Continental American

Continental American is the third studio album by Peter Allen, released in 1974. The album was his first for A&M Records, and is notable for the inclusion of Allen's version of his co-authored hit for Olivia Newton-John, among others, "I Honestly Love You".

Continental American
Studio album by
Peter Allen
ReleasedNovember 15, 1974
Recorded1974
StudioRegent Sound Studios, New York City[1]
GenreAdult contemporary
LabelA&M
ProducerJoel Dorn
Peter Allen chronology
Tenterfield Saddler
(1972)		 Continental American
(1974)		 Taught by Experts
(1976)

History

Allen's previous two studio albums, Peter Allen (1971) and Tenterfield Saddler (1972) had been released on Metromedia Records, with modest results. Prior to the release of Continental American, Allen had assumed residency in New York City and had become a regular performer at the Reno Sweeney nightclub, owned and operated by composer Lewis Friedman between 1972 and 1977.[2] A portrait of Allen, taken at Reno Sweeney's, is featured on the back cover of Continental American.

The album was later described by critic William Ruhlmann as involving a "retrospective, world-weary concept" and a "mood of desperate nostalgia", concluding that the album was "a dour singer/songwriter collection that used show business clichés in music and words to express a world view of regret and resignation."[3]

Metromedia Records had ceased operations as of 1974, resulting in Allen's earlier albums becoming largely unavailable. He used the Continental American and later A&M releases as an opportunity to reintroduce some of his music. "Just Ask Me I've Been There", was originally recorded on the Tenterfield Saddler album. "Harbour", included on his follow-up Taught by Experts album (1976), was also originally from Tenterfield Saddler.[4]

Track listing

Side One

  1. "Just a Gigolo (Schöner Gigolo)" (Irving Caesar, Leonello Casucci, Julius Brammer) 3:14
  2. "Everything Old Is New Again" (Peter Allen, Sager) 2:35
  3. "The Natural Thing to Do" (Allen, Sager) 4:11
  4. "Pretty, Pretty" (Allen, Hal Hackady) 3:32
  5. "Continental American" (Allen, Sager) 5:15

Side Two

  1. "Just Ask Me I've Been There" (Allen) 4:35[5]
  2. "I Honestly Love You" (Allen, Jeff Barry) 3:32
  3. "This Side Show's Leaving Town" (Allen, Sager) 7:38
  4. "Just a Gigolo (Schöner Gigolo)" (Reprise) (Caesar, Casucci) 3:15[6]

Personnel

Charts

The album entered the Australian top 100 in October 1977.

Chart (1977) Peak
position
Australian (Kent Music Report)[7] 87

References
  1. "La Bible de la Westcoast Music - Cool Night -: Peter Allen "Continental American" (1974) -Soft Rock-". 12 November 2016.
  2. Overview of Lewis Friedman Archived 2007-12-11 at the Wayback Machine; www.artistswithaids.org.
  3. William Ruhlmann, Review of Continental American. AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  4. Peter Allen discography; www5d.biglobe.ne.jp.
  5. The song is generally credited to Allen alone, though AllMusic lists Leonello Casucci as co-author, as here.
  6. With background vocals by well-known cabaret performer Frances Faye.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 15. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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