Right Now (Della Reese album)
| Right Now | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1970 | |||
| Genre | Pop[1] | |||
| Label | Avco Embassy | |||
| Producer | Hugo & Luigi | |||
| Della Reese chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Right Now | ||||
| ||||
Right Now is a studio album by American singer, Della Reese. It was released by Avco Embassy Records in November 1970 and was her second album with the record label. The LP was a collection of ten tracks, featuring mostly cover recordings of popular songs from the time period in which it was released. It received promotion via a tour of the United States. Two singles were also featured on the album: "Simple Song of Freedom" and "Billy My Love". The album received a positive review from Billboard, who named it a "Special Merit Pick" in their late 1970 review.
Background, recording and content
[edit]Known for her acting and television career, Della Reese first found success as a singer and recording artist. She had commercial success with the top singles "And That Reminds Me" (1957) and "Don't You Know?". She recorded albums for Jubilee and RCA Victor. At the latter, Reese collaborated with production team, Hugo & Luigi.[2] When the pair became presidents of the Avco Embassy label in 1969, they signed Reese to the label.[3] Her second album for the company was 1970's Right Now,[1] which was also produced by Hugo & Luigi.[4] The production for the album was finished around August 1970.[5] The LP consisted of ten tracks[4] which were mostly cover tunes of popular recordings from the era. Among them was Melanie's "Leftover Wine" and the Jack Moran-penned tune, "Skip a Rope".[1] Another track titled "Why Not Now" was composed by Reese herself.[4]
Release, critical reception, promotion and singles
[edit]Right Now was released by Avco Embassy Records in November 1970 and was distributed as a vinyl LP, featuring five tracks on either side of the disc.[4] Billboard named the LP one its "Special Merit Picks" for the week of November 21, 1970 and praised Reese's vocal delivery: "The selections give Miss Reese an ideal opportunity to demonstrate her tremendous vocal range, and should be more of a success than her earlier album on this label."[1] Right Now was promoted through a nationwide tour by label executives who gave a "product presentation", according to articles from Billboard and Record World in October 1970.[6][7] Two singles were included on the LP: "Simple Song of Freedom" (issued in September 1970)[8] and "Billy My Love" (issued in October 1970).[9]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Billy My Love" | B. Milo Adamo | 3:27 |
| 2. | "Simple Song of Freedom" | Bob Darin | 3:00 |
| 3. | "Love Song" | Randy Newman | 3:48 |
| 4. | "Brand New Day" (Main theme from the United Artists motion picture The Landlord) | Al Kooper | 2:02 |
| 5. | "Something" | George Harrison | 3:56 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Daydream City" | B. Milo Adamo | 2:53 |
| 2. | "Leftover Wine" | Melanie Saftka | 2:47 |
| 3. | "Why Not Now" | Della Reese | 2:20 |
| 4. | "Skip a Rope" |
| 2:46 |
| 5. | "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life" | 3:36 |
Personnel
[edit]All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Right Now.[4]
- Jack Adams – Engineer
- Mickey Crofford – Engineer
- Hugo & Luigi – Liner notes, producer
- Sammy Lowe – Arranger and conductor
- The Mixed Media – Cover and liner design
- Peter Myers – Arranger and conductor
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | November 1970 | Vinyl LP | Avco Embassy Records | [4][10] |
| Circa 2020 |
|
Unidisc Music | [11] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Billboard Album Reviews: Special Merit Picks: Popular [Pop]". Billboard. November 21, 1970. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
- ^ Will Friedwald (2010). A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers. Knopf Doubleday. pp. 385–388. ISBN 9780307379894.
- ^ "Talent: Signings" (PDF). Billboard. October 18, 1969. p. 28. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Reese, Della (December 1970). "Right Now (Liner Notes)". Avco Embassy Records. AVE-33017 (LP) (US).
- ^ "Selling Sounds" (PDF). Billboard. August 29, 1970. p. 28. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
- ^ "Avco Embassy Product Reviewed" (PDF). Record World. October 3, 1970. p. 22. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
- ^ "Avco Embassy Road Show Key to LP's" (PDF). Billboard. October 3, 1970. p. 3. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
- ^ Reese, Della (September 1970). ""Simple Song of Freedom"/"Why Not Now" (7" vinyl single)". Avco Embassy Records. AVE-4535.
- ^ Reese, Della (October 1970). ""Billy My Love"/"Brand New Day" (7" vinyl single)". Avco Embassy Records. AVE-4545.
- ^ Reese, Della (November 1970). "Right Now (Liner Notes)". Avco Embassy Records. 6466005 (LP)(UK); SAVL-934051 (LP)(Australia & New Zealand); CPS-9093 (LP)(Spain); AVL-7019 (LP)(Brazil).
- ^ "Right Now - Album by Della Reese". Apple Music. Retrieved January 7, 2025.