...Say When

Summary

...Say When is the fifth studio album by American singer Nicolette Larson. It was produced by Emory Gordy Jr. and Tony Brown, and released by MCA Records in 1985.

...Say When
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 18, 1985
StudioSound Stage Studios and Emerald Studios (Nashville, Tennessee)
GenreCountry
Length31:32
LabelMCA
Producer
Nicolette Larson chronology
All Dressed Up and No Place to Go
(1982)
...Say When
(1985)
Rose of My Heart
(1986)
Singles from ...Say When
  1. "Only Love Will Make It Right"
    Released: January 1985
  2. "When You Get a Little Lonely"
    Released: May 1985
  3. "Building Bridges"
    Released: September 1985

Background edit

Having signed with MCA in 1983, ...Say When was Larson's first of two country albums for the label.[1] It peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard Top Country Albums and remained on the chart for twenty weeks.[2] Three singles were released from the album. "Only Love Will Make It Right" was released in January 1985 and reached No. 42 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs.[3] "When You Get a Little Lonely", released in May, reached No. 46.[4] The final single, "Building Bridges", was released in September and peaked at No. 72.[5]

In 2012, Raven Records gave the album its first CD release, as a double-album set with Larson's 1986 follow-up album Rose of My Heart.

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [6]

Upon release, Billboard considered Larson a "high energy addition to the new breed of today's country artists". They felt the album "spins through a kaleidoscope of material" and picked "When You Get a Little Lonely" as the album's "strong contender".[7] Cash Box commented: "Thoroughly satisfying vocally, melodically and lyrically from start to finish, this latest album is further proof of Larson's consistent versatility as a performer."[8]

In a retrospective review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic felt the album showed Larson "[diving] headfirst into contemporary country". He commented: "The bright, punchy sound is far removed from the lush, hazy SoCal soft rock of her five albums and it's right in line with the crisp sound coming of Nashville in the mid-'80s. The record stands as a strong slice of Reagan-era commercial country."[6]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."When You Get a Little Lonely"Nicolette Larson, Josh Leo, Wendy Waldman3:32
2."Say When"Gary Nicholson, Kevin Welch2:43
3."Building Bridges"Larry Willoughby, Hank DeVito3:48
4."Only Love Will Make It Right"Bob McDill3:01
5."I Just Keep Falling in Love"Steve Goodman, Bill LaBounty3:08
6."Break Away"Gary Nicholson, Wayland Holyfield3:02
7."Blow on Chilly Wind"Jesse Winchester3:28
8."Dancin' 'Round and 'Round"Adam Mitchell3:41
9."You Were the One"Randy Albright2:26
10."You Can't Say (You Don't Love Me Anymore)"John Jarvis, Bill Lamb2:39

Personnel edit

Production edit

  • Tony Brown – producer
  • Emory Gordy Jr. – producer
  • Steve Tillisch – recording, mixing
  • Mark Coddington – engineer
  • Russ Martin – engineer
  • Tim Kish – engineer
  • Glenn Meadows – mastering at Masterfonics (Nashville, Tennessee)
  • Jeff Adamoff – art direction
  • Tracy Veal – design
  • Alan Messer – photography

Chart performance edit

Chart (1985) Peak
position
US Billboard Top Country Albums[2] 48

References edit

  1. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2012-06-19). "Say When/Rose of My Heart - Nicolette Larson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  2. ^ a b Billboard. "Nicolette Larson Say When Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  3. ^ Billboard. "Nicolette Larson Only Love Will Make It Right Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  4. ^ Billboard. "Nicolette Larson When You Get A Little Lonely Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  5. ^ Billboard. "Nicolette Larson Building Bridges Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  6. ^ a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Say When - Nicolette Larson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  7. ^ Billboard magazine – Reviews: Albums – February 23, 1985 – page 66
  8. ^ Cash Box newspaper – March 16, 1985 – Album Releases – page 10