Cheers to the Fall

Cheers to the Fall

by Andra DayAndra Day

Overview

Retro-soul singer and songwriter Andra Day was performing at a store opening when she caught the attention of Kai Millard Morris, Stevie Wonder's second wife. Through Morris, then Stevie, the San Diego native met studio lifer Adrian Gurvitz, whose varied career as a side musician, leader, songwriter, and producer dates back to the late '60s. Day signed on with Gurvitz's Buskin label, which led to a deal with Warner Bros. and sessions that involved R&B giant Raphael Saadiq and Fitz & the Tantrums collaborator Chris Seefried, among others. Day's approach is similar to those of fellow "old souls" like Amy Winehouse, Alice Smith, and Nikki Jean, though it is ultimately as distinctive as any of the three. On her traditionally styled debut, Cheers to the Fall -- for which she co-wrote every song -- she retraces the steps of a broken relationship in relation to learning from faults and moving on. The prevalence of ballads among the 13 songs can be fatiguing, but almost every selection has a distinguishing detail or two, whether it's a sly nod to a classic hip-hop artist, an unexpected place Day takes her dynamic voice, or some clever expression of heartache. Some verses are brilliantly written and elegantly phrased, such as the third one of "Gold": "I see the reel, now it's real to me/I gave up gold for grains of sand slipping through my hand." Saadiq isn't the only big name who is involved. The Gurvitz and James Poyser production "Only Love," which has all the cinematic tension and release necessary for a James Bond theme, was made with an all-star cast that includes drummer Questlove, bassist Pino Palladino, and a load of Dap-Kings. For all the finely crafted ballads that recall mid- to late-'60s soul, it's "Mistakes" that stands out most. It's a midtempo mover that has hints of the early-'70s proto-disco variants that came from labels like Philadelphia International and Motown, coated in a little Southern grit.

Product Details

Release Date: 08/28/2015
Label: Warner Records
UPC: 0093624927563
catalogNumber: 549304

Tracks

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Andra Day   Primary Artist,Background Vocals
Adrian Gurvitz   Harmonica,Piano,Strings,Drums,Vocals
Matt Chamberlain   Drums
David Guy   Trumpet
Charles Jones   Organ,Piano
David Paich   Piano
Pino Palladino   Bass
Dean Parks   Guitar
Carl Wheeler   Organ
Billy Adamson   Guitar
Chris Seefried   Guitar,Piano,Moog Synthesizer
Raphael Saadiq   Bass,Guitar,Percussion,Drums
Patrick Kiernan   Violin
Bruce White   Cello,Viola
Victor Axelrod   Piano
Cochemea Gastelum   Baritone Saxophone
?uestlove   Drums
Deborah Widdup   Violin
Neal Sugarman   Saxophone
Nick Barr   Cello,Viola
Fernando Velez   Percussion
DJ Jazzy Jeff   scratching
Timothy Loo   Cello
Onitsha   Background Vocals
Jonathan Flaugher   Bass
Zac Rae   Piano
Jimmy Paxson   Drums
Rob Kleiner   Bass,Guitar,Percussion,Piano
Calvin Turner   Bass
Wired Strings   Strings
Kylie Davies   Double Bass
Lisa Dondlinger   Violin
Jordan McLean   Trumpet
Errol Cooney   Guitar
Jenny Sacha   Violin
Homer Steinweiss   Drums
Leon Michels   Saxophone
Bryony James   Cello
Kerenza Peacock   Violin
Mika Lett   Background Vocals
Chris Dave   Drums
Missi Hale   Background Vocals
Rosie Danvers   Cello
Gus Seyffert   Bass
Sarah Sexton   Violin
Alison Dods   Violin
Sean Erick   Horn
Miles Mosley   Bass
Dave Wood   Guitar
Sally Jackson   Violin
Lemar Carter   Drums
Hayley Pomfrett   Violin
Kevin Williams   Horn
Kala Balch   Background Vocals
Keri Larson   Background Vocals
Leon Silva   Horn
Joe Crispiano   Guitar
Peter Randall   Bass
Jenn Decilveo   Bass
Elizabeth Frascoia   Trombone
Bridget Sarai   Background Vocals
Chris Johnson   Drums
Josh Smith   Guitar

Technical Credits

Adrian Gurvitz   Composer,Programming,Producer,Engineer,Executive Producer,Additional Production
Steve Churchyard   Engineer
Michael Frondelli   Engineer
James Poyser   Additional Production
Stephen Walker   Art Direction
Chris Seefried   Composer,Programming,Producer,Vocal Producer
Raphael Saadiq   Composer,Producer
Ken Sluiter   Engineer
Jeffrey Evans   Executive Producer
Rob Kleiner   Composer,Programming,Producer,Engineer,Vocal Producer
Nick Taylor   Engineer
Gabriel Roth   Engineer
Ben Kane   Engineer
Alex Reid   Programming
Rosie Danvers   String Arrangements
Seth Atkins Horan   Engineer
Victoria Lott   Composer
Steve Rusch   Engineer
Marthony "Mark" Tabb   Composer
Jenn Decilveo   Composer,Producer,Additional Production
Andra Day   Composer,Executive Producer
Tom Bilier   Engineer
Elaine Gurvitz   Composer

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