Customer Reviews

Welcome to the St James Club

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been a fan of the Rippingtons since their original release and they remain my favorite group. This, I believe, was and still is their best. Every song is great, especially the opening cut. Other than perhaps, Moonlighting, which has become a Jazz 'museum' classic not only for the music, but for the virtual 'who's who' list of musicians who went on to their own recording fame, Welcome to the St.JC is one that I recommend for anyone starting their Rippington's CD collection.

From the title track to the last note, "Welcome to the St. James Club" is "The Rippingtons!" If you have no other of their albums, this is the one to buy. One cannot listen to this album and not come away feeling uplifted, upbeat and ready to Ripp! Russ and the Rippingtons tear it up from start to finish and don't miss a beat. While the title track is my favorite, perhaps the sleeper of the album is "Kenya" (also selected for their best of... album); Steve Reid at his best and a tune to play at high volume.

The Rippingtons 1990 outing entitled "Welcome To Saint James Club" is not much different from previous Rippingtons albums but it is still a very enjoyable CD with standout tracks like the opening title track, and "I Watched Her Walk Away" but the real gem for me is the second song entitled "Wednesday's Child" which begins with an optimistic opener before becoming a very sophisticated pop-jazz classic with amazing keyboard sounds. Most of the rest of this album is also very good but doesn't stand out the way "Wednesday's Child" does. Definately a recommended album and certainly a worthy introduction to these guys but "Moonlighting" remains my favorite Rippingtons album as of writing this review.

I have been a Rippingtons fan since 1992, and have nearly all of their albums ("greatest hits" being a notable exception :) ). This CD is my favorite of the bunch. I especially like "I watched her walk away" and "Who's holding her now" -- these songs really manage to convey a message and a feeling without annoying mumbled lyrics to get in the way.

Believe it or not, but there was a time when mullet-style haircuts were acceptable in certain parts of California. Of course, that time had passed long before the taking of the dodgy photos which clutter this CD's sleevenotes, but fashion never seemed to bother Russ Freeman's Rippingtons. I have never witnessed the Rippingtons in concert, and the similarity of the band's name to the Chippendales has been one of the principal factors deterring such an outing.

In spite of all that, I have always loved this record. It is undemanding, optimistic soul-jazz, which sits in a vaguely defined musical space legitimised by bands such as Fourplay, Bob James, and even the Pat Metheny Group in its lighter moments. I only realised that liking the Rippingtons was something I shouldn't admit to when I heard an album of theirs playing as background music at Newark airport.

I've owned six of the Rippingtons albums, and I feel this and 'Curves Ahead' are the best. Besides being a recruiter of similarly mulletised musicians, Russ Freeman is a multi-instrumentalist much taken by the keyboards technology of the time. Consequently some of the sounds on this 1990 album may sound a little dated now. 'Curves Ahead' has an advantage in that Freeman employed a great pianist, Mark Portman, rather than doing all the keyboards himself. But I feel 'The St. James Club' has the stronger tunes. Highlights include 'Wednesday's Child', 'Affair in San Miguel', 'Soul Mates' and 'Victoria's Secret'. The only flaw in Freeman's judgement was to encourage percussionist Steve Reid to play a bongo-fury intro to some songs.

for the album which we had on CASSETTE. No longer have any working cassette players, especially in any of our vehicles.

This album, from the period when Russ was working with a fairly consistent band-like lineup, is a solid presentation. While not as groovy as Curves Ahead and a little less focussed than Tourist in Paradise from the similar time period, it is still a good sampling of that era of the Rippingtons.

I am definitely hooked on this CD. The keyboard sounds maybe a little outdated but sweet to the ears. "Welcome to the Saint James Club" (I first heard this song on the weather channel, no lie), "Affair in San Miguel" (hit rewind every time), and "Victoria's Secret" are my favorites. Check it out and you might want to rock the mullet (see inside cover and you will find out what I am talking about).

This is my first Jazz CD. This is my favorite song. Whenever I want to relax I play this song. I have been a fan of The Rippingtons for 10 years now. I have a total of 6 CDs and want to collect all of them. I like all most all of their selections because it is not noise to the ear. Another favorite of mine is Who's Holding Her Now and Victoria's Secret. Very soothing and relaxing. I just love The Rippingtons!

Let me say this about this album, it's truly amazing how russ freeman was able to churn out"passion fruit""st james club" and who's holding her now" so creatively, i give this album the thumbs up, i am hoping that others will see this album and enjoy it as much as i do.