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Silk Degrees

 
Album Review: Silk Degrees

  • Artist: Boz Scaggs
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1976 02
  • Total Time: 41:09
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Both artistically and commercially, Boz Scaggs had his greatest success with Silk Degrees. The laid-back singer hit the R&B charts in a big way with the addictive, sly "Lowdown" (which has been sampled by more than a few rappers and remains a favorite among baby-boomer soul fans) and expressed his love of smooth soul music almost as well on the appealing "What Can I Say." But Scaggs was essentially a pop/rocker, and in that area he has a considerable amount of fun on "Lido Shuffle" (another major hit single), "What Do You Want the Girl to Do," and "Jump Street." Meanwhile, "We're All Alone" and "Harbor Lights" became staples on adult contemporary radio. Though not remarkable, the ballads have more heart than most of the bland material dominating that format. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
What Can I Say (Lyrics) Boz Scaggs, David Paich Boz Scaggs (3:01)
Georgia Boz Scaggs Boz Scaggs (3:55)
Jump Street (Lyrics) Boz Scaggs, David Paich Boz Scaggs (5:11)
What Do You Want the Girl to Do? Allen Toussaint Boz Scaggs (3:52)
Harbor Lights Boz Scaggs Boz Scaggs (5:56)
Lowdown (Lyrics) Boz Scaggs, David Paich Boz Scaggs (5:16)
It's Over (Lyrics) Boz Scaggs, David Paich Boz Scaggs (2:50)
Love Me Tomorrow (Lyrics) David Paich Boz Scaggs (3:15)
Lido Shuffle (Lyrics) Boz Scaggs, David Paich Boz Scaggs (3:41)
We're All Alone (Lyrics) Boz Scaggs Boz Scaggs (4:12)

Credits

Boz Scaggs (Guitar), Boz Scaggs (Vocals), Boz Scaggs (Vocals (Background)), Boz Scaggs (Main Performer), Plas Johnson (Horn), Plas Johnson (Saxophone), Plas Johnson (Sax (Tenor)), Plas Johnson (Tenor (Vocal)), Tom Scott (Horn), Bud Shank (Horn), Bud Shank (Saxophone), Les Dudek (Guitar), Les Dudek (Slide Guitar), Louie Shelton (Guitar (Acoustic)), Louie Shelton (Guitar), Louie Shelton (Slide Guitar), Chuck Findley (Flugelhorn), Chuck Findley (Horn), Jim Gilstrap (Vocals (Background)), Maxine Green (Vocals), Maxine Green (Vocals (Background)), Jim Horn (Horn), Jim Horn (Sax (Tenor)), Paul Hubinon (Horn), David Hungate (Bass), Augie Johnson (Vocals), Augie Johnson (Vocals (Background)), Marti McCall (Vocals), Marty McCall (Vocals (Background)), David Paich (Synthesizer), David Paich (Arranger), David Paich (Keyboards), David Paich (Moog Synthesizer), David Paich (Arp), David Paich (Mini Moog), Jeff Porcaro (Percussion), Jeff Porcaro (Drums), Jeff Porcaro (Timbales), Tom Perry (Engineer), Doug Sax (Mastering), Bud Shanks (Saxophone), Sid Sharp (Concert Master), Pepper Swenson (Vocals), Pepper Swenson (Vocals (Background)), Fred Tackett (Guitar), Fred Tackett (Guitar (Rhythm)), Carolyn Willis (Vocals), Carolyn Willis (Vocals (Background)), Joseph Wissert (Producer), Vincent DeRosa (Horn), Dick Hyde (Horn), Nancy Donald (Design), Moshe Brakha (Photography), Ron Coro (Design)
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Wikipedia: Silk Degrees
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Silk Degrees
Studio album by Boz Scaggs
Released March 1976
Recorded September 1975
Genre R&B, classic rock
Soul
Length 41:28
Label Columbia
Producer Joe Wissert
Professional reviews
Boz Scaggs chronology
Slow Dancer
(1974)
Silk Degrees
(1976)
Down Two Then Left
(1977)

Silk Degrees is the seventh album by Boz Scaggs, released on the Columbia Records label in 1976. The album reached #2 on the U.S. pop albums chart.

The album marked Scaggs' commercial zenith, mainly spearheaded by the R&B/Soul hit "Lowdown". The album is a mix of straight pop rock tracks ("Jump Street" and "Lido Shuffle"), smooth soul compositions ("What Can I Say" and "Lowdown") and appealing ballads ("Harbor Lights" and "We're All Alone"; the latter was later a hit for Rita Coolidge).

"Lowdown" reached the top 5 on the club play, black, disco and pop charts and also did respectably on the AC chart, with its peak at #3 on the pop chart. The song is an airplay staple to this day, particularly on AC, oldies and smooth jazz radio stations. "It's Over", "What Can I Say" and "Lido Shuffle" reached #38, #42 and #11, respectively, on the pop chart. The album was recorded at Davlen Sound Studios and Hollywood Sound Studios, Los Angeles. Among the accompanying musicians, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Porcaro, and David Hungate would go on to form the band Toto.

Ultimately, "Lowdown" earned a Grammy Award, as the Best R&B Song at the Grammy Awards of 1976. Scaggs also received Grammy nominations for Album of the Year, Best LP Package, Best Pop Vocal by a Male and Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Male for "Lowdown".

Track listing

All tracks composed by Boz Scaggs; except where indicated

  1. "What Can I Say" (#42 US)(Scaggs, David Paich) – 3:01
  2. "Georgia" – 3:57
  3. "Jump Street" (Scaggs, Paich) – 5:14
  4. "What Do You Want the Girl to Do" (Allen Toussaint) – 3:53
  5. "Harbor Lights" – 5:58
  6. "Lowdown" (#3 US) (Scaggs, Paich) – 5:18
  7. "It's Over" (#38 US) (Paich, Scaggs) – 2:52
  8. "Love Me Tomorrow" (Paich) – 3:17
  9. "Lido Shuffle" (#11 US) (Scaggs, Paich) – 3:44
  10. "We're All Alone" – 4:14

Chart positions

Year Chart Position
1977 Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart 1

Personnel

Preceded by
A New World Record
by Electric Light Orchestra
Australian Kent Music Report number-one album
June 20 - October 23, 1977
Succeeded by
Foot Loose & Fancy Free by Rod Stewart

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Silk Degrees" Read more

 

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