"Rit/Rit 2" by LEE RITENOUR – May 1981 and November 1982 US Albums on Elektra Records featuring Harvey Mason on Keyboards and Percussion, David Foster, Greg Phillinganes, Richard Tee and Greg Mathieson on Keyboards, Abraham Laboriel on Bass, Chuck Finley on Trumpet, Jeff Porcaro on Drums and Eric Tagg on Lead Vocals with Johnny Mandel doing String Arrangements and more (October 2015 UK Robinsongs Compilation – 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD – Alan Wilson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Amazon UK Purchase Link

https://link.amazon/B02IStR2S

---------------------------------------------------

"...Captain Fingers..."

Californian Ace Guitarist LEE RITENOUR ("Captain Fingers" to his fans) has probably graced more Audiophile albums than any other session player in living memory. But virtuosity and a wonderful deftness of touch on the old plankaroony are not necessarily what these albums are about. These two very commercial LPs from 1981 and 1982 (his 4th and 5th vinyl platters) went for the jugular of the AWB, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, George Benson albums audience with an 80ts vengeance. Here are the zippy licks and slapped basses...

UK released October 2015 – "Rit/Rit/2" by LEE RITENOUR on Robinsongs WROBIN3CD (Barcode 5013929950320) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD and plays out as follows (77:38 minutes): 

1. Mr. Briefcase [Side 1]
2. (Just) Tell Me Pretty Lies
3. No Sympathy 
4. Is It You?
5. Dreamwalk 
6. Countdown (Captain Fingers) [Side 2]
7. Good Question
8. (You Caught Me) Smilin'
9. On The Slow Guide
10. No Sympathy (Reprise Version)
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Rit" – released May 1981 in the USA on Elektra Records 6E-331 and June 1981 in the UK on Elektra Records K 52273. Peaked at No. 26 in the US album charts and No. 4 on the Jazz charts (didn’t chart in the UK). 

11. Cross My Heart 
12. Promises, Promises 
13. Dreamwalkin'
14. Keep It Alive 
15. A Fantasy 
16. Tied Up [Side 2]
17. Voices
18. On The Boardwalk 
19. Road Runner 
20. Malibu 
Tracks 11 to 20 are the album "Rit/2" – released November 1982 in the USA on Elektra Records 60186 and in the UK/Europe on Elektra Records 96.0186-1. Peaked at No. 99 on the US album charts and No. 5 on the Jazz charts (didn’t chart in the UK).  

Robinsongs is a subsidiary of England's Cherry Red Records and has been building up a solid and enviable rep with regard to Soul, Funk and Jazz Fusion CD Reissues (two quality albums Remastered onto 1CD and pitched at mid-price). The 12-page booklet is a pleasingly indepth affair with new liner notes from noted Jazz writer CHARLES WARING (Contributes to the Mojo Magazine) and photos of those Elektra Records labels as well as full musician credits. ALAN WILSON at Western Star has handled the Mastering and the Audio reflects the original Production Values – clear, polished and sophisticated (if not a little 'too' Eighties in places).
Each album features a huge plethora of quality musicians – "Rit" has Harvey Mason on Keyboards and Percussion, David Foster, Greg Phillinganes, Richard Tee and Greg Mathieson (all) on Keyboards, Abraham Laboriel on Bass, Chuck Finley on Trumpet, Jeff Porcaro on Drums and Eric Tagg on Lead Vocals with Johnny Mandel doing String Arrangements (to name but a few). 

"Rit/2" features Eric Tagg doing Lead Vocals on six of its ten compositions and co-wrote "Cross My Heart", "Promises, Promises", "Dreamwalkin'", "Keep It Alive" and "Voices". Vocalist Bill Champlin features on "Promises, Promises" and co-wrote the song with Ritenour and Tagg. Lee Ritenour plays Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Vocoder and Guitar Synthesizer throughout. Guests include Tom Scott on Saxophone and Larry Williams on Flute as well as many of the virtuoso types that played on "Rit". 

Proceedings open with the upbeat but throwaway "Mr. Briefcase" (a 12" on both sides of the pond) – better is the Earth, Wind & Fire slap-bass Funk of "(Just) Tell Me Pretty Lies". Things mellow out with "No Sympathy" which features his delicate fretwork before Eric Tagg gets all Chicago on the Vocals. Back to the George Benson "Give Me The Night" marketplace with the infectious "Is It You?" (an obvious single) - but my fave Funky groove has always been Side 2's Instrumental "On The Slow Glide" – finger-picked Bass with treated guitars...

"Rit/2" seems more RCA-period Average White Band than Columbia's Earth, Wind & Fire opening with the schlocky "Cross My Heart". Bill Champlin of Sons Of Champlin co-wrote the commercial synth Funk of "Promises, Promises" and can be heard in the backing vocals. 'Lurve' enters the scene with "Dreamwalkin' (Along With Me)" sounding like some movie soundtrack finisher as the happy couple walk off into the Malibu sunset with Pina Coladas in hand.  Far better is his superb fluid playing on the Funky yet slick Instrumental "Road Runner" – about as sweet as the album gets. 

Admittedly in 2015 - many might find the saccharine elements of the vocals on both records a tad too much to take nowadays – but those Funky Grooves, Wicked Instrumental flourishes and that gorgeous Audio make it a worthwhile purchase for the curious - and a must-have for fans...