Sedaka's Back is a compilation album by American singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka. The record, composed of selections from his previous three albums, which had been released only in the UK,[4] was released on Elton John's label, The Rocket Record Company, in 1974. Three singles were released from this album: "Laughter in the Rain" (a #1 hit), "The Immigrant" (dedicated to John Lennon) and "That's When the Music Takes Me." The latter two songs were both Top 40 hits. Also included were songs that were turned into hits by other artists: "Solitaire" (The Carpenters) and "Love Will Keep Us Together" (The Captain & Tennille). The album reached No. 23 on the US Billboard album charts and was certified Gold for shipping half a million sales.[4]
Sedaka's Back | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | November 1974[1] | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 45:18 | |||
Label | Rocket | |||
Producer | Neil Sedaka and Robert Appère, Neil Sedaka and 10cc | |||
Neil Sedaka chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | B+[3] |
Track listing
editAll songs written by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Standing on the Inside" | Sedaka | 3:59 |
2. | "That's When the Music Takes Me" | Sedaka | 3:38 |
3. | "Laughter in the Rain" | 2:50 | |
4. | "Sad Eyes" | 3:43 | |
5. | "Solitaire" | 5:03 | |
6. | "Little Brother" | 3:30 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
7. | "Love Will Keep Us Together" | Sedaka, Howard Greenfield | 3:39 |
8. | "The Immigrant" | 4:24 | |
9. | "The Way I Am" | 3:53 | |
10. | "The Other Side of Me" | Sedaka, Greenfield | 3:39 |
11. | "A Little Lovin'" | 2:57 | |
12. | "Our Last Song Together" | Sedaka, Greenfield | 4:03 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "For the Good of the Cause" | 2:42 | |
14. | "Endlessly" | Sedaka | 2:56 |
15. | "Love Ain't an Easy Thing" | 3:30 | |
16. | "Alone in New York in the Rain" | 3:34 |
Source of tracks
edit- Tracks 1, 6, 7, 10, 12, and {16} were derived from The Tra-La Days Are Over
- Tracks 2 and 5 were derived from the album Solitaire
- Tracks 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, {13}, {14}, and {15} were derived from the album Laughter in the Rain
US Singles Releases
edit- "Standing On The Inside" saw a single release as the B-side of "That's When The Music Takes Me"; however, the version of "Standing On The Inside" heard on the single is a different version from the album version.
- "That's When The Music Takes Me" was released as a single in 1974 and reached No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975.
- "Laughter In The Rain" was released in 1974 and scored No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary charts in 1974 and No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975.
- "The Immigrant" was released as a single in 1974 and scored a No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and a No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary charts in 1975.
- "Endlessly" served as the B-side of "Laughter In The Rain".
Many of the other songs on this album saw singles releases in the UK and throughout Europe.
Personnel
edit- Neil Sedaka – organ, piano, keyboards, vocals, clavinet, vibraphone
- Ben Benay – guitar
- Eric Stewart – guitar, backing vocals, engineer
- Lol Creme – guitars, backing vocals
- Kevin Godley – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Graham Gouldman – bass, guitar, backing vocals
- Milt Holland – percussion
- Jim Horn – horn arrangements
- Dick Hyde – horn
- Danny Kortchmar – guitar
- Russ Kunkel – percussion, drums
- Don Menza – horn
- Del Newman – string arrangements
- Dean Parks – acoustic guitar, Dobro
- Brenda Russell – backing vocals
- Brian Russell – backing vocals
- Leland Sklar – bass
- William Smith – keyboards, backing vocals
- Chuck Findley – trumpet, horn, horn arrangements
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[5] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[6] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
edit- ^ "Neil Sedaka – Sedaka's Back". Super Seventies. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ a b "Q Rock Stars Encyclopedia" by Dafydd Rees and Luke Crampton, Dorling Kindersley, 1999
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Neil Sedaka – Sedaka's Back". Music Canada. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ "American album certifications – Neil Sedaka – Sedaka's Back". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 14, 2022.