Forever is the fifth studio album by American rock band Orleans, released in 1979 on Infinity Records.
It is the first album without John Hall, with keyboardist Bob Leinbach, and only album with multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Robert "Bobby" Martin (credited here as "R.A. Martin") as an official member. Both Martin and Leinbach would leave the lineup before the next album, though they still featured as supporting musicians on it.Orleans (album). Orleans. Universal City, California: MCA Records, Inc. 1980. MCA-5110
Background The lineup change saw the group going in a different direction sonically, with newcomer Bob Leinbach handling most of the lead vocals. Little of the album's material consists of the folk/soft rock aspects from the band's previous efforts (the main exception being the title track) and it instead employs a more rock- and beat-focused sound.
Leinbach, Larry Hoppen, and Wells Kelly had previously played together during Hoppen's tenure in the band Boffalongo, of which Wells's older brother Sherman Kelly had also been a part.
This is one of two albums by the group where Wells Kelly is featured as a member but does not contribute any lead vocals, the other being 1975's Let There Be Music.
Critical reception
Music Week gave the album only two out of four stars, but wrote that it "sounds like the Doobie Brothers on a good day." The Hartford Courant deemed it "lively without being lightweight."
Joe Viglione opined for AllMusic that the album had "not a bad track" and called it a "pleasant and valuable work," noting aspects of blues, gospel, and Southern rock throughout. He also complimented its "sterling vocals" and described "Everybody Needs Some Music" as being "very cheery", "Slippin' Away" as "brilliant", and title track "Forever" as something that "really should have followed 'Love Takes Time' up the charts."
Record World called the title track a "pretty love song" that "opens with a soft acoustic guitar and touching vocal that build in drama and intensity via a soaring electric lead bridge."
Cash Box said of the single "Don't Throw Our Love Away" that it is a "smart, rock-tinged pop song, with some neat lead and slide guitar work."
Writing for ClassicRockHistory.com, Millie Zeller included the three singles released from the album on her list of Orleans's top ten best songs, with "Don't Throw Our Love Away" at number nine, "Forever" at number eight, and "Love Takes Time" at number five.https://www.classicrockhistory.com/top-10-orleans-songs/
Alternate album photos An alternate unused photo featuring the then-band members in matching gray turtlenecks was eventually used as the front cover for a cassette compilation released in 1986. Songs included "Love Takes Time", three from the band's 1980 album, and four from their 1973 debut.Love Takes Time (compilation). Orleans. Universal City, California: MCA Special Products. 1986. MCAC-20367
Another photo from the shoot featuring the members in the same attire as the album cover (but standing in different positions) was used on the cover of the Japan release for the single "Love Takes Time.""Love Takes Time" (single). Orleans. New York, New York: Infinity Records, Inc. 1979. VIP-2746
Track listing Credits adapted from LP liner notes.
Cassette listingForever (album). Orleans. New York, New York: Infinity Records, Inc. 1979. INFC-9006
Personnel Orleans Larry Hoppen – guitars, lead vocals (1, 2, 9), backing vocals, trumpet, piano (1), synthesizers (1), organ (2) Lance Hoppen – bass, backing vocals, Syndrums (1) Wells Kelly – drums, backing vocals, percussion, electric piano (8) Bob Leinbach – piano, lead vocals (3–6, 8), backing vocals, trombone (4) R. A. Martin – organ, lead vocals (3 and 7), backing vocals, tenor and baritone saxophone, string conductor, chimes (1), piano (2 and 7), french horns (4), saxophone solo (5), vibraslap (6), vibraphone (6), cabasa (6)
Additional musicians The Leanhorns (Larry Hoppen, Bob Leinbach, R. A. Martin) – horns (3, 5) Rubens Bassini – shaker (2), percussion (9) Maurice Bialkin – cello (4) David Sackson – viola (4) Peter Buonconsiglio – violin (4) Joe Malin – violin (4) Jimmy Maelen – shaker (8)
Production Producer: Roy Cicala, Orleans Engineers: Roy Cicala, Sam Ginsberg Photography: Elliott Landy, Alen MacWeeney
Charts Album Chart (1979)PositionUS Billboard 20076
Singles YearSingleChart Position1979"Love Takes Time"US Billboard Hot 10011US Billboard Adult Contemporary13Canada RPM Top Singles23Australia Kent Music Report90"Don't Throw Our Love Away"U.S. Cash Box Top 10092"Forever"US Billboard Adult Contemporary24
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