Hands Down is the tenth studio album by Bob James), released in 1982. This was a turning point in James career, with the tracks "It's Only Me" and "Spunky" being early exponents of electronic jazz. At the time electronica was transforming popular music in reaction to the big orchestrations of the late 1970s (prevalent on James' previous works). The minimalist tastes of the era were also reflected in "Roberta", which mostly featured James in a piano solo.
The track "Shamboozie" is sampled by rapper Rakim on the track "Guess Who's Back" from his 1997 album The 18th Letter.
Track listing
All songs written by Bob James, unless where noted. "Spunky" - 6:59 "Macumba" (Rod Temperton, Bob James) - 5:11 "Shamboozie" - 5:17 "Janus" - 5:51 "Roberta" (Mike Lawrence) - 6:53 "It's Only Me" - 5:24
Personnel
Bob James – Fender Rhodes (1, 2, 3), synthesizers (1-4, 6), synth bass (2, 6), drum programming (2, 6), acoustic piano (4, 5, 6) Steve Khan – guitar (2, 3) David Brown – guitar (4) Gary King – bass (1, 2, 5) Marcus Miller – bass (3) Doug Stegmeyer – bass (4) Harvey Mason – drums (1, 5) John Robinson – drums (2, 3) Liberty DeVitto – drums (4) Leonard 'Doc' Gibbs, Jr. – percussion (1-4)
Brass and Woodwinds
Rob Zante – lyricon (2) Jay Beckenstein – alto saxophone (3) Eddie Daniels – woodwinds (2, 3, 5), tenor saxophone (4) George Marge – woodwinds (2, 3, 5) Wally Kane – woodwinds (2, 3) Whit Sidener – woodwinds (2, 3) Mark Colby – woodwinds (5) Jim Pugh – trombone (2, 3, 5) Dave Taylor – trombone (2, 3, 5) Wayne Andre – trombone (5) Jon Faddis – trumpet (2, 3, 5) Mike Lawrence – trumpet (2, 3) Ron Tooley – trumpet (2, 3) Randy Brecker – trumpet (5) John Frosk – trumpet (5) Marvin Stamm – trumpet (5)
Strings on "Roberta" David Nadien – concertmaster Jonathan Abramowitz, Warren Lash, Richard Locker and Charles McCracken – cello Lamar Alsop, Alfred Brown and Emanuel Vardi – viola Elena Barer, Lewis Eley, Max Ellen, Barry Finclair, Theodore Israel, Marvin Morgenstern, Jan Mullen, John Pintavalle, Matthew Raimondi, Joseph Rubushka, Richard Sortomme and Gerald Tarack – violin
Vocals on "Macumba" Patti Austin, Vivian Cherry, Milt Grayson, Yvonne Lewis, Zach Sanders and Luther Vandross Rod Temperton – vocal arrangements
Production
Bob James – producer, arrangements
Joe Jorgensen – co-producer, recording, mixing
Nancy Byers – assistant engineer
Mark Chusid – assistant engineer
Chaz Clifton – assistant engineer
Bruce Robbins – assistant engineer
Wayne Warnecke – assistant engineer
Vlado Meller – mastering
Marion Orr – production coordinator
Paula Scher – art direction, design
Michael Tannen & Associates – management
Studios
Recorded at A&R Recording, CBS Studios and Mediasound (New York City, New York); Minot Sound (White Plains, New York). Mixed at Minot Sound Mastered at CBS Studios
Bob James (musician) albums
1982 albums
Albums produced by Bob James (musician)