''Play On'' is the sixth solo album by John Miles released in 1983 via EMI label.

Overview

EMI promised that Miles would use a top producer and top session musicians for his second album for EMI. Eventually they chose

Gus Dudgeon Angus Boyd "Gus" Dudgeon (30 September 1942 – 21 July 2002) was an English record producer, who oversaw many of Elton John's most acclaimed recordings, including his commercial breakthrough, " Your Song". Their collaboration led to seven US N ...

who had worked with artists like Elton John,

Chris Rea Christopher Anton Rea ( ; born 4 March 1951) is an English rock and blues singer and guitarist from Middlesbrough. A "gravel-voiced guitar stalwart" known for his slide guitar playing, Rea has recorded twenty five solo albums, two of which t ...

and

Elkie Brooks Elkie Brooks (born Elaine Bookbinder; 25 February 1946) is an English rock, blues and jazz singer. She was a vocalist with the bands Dada and Vinegar Joe, and later became a solo artist. She gained her biggest success in the late 1970s and 198 ...

. Originally, the album was planned to be released in 1982, but because Dudgeon was not available at the time, the release was delayed. It was also the first time that drummer Barry Black and bassist Bob Marshall were not used on the album (although Marshall still wrote the songs with Miles). Instead they were replaced by session musicians. "The Right to Sing" was the first single released from the album and was written about the fact that record companies wanted to decide which songs Miles had to release and which direction he had to take. Another single, the catchy track "Song For You" became a small worldwide hit and was used as a soundtrack in TV commercials for cigarette brand "Hollywood" in Brazil and few other countries. "That's Rock 'n' Roll" was left off the album because it was too different, and was subsequently released as a B-side. "Carrie" was covered by The Hollies on the b-side of the 1988 re-release of their cover version of

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" is a ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for the Hollies later that year and also a hit for Neil Diamond in 1970. It h ...

. John Miles sang backing vocals on it.

Track listing

All songs written by Bob Marshall and John Miles #"Take Me to My Heaven" #"Song for You" #"It Wasn't Love at All" #"Ready to Spread Your Wings" #"I'll Never Do it Again" #"Heart of Stone" #"Home" #"Close Eyes, Count to Ten" #"Carrie" #"Right to Sing"

Personnel

* John Miles - lead vocals, backing vocals, piano, guitar *Martin Jenner - acoustic guitar, guitar *

- tambourine on "The Right to Sing" *Graham Jarvis - drums *Paul Westwood - bass *

Pete Wingfield William Peter Wingfield (born 7 May 1948) is an English record producer, keyboard player, songwriter, singer and music journalist. Career Whilst at Sussex University Wingfield and three other students formed the group Jellybread. In 1969, he ...

- electric piano, organ, piano, synthesizer, clavinet, backing vocals *Duncan Mackay - synthesizer; vocoder on "Close Eyes Count to Ten" *

Frank Ricotti Frank Ricotti (born 31 January 1949) is an English jazz vibraphonist and percussionist. Early life and education Ricotti was born in London, England. His father was a drummer. Bill Ashton, founder of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NY ...

- percussion *Jimmy Chambers,

Katie Kissoon Mac and Katie Kissoon are a pop soul duo, consisting of brother and sister Mac Kissoon (born Gerald Farthing, November 11, 1943, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) and Katie Kissoon (born Katherine Farthing, March 11, 1951, Port of Spain). E ...

- backing vocals *

Jerry Donahue Jerry Donahue (born September 24, 1946, Manhattan, New York City) is an American guitarist and producer primarily known for his work in the British folk rock scene as a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention as well as being a member of t ...

- electric guitar on "Take Me to My Heaven" *

Mel Collins Melvyn Desmond Collins (born 5 September 1947, Isle of Man) is a British saxophonist, flautist and session musician. Collins has played in several progressive rock groups, having been a member of King Crimson on two occasions (the first from ...

- saxophone on "Take Me to My Heaven" and "Home" * Paul Buckmaster - orchestral arrangement on "Ready to Spread Your Wings" * Derek Wadsworth and Gus Dudgeon - arrangements on "Take Me to My Heaven" and "Heart of Stone" *Chris Hunter, Derek Wadsworth,

Dick Morrissey Richard Edwin Morrissey (9 May 1940 – 8 November 2000) was a British jazz musician and composer. He played the tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone and flute. Biography Background He was born in Horley, Surrey, England. Dick Morrissey emerg ...

, Jeff Daly - brass on "Take Me to My Heaven" and "Heart of Stone" *Bruce Baxter - orchestral arrangement on "The Right to Sing"

References

External links

Billboard.com ''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the music ...

{{Authority control John Miles (musician) albums 1983 albums Albums produced by Gus Dudgeon EMI Records albums