Night After Night
(1989)
It took a few years before I was ready to record another CD. With the mediocre success of George Duke, I needed time to think about my musical direction. Also, I had many A&R meetings with Bob Krasnow about the direction for the project. I would try a few things, send them to him for his reaction, and so on and so forth. I had never been in that position before. By the way, that goes on in the biz everyday, but not to me!! I went along with the program since I knew that if this record didn't do well, that it was curtains for me at Elektra.
The year was 1989 and overall, I actually like this CD. I did much of the work in the Synclavier with overdubs by John Robinson and Rayford Griffin on drums, and Paul Jackson and Michael Landau on guitar. The record is really instrumental with vocals used like orchestration. Actually, since this record went out of print, it has been one of my most requested CD's. It was important to me that the instrumental nature of this record be quite evident, and I think I accomplished that. However, in the end, this is another one Elektra lost. This CD should have done much better than it did!
There are some wonderful moments on this CD. I'll leave you to find them. ---Well, OK, if you insist, I'll give you some of my favorites. I love "Say Hello," "Children Of The Night," and "Rise Up." They do it for me, musically and lyrically. "You Are The Only One In My Life" has some nice moments as well.
Many people have complained about "Brazilian Coffee" being so short, but that's all there is!
"This Lovin" definitely has a vibe. I love to play this one live. "Mystery Eyes" is a story that actually happens from time to time. Feelings don't play by rules, and love isn't learned in school.
Besides the fact that I like the majority of this record, it does not mean that I found my niche for the 1990's; it means that I was closing in on an idea which culminated in Snapshot. Night After Night was the seed for that record.
Anyway this was my last record for Elektra, and it was mutually decided that I not make any more for them. In fact, before I put this CD out, I asked Krasnow to let me out of my agreement and cut his losses. I just knew instinctively, that this was not the company for me, at least at that time. Besides, Stanley Clarke and I had agreed to make another record together, and I was looking forward to that!
-
-
George Duke