On the Cool Side is a smooth jazz album by keyboardist and jazz vocalist Ben Sidran. Released in 1985, it was Sidran's fourteenth studio album.[1]
| On the Cool Side | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1985 (LP) 1996 (CD) | |||
| Genre | Jazz Smooth jazz Jazz fusion | |||
| Length | 48:32 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Windham Hill | |||
| Producer | Ben Sidran | |||
| Ben Sidran chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
edit
On the Cool Side was one of Sidran's first commercially successful solo releases, receiving significant airtime on contemporary jazz stations at the time.[2] It was also his first album to use electronic instruments, including drum machines and a Yamaha DX7 synthesiser "to capture the spirit of the times".[3]
Some album releases were pressed on translucent black vinyl.[4]
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
Writing for AllMusic, Jim Newsom commented the "music on this recording is heavily electronicized [..] but it sure sounds like a lot of fun." He summarised the eponymous track as "a classic of the genre, an upbeat, joyous affirmation of life, featuring a backing vocal from old pal Steve Miller [..] you'll find yourself walking down the street singing "keep on searching, keep it on the cool side" with a big smile on your face."
Newsom also praised the renditions of "Lover Man", "Heat Wave" and "Up a Lazy River" with Sidran's new "funky" elements.
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mitsubishi Boy" | 5:13 |
| 2. | "Lover Man Part 1" | 2:57 |
| 3. | "Lover Man Part 2" | 5:02 |
| 4. | "Brown Eyes" | 3:55 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "On the Cool Side" | 5:50 |
| 2. | "Old Hoagy" | 3:40 |
| 3. | "Heat Wave" | 3:55 |
| 4. | "Up a Lazy River" | 3:40 |
Personnel
edit- Billy Peterson – bass (on "Lover Man Part 1" and "Lover Man Part 2")
- Howard Arthur – guitar (on "Mitsubishi Boy" and "Brown Eyes")
- Paul Peterson – synthesizer (on "Lover Man Part 1" and "Lover Man Part 2")
- Ricky Peterson – synthesizer, keyboards, backing vocals (on "Brown Eyes")
- Mac Rebennack – backing vocals (on "Up a Lazy River")
- Steve Miller – backing vocals (on "On the Cool Side")
- Patty Peterson – backing vocals (on "Heat Wave")
- Ben Sidran – synthesizer, keyboards, vocals
References
edit- ^ "Ben Sidran's Discography". BenSidran.com. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
- ^ a b Newsom, Jim. On the Cool Side – Ben Sidran at AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
- ^ "On the Cool Side - Album". BenSidran.com. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
- ^ "Ben Sidran - On The Cool Side (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs. 1985. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
Bibliography
edit- On the Cool Side (Vinyl LP cover). Ben Sidran. United States: Windham Hill. 1985. MA-0204.
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