Patrick A. Stevens | Shasta Lake, CA United States | 01/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This was my introduction to Lee's music, and in many ways, to Jazz itself. As a fledgling guitarist, prior to buying this album I was caught up in the Rock n Roll scene along with all the other young guitar players that I knew at that time -- each of us trying to mimic Eddie Van Halen's riffs. "Rit" changed all of that for me. From the very first listen, I recognized the true talent of this gifted musician and gained an appreciation for the great production work of the recording as well. Some twenty-five years later, the production and record quality of this album still stacks up well against current releases. "Rit" had just enough of an edge to it so that I, a young Rock enthusiast, didn't dismiss it outright as "elevator musak". Once I gave it a chance, I was blown away by the technical skill of this guy and the degree of expression he was able to conjure up on his instrument. It is no exaggeration to say that this album single-handedly set a new standard for me and changed the direction of my musical interests. It made Jazz accessible and relevant to me, and opened the door to other styles of Jazz and artists whom I would never have heard of if not for its influince. Of course, today I own other CD's by Lee, which I enjoy very much, but "Rit" is still my favorite."
Great tunes by great player.
David Burnis | Manistique, Michigan United States | 03/03/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Great cd for fans of real music(not todays hip hop and c-rap}.I bought this when it came out and have loved it ever since.5 stars."
LOVE it!
pcxo | Michigan | 03/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of my favorite Rit albums! Does sound a bit dated, but this cd makes me feel happy. I really enjoy listening to it."
California Memory
Iron Man Hondo | Chicago Il. | 04/19/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It was the early 80s. And my first introdution to Lee was "Countdown." I heard this song as a prelude to the comercial break during the television wrestling program. But it was during my tour of duty in the United States Marine Corps that I got hooked. "Rit" is an instant jazz classic. The whole album. I bought it on cassette tape while stationed at 29 Palms Marine Corps base. Every song was great, but the one or two songs that take me back to 29 Palms and Palms Springs, California are "No Sympathy" and "No Sympathy (Reprised.) The first is vocalized and the second version is Lee playing the guitar. When I hear these two versions of the same song, I go into serious melancholy thinking about walking through the streets of Palms Springs wishing to stay. Or even the town of 29 Palms.
This album is Lee before he took off. It showed the potential that he would later in his career, use to place him among the best of "smooth jazz" artists of the time. With Wes Montgomery as his role model he made it.
It is now on the "hard to find" list along with "Rit 2." If you should find either one, get them. You'll own true gold. I've got them. Now excuse me while I, a boy from Chicago, listen and go back in my mind to California, to Palms Springs, to 29 Palms."
"Rit" part I
Olukayode Balogun | Leeds, England | 07/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This classic Lee Ritenour album from 1981 was my first ever album by the great guitarist. Produced by the man himself alongside Harvey Mason and David Foster, the album features a long list of guest artistes including people like keyboardists Don Grusin, Richard Tee & Greg Phillinganes, bassists Abraham Laboriel, David Hungate and 'Brothers Johnson' man Louis Johnson, drummers Harvey Mason and Alex Acuna and new vocalist (at the time), Eric Tagg. Ritenour had done a lot of work with producer Quincy Jones in the years running up to this release and the horn arrangements of trumpeter and flugelhorn player Jerry Hey, one of Jones' trademarks, is also added to the mix on this album.
We're also told in the inner-sleeve notes that "Lee Ritenour plays the Ibanez LR-10, developed especially for Lee Ritenour." I think George Benson also had a guitar developed especially for him. How cool is that?
The opening track, "Mr. Briefcase", captured the essence of the 'me, me, me, greed is good and wealth is everything' 1980s (egged on by Reganomics and Thatcherism) in a nutshell. The song was actually quite prophetic considering it was released at the beginning of the decade. "(Just) Tell Me Pretty Lies" is a song about a man who doesn't want to hear the truth about his partner's possible infidelities. And then come the highlights of the album, for me anyway: "No Sympathy", a beautiful ballad featuring Tagg's vocals with great guitar accompaniment by Ritenour and "Is It You?", a mid-tempo pleaser, again featuring Tagg. I believe either one or both of them were huge in the pop charts in their time.
"Dreamwalk" is my favourite song of all here but at 1min 43secs, is way too short. Ritenour provided a longer, fuller version in 1998's This Is Love. It's a great song but for me, it didn't capture the same magic as the original. "Countdown (Captain Fingers)" is a great fusion of jazz and rock with Ritenour also on vocoder. I remember this tune was used to announce the weekly charts on a very popular NYC radio station back in the day. (A cousin went on vacation and brought a cassette back). "Good Question" is another screaming rock guitar fest (but I like it) and then things cool down again for "You Caught Me Smilin'", another great vocal track and it's on this track that you get to hear Jerry Hey's horn arrangements at their finest and most crisp. Ritenour learnt a lot from Quincy Jones indeed.
"On The Slow Glide" wraps things up and it's a very percussive tune with yet more rock guitar. Then a wonderful instrumental reprise of "No Sympathy" comes in and it's all over. The whole album only lasts 37mins and 17secs but it's quality time, most definitely. Highly recommeneded."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
