Building a Beginning [LP]

by Jamie Lidell

Overview

Jamie Lidell's first solo album away from Warp, Building a Beginning was released on the singer and producer's Jajulin label. It retreats from the early- to mid-'80s electro-funk moves of his self-titled previous full-length and is relatively old-school, often hewing close to gospel-tinged Southern soul. When the material is rooted in approaches and sounds of the late '60s and early '70s, it's still fresh, never verging on replication. Lidell sometimes seems a little too in tune with his admired figures, but he outdoes himself here. Some of the lyrics are so direct that they scan as trite, yet they're expressed with soul-stirring, serve-the-song conviction, and he's in the top tier when it comes to pure skill. Moreover, the songs are of undeniably high quality, filled with joy, gratitude, and devotion. A strong cast of studio associates that includes drummer Daru Jones, bassist Pino Palladino, Pat Sansone, and smartly utilized background vocalists is involved, while additional songwriting collaborations with Lindsey Rome, Lidell's wife, add to the album's familial feel. (Among the funkier numbers is a bouncy jam dedicated to their son, who appears at the end.) This is one of those rare albums that ends as strongly as it begins. In fact, its last two cuts are as moving as anything in the side-one sweet spot. The splendid "Precious Years," an inward-looking ballad graced with harp and other stringed instruments, recalls Terry Callier's work with master arranger Charles Stepney. "Don't Let Me Let You Go," the finale, melodically recalls prime early-'90s R&B -- though it's strictly family man, not bad boy, business. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	11/11/2016
Label:	Jajulin
UPC:	5060454945390
Rank:	99968

Tracks

1. Building a Beginning
2. Julian
3. I Live to Make You Smile
4. Find It Hard to Say
5. Me and You
6. How Did I Live Before Your Love
7. Walk Right Back
8. Nothing's Gonna Change
9. In Love and Alone
10. Motionless
11. Believe in Me
12. I Stay Inside
13. Precious Years
14. Don't Let Me Let You Go

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jamie Lidell   Primary Artist,Bass,Flute,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Rainer,Vocals,Clarinet,Percussion,Synthesizer,Fender Rhodes,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
April Guthrie   Cello
Brian LeBarton   Korg M1
Tiffany Smith   Vocals (Background)
Chris Taylor   Saxophone
Sam Beste   Piano
Kudisan Kai   Vocals (Background)
Paul DeFiglia   Keyboards,Bass (Upright)
Joey Dosik   Flute,Wurlitzer,Synthesizer
Molly Rogers   Viola,Violin,Strings
Pat Sansone   Bass,Piano,Guitar,Celeste,Keyboards,Percussion
Paul Taylor   Drums,Piano,Percussion
Jake Aron   Guitar
Daru Jones   Drums
Chris Bruce   Bass,Guitar,Sitar (Electric),Guitar (Electric)
Jeff Lorber   Bass
Mocky   Bass,Piano,Chamberlin,Percussion
Deron Johnson   Organ,Piano,Fender Rhodes
Pino Palladino   Bass
Justin Stanley   Organ,Guitar
Marion Ross   Trumpet
Tracey Brown-Bailey   Vocals (Background)
Fred Cox   Harmonium
Jonny Lam   Guitar
Jamison Sevits   Horn
Aaron Miller   Vocals (Background)
Kirsten Copely   Harp
Steph Kowal   Chart

Technical Credits

Howie Beck   Mixing Engineer
Matt Wiggins   Engineer
Sam Beste   Engineer
Chris Tabron   Engineer
Joe LaPorta   Mastering
Paul Taylor   Sounds
Jake Aron   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Lindsey Rome   Composer
Emery Dobyns   Mixing Engineer
Jamie Lidell   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Tracking,Programming,Mixing Engineer,Assistant Engineer,String Arrangements,Additional Production
Joel Soyffer   Engineer
Lorber   Composer
Justin Stanley   Engineer,Producer
Pete Min   Engineer
Marc Copely   Engineer
Ben Ash   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Drum Producer
Mike Stankiewicz   Assistant Engineer
Eddie Spear   Engineer
Zaq Reynolds   Engineer
Eddie Apear   Engineer