Frankie Valli's "Heaven Above Me" LP

[markydefad]

I'm still plowing through the LPs and 12-inchers that I acquired from the great Amoeba Records on Sunset Blvd over the past few years.... Oy, such a job!

I alphabetized the initial purchases by LP & 12-inch--I'm up to letter: "V"

Today: Frankie Valli's Heaven Above Me" is on the turntable. (Next: Theo Vaness: "Back To Music")

Question: who is the artist labeled as "Mystery Person" in the credits on "Soul"??? Says: Solo guest appearance: Mystery Person.

Comments:

Frankie brought back old pals Bob Gaudio & Bob Crewe to co-write and co-produce most of the tunes on this LP. Notably, Mr. Crewe is on board for all the uptempo dance numbers. Gaudio alone is responsible for the kinda generic ballads (3 in total).

The dance numbers really kick---obviously I remember "Soul/Heaven Above Me" from Trocadero....but another track is haunting me today: "Let It Be Whatever It Is."...Jerry Bonham used this on disc 7 of the "Red" Troc Reunion Party and I wondered "what's that?" when I first saw the track listing. But when I played it--the hook "You call the shot"--(hooky synth chord boom) rekindled misty, water-colored memories in the cobwebby windmills of my mind.

I do recall dancing to this--but I don't think I ever knew it was a Frankie Valli track. Hard to believe as I was a fan--but I don't think Eric or I ever had this LP. Weird.

Another dance-oriented track suitable for disco play is "Passion For Paris" which has a few very forgettable opening lines--but gains steam as it builds to the "Paris is burning" part. George Gershwin is given credit as a co-writer as some of his "An American In Paris" music is lifted...according to the credits! Have to listen again to dertermine which parts.....

The last track is another dancer--but more in a dance-pop-rock vein than disco: "Eat Your Heart Out."

Lots of great session singer and session musicians on this LP:
Singers include Luther Vandross (spelled "Van Dross") on "Heaven Above Me" ... along with Frank Floyd (who sang "Ease On Down The Road" for Consumer Rapport) and Babi Floyd (Frank's wife?), plus a Valli protege, Chris Forde, (say wut?) who sings with Valli on four of the songs.

The whole Waters Family & Venetta Fields do back-up on "Let It Be Whatver It Is, Passion For Paris & Soul"; Venetta & the Waters brothers (Oren & Luther) on "Eat Your Heart Out."

Musicians inlcude Tom Scott (the sax solo on "Soul"), sax player Ernie Watts ("Tonight Show" band), Tower Of Power horns, drummer James Gadson, guitarist Wah-Wah Watson, percussionist Paulinho da Costa, guitarist Lee Ritenour...lotsa big names!

The irony in all this is that Valli's return to disco music was ill-timed for release in 1980 as "disco" had become a "dead fish" chartwise. The tracks ("Soul/Heaven Above Me/Let It Be Whatever It Is") got major clubplay, charting for 25 weeks--but peaking at only #11----would have expected a Top 5 for this one. Maybe Frankie was too uncool for some clubs at this point?

from AMG:

And, recalling their success in the disco field in the '70s with tracks like "Swearin' to God," they wanted to reestablish Valli as a dance-pop artist. To that end, they listened to Chic and Donna Summer and lots of other contemporary dance music, and their findings were presented in such tracks as "Let It Be Whatever It Is" and the ten-minute "Soul/Heaven Above Me," which enabled the album to spend nearly six months on the Disco/Dance chart, peaking at number 11. Curiously, the album never entered the pop chart, however, which may be some indication of a lack of record company support for a disc that was being released through MCA although Valli was directly contracted to Curb

Your thoughts?

[kdavid13]

This album is truly amazing.One of my brightest memories from 1980.
I remember watching the Billboard charts and being amazed that Frankie (fresh from his recent success with Grease) was now charting several tracks on the dance charts.

Let it be whatever it is is easily my standout track.I still listen to it very often.And Soul - Heaven above me is a close 2nd.

I was surprised to see that Passion for Paris appeared on a promo MCA 12" in 1979 - this version is 6:50.

[remicks]

double post ..haven't done that in awhile !!!

sorry !!

[remicks]

Originally Posted by markydefad

The dance numbers really kick---obviously I remember "Soul/Heaven Above Me" from Trocadero...

me too. a five starer ....went to the floor/stayed on the floor each time it played .

Another dance-oriented track suitable for disco play is "Passion For Paris" which has a few very forgettable opening lines--but gains steam as it builds to the "Paris is burning" part. George Gershwin is given credit as a co-writer as some of his "An American In Paris" music is lifted...according to the credits! Have to listen again to dertermine which parts.....

found this one on youtube:

Your thoughts?

About this particular cut:
I think its sort of a P-U. ..Starts off more than hopeful ..somewhat Giorgio-ish intro , but then its the same minute and a half over and over and over again ! .... ?? And there's something not right with the way Frankie enunciates certain words .... "France" and "Dance" ...(over and over and over again ... )
The Paris is burning parts are kind of nice .... where it begs to be mixed with IT'S RAINING MEN



still, credit must be given Frankie for daring in 79/80 to sing the line :


In a dark discotheque on the Champs-Elysees
Paris was looking so gay " ......


*****

[markydefad]

remicks, I'm inclined to agree that the "Passion For Paris" lyrics are tres weak, trite and cliche'. However, it grows on you after a number of listenings. Thanks for posting that video--that's the long version--the LP track is only 4:36.

(anyone hear Poussez's "Come On & Do It"---in the melody of the title phrase?...I've been singing it all day!)

"Let it be whatever it is"
"Come on and do it to me"

Here's "Let It Be Whatever It Is"

[remicks]

Originally Posted by markydefad

remicks, I'm inclined to agree that the "Passion For Paris" lyrics are tres weak, trite and cliche'.


However, it grows on you after a number of listenings.

sorry I can't , I WON'T do it !!!

Here's "Let It Be Whatever It Is"

ah, glad you found this one , now that's delightful

from this one .....how about going into:

Fame! I'm gonna live forever.....



*****

[drlove]

that's what I love about this site --- I have some favorite cuts off an LP, and then a fellow poster/member comments on what makes a different cut their favorite. I really dig "Heaven Above Me", but ya'll have inspired me to give "Passion for Paris" and "Let It Be Whatever It Is" a few consecutive spins to see if they can become new faves of mine. Thanks ya'll

[remicks]

Originally Posted by drlove

that's what I love about this site --- I have some favorite cuts off an LP, and then a fellow poster/member comments on what makes a different cut their favorite.

YEP !!! True !

I really dig "Heaven Above Me", but ya'll have inspired me to give "Passion for Paris"and "Let It Be Whatever It Is"..........a few consecutive spins to see if they can become new faves of mine.

uh, well ....as for PFP ......................

roughly how many spins you reckon' it'll take Marky ??


*****

[Cdnbob]

It's been a long time since I listened to this album but from what I remember, my favourite track on the album is Soul/Heaven Above Me. I just love this song. Of note for you guys, you might want to check out Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson's version of Heaven Above Me on their Born To Love album. A very faithful rendition.

[markydefad]

Originally Posted by remicks

uh, well ....as for PFP ......................
roughly how many spins you reckon' it'll take Marky ??
*****

remicks--you are on a roll with your distaste Of "Passion For Paris!!!"

I don't love it--I just thought it was interesting. I think it is listed in the back of Jussi's book as a notable post-1979 release...I may be wrong --but I've seen it listed somewhere....