By Request

by A.J. Croce

Overview

In the wake of his wife's unexpected death from a heart ailment in 2018, AJ Croce found comfort in the past: he returned to some of his favorite music, songs he'd play at parties and jam sessions with fellow musicians. Hence the name "By Request": these are the songs he'd play to entertain a close crowd. By Request retains that boisterous, intimate feel, capturing Croce and his touring band playing cherished songs from throughout his life. Many titles will be familiar to audiences, too, yet the cover choices aren't tired. He revives the Five Stairsteps' sweet, soulful "Ooh Child," rolls right through Randy Newman's "Have You Seen My Baby," lays back on Allen Toussaint's "Brickyard Blues," jumps with Billy Preston's "Nothing from Nothing," cruises through the Beach Boys' "Sail on Sailor," and lingers on the poetry of Tom Waits' "San Diego Serenade." Croce's arrangements stick to the originals but don't treat them as sacred texts: as a pianist and vocalist, he glides through the changes, savoring the lyrical and melodic turns of phrases and taking solos to suit his mood. The result is a spirited, nourishing listen, a low-key testament to the restoring power of music. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	02/05/2021
Label:	Compass
UPC:	0766397475516
Rank:	42551

Tracks

1. Nothing From Nothing
2. Only Love Can Break Your Heart
3. Have You Seen My Baby
4. Nothing Can Change This Love
5. Better Day
6. Ooh Child
7. Stay With Me
8. Brickyard Blues
9. San Diego Serenade
10. Sail on Sailor
11. Can't Nobody Love You
12. Ain't No Justice

Album Credits

Performance Credits

A.J. Croce   Primary Artist,Organ,Piano,Vocals,Harmonium,Wurlitzer,Piano (Electric),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Robben Ford   Guitar (Electric)
Odessa Settles   Vocals (Background)
Scotty Huff   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Billy Harvey   Guitar
Josh Scalf   Trombone
Garrett Stoner   Guitar (Electric)
Calvin Settles   Vocals (Background)
David Barard   Bass (Upright),Bass (Electric)
Jim Hoke   Baritone,Harmonica,Sax (Tenor),Guitar (Steel),Sax (Baritone)
Shirley Settles   Vocals (Background)
Gary Mallaber   Drums,Percussion

Technical Credits

Van Dyke Parks   Composer
Allen Toussaint   Composer
Bruce Fisher   Composer
Robert Hakalski   Package Layout
Joshua Black Wilkins   Photography
Billie Jean Brown   Composer
Frank Wilson   Composer
Suzanne de Passe   Composer
Jack Rieley   Composer
Andrija Tokic   Engineer
Fred Long   Composer
Ray Kennedy   Composer
James Mitchell   Composer
Stan Vincent   Composer
Tandyn Almer   Composer
Garry West   Executive Producer
Sam Cooke   Composer
Peter Doell   Mastering
Rod Stewart   Composer
Ron Wood   Composer
Neil Young   Composer
Randy Newman   Composer
Matt Coles   Mixing,Overdub Engineer
Leslie Richter   Engineer
A.J. Croce   Producer
Billy Preston   Composer
Tom Waits   Composer
Brian Wilson   Composer
Brownie McGhee   Composer