Peter (album)
1972 studio album by Peter Yarrow
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Peter is the 1972 debut solo studio album by American pop and folk singer-songwriter Peter Yarrow. Released on Warner Bros. Records, the album was produced by Milt Okun and Phil Ramone and was released after the breakup of the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary.[1][2][3] The album reflects Yarrow's shift away from folk towards pop and rock, while retaining his anti-war commentary and political activism.[4] The album contained two singles, the second of which, "Weave Me the Sunshine", climbed to No. 25 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart after its debut on it in late May 1972.[5]
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| Peter | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 1972 | |||
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| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
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| Peter Yarrow chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Peter | ||||
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Cover art
The cover art for Peter was designed by Milton Glaser.[6]
Critical reception
The album received positive reviews from music critics. Billboard noted that "Kal Rudman calls it 'album of the year'."[8]
Mike Shearer wrote for The Albuquerque Tribune that the album is a "painfully good album, a personal album ... worth whatever price you find on it".[9]
The Springfield Leader and Press said that "the statements" on the album are "much too personal to be considered folk music". It remarked that "the lyrics are too modern, the chord patterns too complicated, the rhythms too varied."[1]
In an AllMusic album review, Richie Unterberger wrote that the songs "aren't as memorable as the best of Peter, Paul and Mary's" and that "the arrangements can sound odd" when compared to those of the trio, later remarking that the album is "a pleasantly accomplished effort, if a bit tilted toward the gentle and sweet".[10]
Chart performance
Peter did modestly on the US pop album charts, following a sales spike for Warner Bros. Records in early 1972.[8] It debuted on Billboard magazine's Top LP's chart in the issue dated March 3, 1972, peaking at No. 163 during a ten-week run on the chart.[11] The album entered the Cashbox magazine's Top 100 Albums chart in the issue also dated February 23, 1972, peaking at No. 111 during an eleven-week run on it.[12] The album debuted on the Record World Album Chart in the issue dated March 18, 1972, reaching No. 112 and dropping out in May.[13]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "River of Jordan" | Peter Yarrow | 2:51 |
| 2. | "Mary Beth" |
| 2:47 |
| 3. | "Goodbye Josh" | Peter Yarrow | 4:08 |
| 4. | "Take Off Your Mask" |
| 3:32 |
| 5. | "Wings of Time" |
| 4:10 |
| 6. | "Don’t Ever Take Away My Freedom" | Peter Yarrow | 4:37 |
| 7. | "Side Road" | Peter Yarrow | 2:52 |
| 8. | "Tall Pine Trees" | Peter Yarrow | 3:17 |
| 9. | "Greenwood" | Peter Yarrow | 3:42 |
| 10. | "Beautiful City" |
| 3:15 |
| 11. | "Plato’s Song" |
| 2:56 |
| 12. | "Weave Me the Sunshine" | Peter Yarrow | 4:24 |
| Total length: | 45:58 | ||
Charts
| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Top LP's & Tape[11] | 163 |
| US Cashbox Top 100 Albums[12] | 111 |
| US Record World Album Chart[13] | 112 |
Personnel
Composition
- Peter Yarrow – writer
- Elizabeth Yarrow - writer
- Mary Beth McCarthy – writer
- Elaina Mezzetti – writer
Production
- Milt Okun – producer
- Phil Ramone – producer, recording engineer, mixing engineer
Vocals and instruments
- Peter Yarrow – vocals
- Lazarus – vocals
- Libby Titus – vocals
- Maria Muldaur – vocals
- Stuart Scharf – guitar
- Bruce Langhorne - guitar
- John Simon - piano
- Rod Hicks - bass
- Dominick Cortese - accordion
- Bob Boucher - bass
- Russ Savakus - bass
- Clark Pierson - drums
- Billy Mundi - drums, percussion
- John Till - guitar
- Paul Butterfield - harmonica
- Ken Pearson - organ
- Airto Moreira - percussion
- Edd Kalehoff – synthesizer