More Than Ever

1976
Track Listing:
They
I Love You More Than Ever
Katy Bell
Sweet Sadie The Savior
Hollywood
You're The One
Heavy Blue
Saved by the Grace of Your Love
Lineup:

David Clayton-Thomas:  Vocals
Bobby Colomby:  Drums
Don Alias:  Percussion
Larry Willis:  Electric Piano
Mike Stern:  Electric Guitar
Tony Klatka:  Trumpet
Forrest Buchtell:  Trumpet
Dave Bargeron:  Trombone, Tuba
Bill Tillman:  Tenor Sax, Flute
Danny Trifan:  Bass


Despite the lineup, a number of musicians also appeared and recorded on this album, who did what and on which song is as follows:

David Clayton-Thomas:  Vocals
Bobby Colomby:  Drums
Don Alias:  Percussion
Gary King:  Bass
Bob James:  Electric Piano, Acousting Piano, Celesa, Clavinet, Arp synthesizer.
Richard Tee:  Acoustic Piano on "Saved by the Grace..." and  "Sweet Sadie,"  Organ on "Sweet Sadie")
Larry Willis:  Eletric Piano on "Heavy Blue."
Steve Khan:  Guitars (except "Heavy Blue," Saved by the Grace," and "I'll Love You More Than Ever."
Hugh McCracken:  Electric Guitar (except "Sweet Sadie The Savior) and Acoustic Guitar on "You're The One."
Eric Gale:  Electric Guitar on "Sweet Sadie," "I'll Love You More Than Ever," and "Saved by the Grace."
Mike Stern:  Electric Guitar on "Heavy Blue."
Eric Weissberg:  Banjo on "Katie Bell," and Dobro solo on "Hollywood."
Tony Klatka:  Trumpet on "Saved by the Grace," "Heavy Blue," and "Katy Bell."
Forrest Buchtell:  Trumpet:  "Saved by the Grace" Heavy Blue," and "Katy Bell."
Jon Faddis:  Trumpet on "Sweet Sadie," "They," and "Hollywood."
Dave Taylor:  Bass Trombone on "Sweet Sadie," "They," and "Hollywood."
Dave Bargeron:  Trombone and Tuba
Bill Tillman:  Tenor Sax and Flute
Arnie Lawrence:  Tenor Sax on "You're The One."
Dave Friedman:  Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibes on "They."
Sid Weinberg:  Oboe on "I'll Love You More Than Ever."
Patti Austin:  Featured Vocalist on "Sweet Sadie," and "More Than Ever."

Additional Vocalists:  Vivian Cherry, Lani Groves, Gwendonlyn Guthrie, Yolanda McCullough, Frank Floyd, William Eaton, Zachary Sanders.

Strings:  David Nadien, Seymour Barab, Max Ellen, Harry Lookofsky, Harry Glickman, Max Pollikoff, Matthew Raimondi, Emanuel Vardi, Charles McCracken, Harry Cykman, Richard Sortomme, Theodore Israel.

Produced and Arranged by Bob James
Assistant Producer:  Bobby Colomby
Engineer:  Dave Palmer


Chart History:
     Album was released in August of 1976 (Columbia AL 34233).  It featured guest vocals by renowned R&B vocalist Patti Austin.  It tickled the album chart, peaking at #165.  A solitary Single, "You're The One"/"Heavey Blue," did not chart.  The album is not in print anywhere in the world.  "You're The One." appears on the Columbia release Found Treasures, as well as the French Collection, and the What Goes Up! CD set.  "Sweet Sadie the Savior," and "Katy Bell." are on the UK Definitive Collection.

Jeremiah Rickert writes:
     This album really surprised me, mostly because of the sharp contrast in styles between this and New City.  The previous album had a definitite rock and pop edge, while More Than Ever has an almost country feel to it.  Viewing the huge list of musicians that participated in this recording is a testament to the problems the band had staying together.  One would think that after the relative success of New City, they would stick to the program.  It seems as if Columbia said, hey, you're going to do this our way, and we have the contract that says you have to, or perhaps they wanted to put out a product to get them dropped from the label.  I mean, heck, the next album, Brand New Day is one of my favorite BS&T releases.  More Than Ever, with its plain photo of the LP cover, and it's simplistic liner notes could not have been intended to be a hit.
     On another front, most of the songs are pretty good.  I enjoy "Hollywood," and Larry Willis' "Heavy Blue," as well "Sweet Sadie," "More Than Ever," and "Katy Bell."  It's a different album, but not a bad one.  Considering the patchwork of musicians that recorded it, it's really quite an acheivment.
    By the way, I could not find any published reviews of this album...if anyone has any, email me please.
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