Leaving It All Behind is the fifth studio album by the American rock band the Grass Roots, released in November 1969 by Dunhill Records. Following the departure of Creed Bratton, who left in April 1969,[3] seasoned musician Dennis Provisor joined the group, solidifying the new direction of the band. Terry Furlong and Brian Naughton became alternating touring guitarists for the group. In a return to grace for the group member composers, it contained six songs written by the group. The album was intended to move the group further in a soulful direction that was being rewarded by more charting singles. The A- and B-side singles released were "I'd Wait a Million Years", "Heaven Knows" b/w "Don't Remind Me", and "Walking Through The Country" b/w "Truck Drivin' Man". At the end of this run "Something's Comin' Over Me" was released as a B-side to "Come On And Say It", a charting single written by the group that appeared on the band's next compilation album, More Golden Grass.[4] The album charted at No. 36, making it the group's highest-charting studio album.
| Leaving It All Behind | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1969 | |||
| Recorded | 1969 | |||
| Studio | United Western, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Pop rock[1] | |||
| Label | Dunhill | |||
| Producer | Steve Barri | |||
| The Grass Roots chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
Songs
editThe songs featured unique horn-punctuated touches by arranger Sid Feller. However, Jimmie Haskell provided the arrangements for the songs "I'd Wait a Million Years" and "Heaven Knows." The group contributed heavily to this album, as for the first time since Feelings, the majority of songs were written or co-written by group members. Drummer Rick Coonce sang lead vocals on a self-penned song, "Truck Drivin' Man". The remainder of the songs were written by new outside composers and the competing songwriting duos of Price & Walsh and Lambert & Potter. Dunhill Records executives liked the established soulful direction and the group was rewarded with success in the charts and given more creative input for seeing it through.[4]
Artwork, packaging
editThe original release of Leaving It All Behind is on Dunhill ABC in stereo. The record came in a gatefold sleeve featuring photos of the band in concert, as well as a photo of the group posing with a pickup truck (the latter of which would later be used on the cover of 1971's gold-selling compilation Their 16 Greatest Hits). The front cover was designed by Gundelfinger/Schnepf, with photos taken by Tom Gundelfinger.
Original LP releases list the song "Hold on to What You Got" on the rear of the LP jacket; however, the song is not featured on the actual LP and to this day remains unreleased, although the CD release from 2004 even has a leaflet containing among others the lyrics of this lost song, crediting it to Warren Entner. It may be considered a lost recording due to parent company MCA "purging" all unnecessary media in the late 1970s.
Track listing
editAll songs produced by Steve Barri.[4]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I'm Livin' for You Girl" | Harvey Price, Daniel Walsh | Grill | 2:37 |
| 2. | "Back to Dreamin' Again" | Kenny Nolan | Grill | 2:37 |
| 3. | "Out of this World" | Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter | Entner and Grill | 2:45 |
| 4. | "Melinda Love" | Warren Entner, Rob Grill, Steve Barri | Grill and Provisor | 2:34 |
| 5. | "Don't Remind Me" | Warren Entner | Entner | 2:33 |
| 6. | "Take Him While You Can" | Dennis Provisor | Provisor | 4:00 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Heaven Knows" | Harvey Price, Daniel Walsh | Grill | 2:23 |
| 2. | "Walking Through the Country" | Dennis Provisor | Provisor | 3:57 |
| 3. | "Something's Comin' Over Me" | Rob Grill | Grill | 2:45 |
| 4. | "Truck Drivin' Man" | Rick Coonce | Coonce | 2:59 |
| 5. | "Wait a Million Years" | Gary Zekley, Mitchell Bottler | Grill and Entner | 3:19 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Baby Hold On" | Harvey Price, Daniel Walsh | Grill | 2:39 |
| 13. | "Come On and Say It" | Dennis Provisor, Warren Entner, Rob Grill | Grill | 2:30 |
| 14. | "Temptation Eyes" | Harvey Price, Daniel Walsh | Grill | 2:39 |
Personnel
editThe Grass Roots
- Rob Grill – vocals, bass
- Warren Entner – guitar, vocals
- Rick Coonce – drums, percussion, vocals
- Dennis Provisor – keyboard instruments, vocals
Additional personnel
- Steve Barri – producer
- Phil Kaye – engineer
- Sid Feller – arrangements
- Jimmie Haskell – arrangements
- Session musicians – various instruments
References
edit- ^ Leavin' It All Behind at AllMusic
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ "The Grass Roots Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
- ^ a b c "The Grassroots official website". The-grassroots.com. Retrieved 2014-11-23.