Claudia Lennear ?– Phew! (1973) Full Album 1 of 3
CLAUDIA LENNEAR

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Track List: 1-4

1. It Ain't Easy (0:00)
2. Sing With The Children (3:59)
3. Sister Angela (7:56)
4. Not At All (11:16)

Part 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sghb5dD0E7U
Part 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t68m2bqSyw
Part 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar5nC1IpQMY&t=234s

Claudia Lennear should have been huge! She had a great pedigree that was a publicists dream ( Ikette, One of Leon Russell's Shelter People and Jagger wrote Brown Sugar about her). Warner Brothers threw lots of money at this album, top session players, gate fold sleeve, very sexy photo inside. The album is split into two halves. The first side is the 'Rock' side with definite Stones vibe with Ry Cooder, Mike Utley, Milt Holland and Jim Dickinson all putting their talents into the mix; the second side is a suite of four (minor) Allain Toussaint songs with the great man in charge of musical direction and on piano, and another set of top sessioner's at work. They all work their up a fine funky sound, but unfortunately CL bottled it. This is most peculiar singing style, she can start a line as if she is going to go all out for it only to pull out. If Chaka Khan or Tina Turner had had the vocal duties then this could have been huge, unfortunately, it is just average. I was fortunate to get a press release in my copy. In it Claudia tell the world that "It's a whole different feeling being in the spotlight instead of hidden in a chorus of nine people. I like it, but I'm just beginning to discover who the real Claudia Lennear is, myself" It would seem that she wasn't comfortable in front, as this is the only album she ever got the chance to make. by walton Feb 21 2007


Credits
Alto Saxophone – Harold Battiste, Jr.* (tracks: B1 to B5)
Art Direction, Design – John Van Hamersveld
Backing Vocals – Allen Toussaint (tracks: B1, B5)
Baritone Saxophone – Gene Cipriano (tracks: B1 to B5)
Bass – Chuck Rainey (tracks: B1 to B5), Tommy McClure (tracks: A1 to A5)
Congas – Tessie Calderon (tracks: B1 to B5)
Drums – Jim Keltner (tracks: B1 to B5), John Craviotto (tracks: A1 to A5)
Electric Piano – Spooner Oldham (tracks: B1 to B5)
Engineer – Doug Botnick (tracks: B1 to B5)
Engineer [Remix] – Jim Dickinson (tracks: B1 to B5), Raghu Gadhoke (tracks: B1 to B5), Richard* (tracks: B1 to B5)
Engineer, Mixed By [Remixed] – John Haeny (tracks: A1 to A5)
Guitar – Arthur Adams (tracks: B1 to B5), Charles Grimes (tracks: A1 to A5), Marlin Greene (tracks: B1 to B5), Rick Littlefield (tracks: B1 to B5), Ry Cooder (tracks: A1 to A5)
Organ [Hammond] – Mike Utley* (tracks: A1 to A5), William Smith (2) (tracks: B1 to B5)
Other [Special Thanks] – Jim "Toad-Frog" Dickinson
Percussion – Milt Holland (tracks: A1 to A5)
Photography By – Norman Seeff
Piano, Guitar – Jim Dickinson (tracks: A1 to A5)
Piano, Other [Special Thanks], Supervised By [Musical Supervision], Arranged By [Brass Arrangements] – Allen Toussaint (tracks: B1 to B5)
Producer – Ian Samwell
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Don Menza (tracks: B1 to B5)
Trombone – Dick Hyde (tracks: B1 to B5), Lew McReary* (tracks: B1 to B5)
Trumpet – Paul Hubinon (tracks: B1 to B5), Warren Luening, Jr.* (tracks: B1 to B5)