Breakin' Away (album)

Breakin' Away is an album by Al Jarreau, released on June 30, 1981, through the Warner Bros. Records label. To quote AllMusic, "Breakin' Away became the standard bearer of the L.A. pop and R&B sound."

The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Chart performance

Breakin' Away remains Al Jarreau's most popular album. It spent two years on the Billboard 200 and peaked at #9. The album also hit #1 on both the Jazz and R&B charts.

Four single releases made the charts: "We're in This Love Together", "Breakin' Away", "Teach Me Tonight", and "Roof Garden", the latter being only released in The Netherlands, Belgium and France.

At the Grammy Awards in 1982 the album was given the prize for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, while "(Round, Round, Round) Blue Rondo à la Turk" received the award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male. The album was also nominated for Album of the Year.

Track listing

All tracks were written by Tom Canning, Jay Graydon and Al Jarreau, except where noted.

Personnel

Musicians and vocalists

• Al Jarreau – vocals, backing vocals (1, 3–7, 9)
• Jay Graydon – synthesizer programming (1, 2), electric guitars (1–7, 9)
• Tom Canning – acoustic piano (1), Fender Rhodes (1, 4, 9), synthesizers (1–4, 8)
• David Foster – acoustic piano (2, 5, 6), Fender Rhodes (2, 5, 6), synthesizers (2, 5, 6)
• Michael Omartian – synthesizers (3), Fender Rhodes (3)
• Michael Boddicker – synthesizer programming (2, 8), synthesizers (3–6, 8)
• J. Peter Robinson – synthesizers (4)
• Larry Williams – synthesizer solo (4)
• George Duke – Fender Rhodes (7)
• Milcho Leviev – acoustic piano (8)
• Steve Lukather – electric guitar (2, 3)
• Dean Parks – electric guitar (9)
• Abraham Laboriel – bass (1–5, 7–9)
• Neil Stubenhaus – bass (6)
• Steve Gadd – drums (1–5, 7–9)
• Jeff Porcaro – drums (6)
• Bob Zimmitti – percussion (4)
• Tom Scott – horns (1)
• Lon Price – alto sax solo (3, 9)
• Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (6, 7)
• Jerry Hey – flugelhorn (2), trumpet (6, 7)
• Chuck Findley – trumpet (6, 7)
• Richard Page – backing vocals (2, 5, 7)
• Steve George – backing vocals (2, 5, 7)
• Bill Champlin – backing vocals (7)

Music arrangements

• Al Jarreau – rhythm arrangements (1–7, 9), vocal arrangements (8)
• Tom Canning – rhythm arrangements (1–7, 9), vocal arrangements (8)
• Jay Graydon – rhythm arrangements (1–7, 9), vocal arrangements (8)
• David Foster – string arrangements (5)
• Jerry Hey – horn arrangements (6, 7)
• Milcho Leviev – rhythm arrangements (8)
• Billy Byers – string arrangements (9)

Production

• Jay Graydon – producer, mixing, overdubs
• Tom Canning – associate producer
• Joe Bogan – basic track engineer (1–5, 7–9)
• Larry Brown – basic track engineer (6)
• Debbie Thompson – second basic track engineer (1–5, 7–9)
• Mikey Davis – second basic track engineer (6)
• Csaba Petocz – second basic track engineer (6)
• Humberto Gatica – string recording (5, 9) at Sunset Sound (Hollywood, California)
• Bernie Grundman – mastering at A&M Studios (Hollywood, California)
• Frank DeCaro – musician contractor
• Christine Sauers – art direction, design
• Susan Jarreau – cover photography
• Patrick Rains & Associates – management

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Notes