The Grand Tour, Aaron Neville’s second solo album for A&M Records, it’s a collection of songs that in ways, both deliberate but unforced, suggests a kind of musical biography. It’s a record that resurrects timeless stains of soul, R&B, country, gospel, rock and roll, Tin Pan Alley, Mardi Gras music and contemporary pop, all rendered with a continuity of style and purpose that seems to travel the world without ever abandoning the spirit of New Orleans the birthplace of American music and, of course, Neville himself. Not coincidentally, many of the songs here also suggest key touchstones from a career and life very much in progress.
Although Steve Lindsey tries a little too hard to make The Grand Tour appeal to everyone, Aaron Neville manages to make the album another solid addition to his latter-day catalog. Lindsey keeps the sound of the album strictly in the mainstream, piling on layers of keyboards, vocalists, and drum machines which neuter any rootsy elements in the music.
This is particularly unfortunate, since the selection of songs is interesting, ranging from George Jones and Chuck Berry to Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. Nevertheless, Neville rises to the material, not the production, giving the music an emotional core. Not every teaming works, but enough songs hit the target to make The Grand Tour worthwhile for dedicated fans.
01. Don’t Take Away My Heaven (4:37)
Written-By – Diane Warren
02. I Owe You One (5:31)
Written-By – Jon Lind, Phil Galdston, Wendy Waldman
03. Don’t Fall Apart On Me Tonight (4:23)
Written-By – Bob Dylan
04. My Brother, My Brother (4:59)
Written-By – Bob Thiele Jr., Davey Farager, Phil Roy
05. Betcha By Golly, Wow (3:54)
Written-By – Linda Creed, Thom Bell
06. Song Of Bernadette (Vocals – Linda Ronstadt) (4:02)
Written-By – Bill Elliott, Jennifer Warnes, Leonard Cohen
07. You Never Can Tell (2:53)
Written-By – Chuck Berry
08. The Bells (3:22)
Written-By – Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover, Iris Gordy, Marvin Gaye
09. These Foolish Things (4:22)
Written-By – Harry Link, Holt Marvell, Jack Strachey
10. The Roadie Song (4:40)
Written-By – Aaron Neville
11. Ain’t No Way (5:00)
Written-By – Carolyn Franklin
12. The Grand Tour (3:17)
Written-By – Carmol Taylor, George Richey, Norris Wilson
13. The Lord’s Prayer (1:58)
Written-By – Alfred Malotte
Credits
Art Direction – Chuck Beeson
Coordinator [Production] – Julie Larson
Design – Chuck Beeson, Jean Krikorian
Engineer [Assistant] – Dominique Schafer, Enrico De Paoli, Jim Champagne, John Hendrickson
Executive-Producer – David Anderle
Management [Direction] – Bill Graham Management
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By – Bill Schnee
Photography By – Diego Uchitel
Producer – Steve Lindsey
Recorded By – Gabe Veltri
Notes
Release Date 1993
Recorded at: Oceanway, Saturn Sound, House Of Soul, New Orleans Recording Studios.
Mixed at: Schnee Studio.
Mastered at: The Mastering Lab.
Duration: 52:58
Genre: R&B, Religious
Styles: Adult Contemporary, New Orleans R&B
© 1993
Label - A&M Records
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