Jaye P. Morgan
Jaye P. Morgan (born Mary Margaret Morgan) is an American singer, actress, and TV personality known for 1950s pop hits, her own variety show, and her infamous stint as a regular judge on The Gong Show, where she flashed her breasts on live TV, leading to her banning but cementing her cult status. She was a versatile entertainer who had hits in the big band era, hosted The Jaye P. Morgan Show in 1956, and later found renewed fame as a witty panelist in the 70s, with her 1976 funk/soul album produced by David Foster becoming a rediscovered gem.
Jaye P. Morgan
A2 Keepin' It To Myself (Alan Gorrie 3:27)
A3 Here Is Where Your Love Belongs (Bill Champlin 4:29)
A4 Closet Man Foster, (Gerard, Mercury 3:38)
A5 It's Been So Long (Stevie Wonder 5:36)
B1 Let's Get Together (Kerr, Gross, Barnes 3:50)
B2 Can't Hide Love (Skip Scarborough 4:52)
B3 You're All I Need To Get By (Ashford & Simpson 3:24)
B4 It All Goes Round (David Foster 6:14)
Label: Candor Records – C-1001
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre:
R&B Soul
Style:
Seventies Soul, Soul-Jazz
Jaye P. Morgan's 1976 self-titled album is a cult classic private press that serves as a "missing link" between classic soul and sophisticated funk/disco, featuring an extraordinary lineup of top Los Angeles studio musicians and early production work by the then-unknown David Foster.
Originally a popular music singer and actress known for her appearances on game shows like The Gong Show, Jaye P. Morgan made a bold move with this self-released album to reinvent herself as a soulful, mature funk artist.
The album is noted for the following features: It delivers "pure, undiluted funk music" with a breezy "California feel". The sound alternates between up-tempo funk tracks and soulful mid-tempo ballads, embodying a transition between 1970s soul and sophisticated disco. It has been described as a "perfect white soul album".
The album was the first full-blown production by David Foster, who would go on to become a superstar producer (co-writing Earth, Wind & Fire's mega-hit "After The Love Has Gone" two years later). The high production budget and use of legendary Sound City Studios made it one of the most expensive private presses of its era.
The album features an "elite group" of L.A. session musicians, often referred to as a "who's who" of the 70s Californian scene. Notable contributors include:
Guitars: Ray Parker Jr., Lee Ritenour, and Jay Graydon.
Drums: Harvey Mason, Jeff Porcaro, and Ed Greene.
Keyboards/Arrangements: David Foster.
Backing Vocals: Bill Champlin and Kenny Loggins.
Horns: Members of Tower of Power.
The album went largely unnoticed upon its initial limited release but has since become a "holy grail" for collectors and "groove diggers" due to its exceptional sound quality, lush ambiance, and the star power of its uncredited musicians at the time. It has been reissued by the label Wewantsounds on vinyl and CD.