Rickie Lee Jones - Pirates

After the critical (and commercial) success of her debut two years earlier, Rickie Lee Jones had a lot riding on her sophomore album, Pirates. From the opening track, "We Belong Together," Jones served notice that she was willing to challenge herself and experiment with more unusual, complex song structures. Her unique phrasing and style reflect her interest in beat poets and the bohemian lifestyle, and on this album she relies on more obscure imagery than the direct, detailed observations on comrades used on her first album. There are a wide range of musical influences represented (rock, jazz, soul), but the acoustic arrangements are more piano-based than most of her other albums. While there is an undercurrent of reflection on failed romances, Jones also reveals her playful side with songs like "Woody and Dutch." The musical and lyrical variety on the album is best represented in the album's centerpiece, "Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue)," where she moves through mood and tempo changes with ease. Although the songs may not immediately grab the listener, the lyrical and musical complexities ultimately make this album more rewarding with every listen. ~ Vik Iyengar, All Music Guide

Name Credits Arno Lucas Vocals (Background), Vocals Art Rodriguez Drums Chuck Rainey Bass Clarence McDonald Keyboards David Kalish Guitar David Sanborn Saxophone, Sax (Alto) Dean Parks Guitar Donald Fagen Synthesizer Elliot Scheiner Engineer Howard "Buzz" Feiten Guitar Jerry Hey Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Horn JoAnn Tominaga Production Coordination Joe Torano Vocals Joe Turano Vocals (Background) Ken Deane Engineer Lee Herschberg Mastering, Engineer, Mixing Lenny Castro Percussion Lenny Waronker Producer Leslie Collman Smith Vocals (Background) Leslie Smith Vocals, Vocals (Background) Loyd Clifft Engineer Margaret Gwynne Engineer Mark Linett Engineer Michael Boddicker Synthesizer Michael Halsband Photography Mike Salisbury Design, Cover Design Neil Larsen Keyboards Nick DeCaro Orchestral Arrangements Ralph Burns Orchestral Arrangements Randy Brecker Flugelhorn, Trumpet Randy Kerber Keyboards Rickie Lee Jones Synthesizer, Vocals (Background), Vocals, Horn Arrangements, Vocal Arrangement, Percussion, Keyboards, Guitar Rob LoVerde Mastering Rob Mounsey Synthesizer Russ Titelman Producer Russell Ferrante Keyboards Sal Bernardi Vocals, Harmonica Steve Ettinger Engineer Steve Gadd Box, Percussion, Drums Steve Lukather Guitar Stuart Gitlin Engineer Tom Scott Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor) Vicki Fortson Production Coordination Victor Feldman Keyboards, Drums, Percussion