Powerful People

Powerful People is the title of both the second studio album of Canadian singer Gino Vannelli, and the sixth track on this album. The album was released in 1974, and was produced by Gino and his brother Joe Vannelli. Herb Alpert (who produced Vannelli's first album) is credited as associate producer.

Powerful People
Studio album by
Gino Vannelli
ReleasedSeptember 1974
StudioA&M (Hollywood)
GenreSoft rock, jazz fusion, art rock, pop rock
Length32:48
LabelA&M
Producer
Gino Vannelli chronology
Crazy Life
(1973)		 Powerful People
(1974)		 Storm at Sunup
(1975)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
Rolling Stone Album Guide (1992)[2]

After his debut Crazy Life had failed to chart due to poor record company promotion,[3] Vannelli assembled a band to record his second album. He and brother Joe had played all the instruments on Crazy Life, but Powerful People is characterized by Joe Vannelli's first experiments with synthesizers and the use of session musicians.

The funky "People Gotta Move" was Vannelli's first hit in the United States, when disco music was gaining popularity. The song reached #22 on Billboard Top 100 and #21 in Canada.[4] "Powerful People" reached #34 in Canada.[5] The last track, "Poor Happy Jimmy", is a tribute to American singer Jim Croce, who died in an airplane accident a year earlier. The album was on the Canadian charts four separate times totalling 28 weeks between November 16, 1974, and August 14, 1976.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Gino Vannelli. All arrangements by Joe Vannelli and Richard Baker.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."People Gotta Move"3:21
2."Lady"3:43
3."Son of a New York Gun"3:23
4."Jack Miraculous"2:42
5."Jo Jo"3:40
Total length:16:49
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Powerful People"6:12
2."Felicia"3:04
3."The Work Verse"2:54
4."Poor Happy Jimmy"3:49
Total length:15:59

Charts
Chart (1974) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 54
Canada (RPM)[7] 60
United States (Billboard 200) 60

Personnel

Production
  • Producers – Gino Vannelli and Joe Vannelli
  • Associate Producer – Herb Alpert
  • Engineer – Tommy Vicari
  • Assistant Engineer – Larry Forkner
  • Mastered by Bernie Grundman
  • Art Direction – Roland Young
  • Design – Junie Osaki
  • Photography – Jim McCrary and John Rideout

Musicians
  • Gino Vannelli – lead and backing vocals
  • Joe Vannelli – electric piano, synthesizers, horn and string arrangements
  • Richard Baker – organ, organ bass, synthesizers, horn and string arrangements
  • Graham Lear – drums
  • John J. Mandel – percussion
  • Tony Golia – bongos, congas
  • Lani Hall – backing vocals

References
  1. Allan, Mark. Powerful People at AllMusic
  2. DeCurtis, Anthony; George-Warren, Holly and Henke, James; The Rolling Stone Album Guide – Completely New Reviews: Every Essential Album, Every Essential Artist, p. 733 ISBN 0679737294
  3. Colander, Pat (1975-08-22). "Gino Vannelli: On the Trek to Stardom". Chicago Tribune (Section 3). p. 8.
  4. "RPM Top 100 Singles - October 26, 1974" (PDF).
  5. "RPM Top 100 Singles - April 12, 1975" (PDF).
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 320. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "RPM Top 100 Albums - February 21, 1975" (PDF).
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