Critical reception
{{music ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web |title=Welcome to the St. James' Club Review by AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/welcome-to-the-st-james-club-mw0000308556 |website=AllMusic |access-date=11 March 2023}}
|rev2 = Chicago Tribune
|rev2score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last1=Herrmann |first1=Brenda |title=Recordings |work=Chicago Tribune |date=24 Jan 1991 |department=Tempo |page=9}}
}}
The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed the album "generally complex, heavily synthesized music—some of it heavily orchestrated."{{cite news |last1=Lloyd |first1=Jack |title=Rippingtons at Chestnut |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=19 Oct 1990 |department=Features Weekend |page=34}} 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."
Track listing
(All tracks composed by Russ Freeman).
- "Welcome to the St. James' Club" - 4:41
- "Wednesday's Child" - 4:53
- "I Watched Her Walk Away" - 5:24
- "Kenya" - 5:23
- "Affair in San Miguel" - 5:04
- "Tropic of Capricorn" - 4:59
- "Who's Holding Her Now?" - 3:53
- "Soul Mates" - 4:57
- "Passion Fruit" - 4:34
- "Victoria's Secret" - 3:25
Personnel
The Rippingtons
- Russ Freeman – keyboards, keyboard programming, acoustic guitar (1, 5-7), electric guitar (1-6, 8-10), guitar synthesizer (1-4, 6, 8, 10), bass, drums (1-5, 8, 10), classical guitar (3), percussion (4, 8)
- Steve Bailey – additional fretless bass (2, 4, 5, 9, 10)
- Tony Morales – cymbals (1-5, 8), hi-hat (1-5, 8), additional cymbals (7)
- Steve Reid – percussion, vocals (6)
- Jeff Kashiwa – saxophone (1, 6), EWI controller (1)
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 =
- Dave Grusin – executive producer
- Larry Rosen – executive producer
- Russ Freeman – producer, arrangements, engineer, mixing
- Robert Margouleff – mixing, additional engineer
- Carl Griffin – additional mixing (2, 4, 8)
- Anthony Jeffries – additional engineer
- David Nesse – additional engineer
- Steve Reid – additional engineer
- Mike Scotella – additional engineer
- Brant Biles – associate mix engineer
- Bernie Grundman – editing and mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
- 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
- Andi Howard – stylist, wardrobe, management
- Bruce Grayson – make-up
- Lucia Casteneda – hair
Charts
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1990)
! Peak |
|---|
| Billboard Jazz Albums
| align=center| 1 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.discogs.com/RippingtonsFeaturing-Russ-Freeman-Welcome-To-The-St-James-Club/master/429155 The Rippingtons - Welcome to the St. James Club at Discogs]
- [http://www.rippingtons.com/ The Rippingtons Official Website]
{{The Rippingtons}}
{{Authority control}}