I Could Have Been a Sailor is a 1979 album by singer-songwriter Peter Allen, released on A&M Records. It is notable as containing Allen's versions of his songs "Don't Cry Out Loud" and "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love", which were major successes, as covered by others.
History I Could Have Been a Sailor was Peter Allen's fifth studio album, and his third for A&M Records. It followed the double-album live release, It Is Time for Peter Allen (1977), on the same label. The album is notable for its association with producer Marvin Hamlisch. Allen also performs his versions of three songs he co-wrote with Carole Bayer-Sager, "Don't Go Looking", "Don't Cry Out Loud" and "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love".
"Don't Cry Out Loud" had been popularized by Melissa Manchester prior to Allen's release. Manchester's recording of the song was released in late 1978 and spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also the title song of Manchester's related album. The song had been co-written by Allen and Carol Bayer-Sager; Bayer-Sager was also a co-writer with Manchester. "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love" was popularized by Rita Coolidge in 1979, as well as being recorded by Dusty Springfield, among others.
The album was Allen's first to make the US albums chart,Biography of The Allen Brothers/Peter Allen; www.milesago.com, peaking at No. 171 on the Billboard 200.Billboard album chart listing; www.allmusic.com. The album has been subject to limited reissue on CD. It was reissued on CD in 2001 in Japan, on Universal/A&M.Adult Contemporary Music In Japan , recommended discs May/June 2001; www.bekkoame.ne.jp. It has not been reissued on CD in North America or elsewhere.
Track listing All tracks composed by Peter Allen; except where indicated "I Could Have Been a Sailor" "Don't Wish Too Hard" "Two Boys" "Angels With Dirty Faces" (Allen, Adrienne Anderson) "Don't Cry Out Loud" (Allen, Carole Bayer Sager) "If You Were Wondering" "Don't Leave Me Now" "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love" (Allen, Sager) "We've Come to an Understanding" "Paris at 21"
Personnel Peter Allen - keyboards, piano, vocals Michael Boddicker - programming Velton Ray Bunch - arranger Paulinho Da Costa - percussion Linda Dillard - backing vocals Victor Feldman - percussion, timpani Dan Ferguson - guitar Venetta Fields - backing vocals Jay Graydon - guitar Ed Greene - drums Marvin Hamlisch - arranger, piano, producer Geoff Howe - percussion Clydie King - backing vocals Larry Knechtel - keyboards Abraham Laboriel - bass Will Lee - bass Jimmy Maelen - percussion Rick Marotta - drums Sherlie Matthews - backing vocals Marti McCall - backing vocals Ray Parker Jr. - guitar Dave Parlato - bass Herb Pedersen - backing vocals Greg Phillinganes - synthesizer Jim Pierce - bass Mike Post - arranger, percussion Bruce Roberts - backing vocals Dan Sawyer - guitar Joey Scarbury - backing vocals Steve Schaeffer - drums Leland Sklar - bass David Spinozza - guitar Fred Tackett - guitar Richard Tee - keyboards John Tropea - guitar
Charts Chart (1979)PeakpositionAustralian (Kent Music Report)69
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