Journey to the Urge Within

Journey to the Urge Within
Studio album by
Courtney Pine
Released1986
Recorded21–23 July 1986; except "Children of the Ghetto" 27 August 1986
StudioAngel Studios, Islington, London; except "Children of the Ghetto" Power Plant Studios, Willesden, London
GenreJazz
Length43:44
LabelVerve
ProducerMichael Cuscuna
Courtney Pine chronology
Journey to the Urge Within
(1986) 		Destiny's Song and The Image of Pursuance
(1987)

Journey to the Urge Within is the debut album by English saxophonist Courtney Pine. It was released on the Verve label in 1986.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz[2]

AllMusic awarded the album with 4 stars and its review by Scott Yanow states: "This early Courtney Pine recording (the tenor saxophonist was 22 at the time) features some of the most promising black English jazz musicians of the time, including Pine (who also plays some bass clarinet and soprano), singer Cleveland Watkiss (who often is reminiscent of Bobby McFerrin), vibraphonist Orphy Robinson, and pianist Julian Joseph."[3]

The album went on to reach number 39 on the UK Albums Chart and earned a silver disc (over 250,000 copies sold), which was unprecedented at the time for a British jazz recording.

Track listing

All compositions by Courtney Pine except where noted.

  1. "Miss Interpret" – 4:15
  2. "I Believe" – 4:36
  3. "Peace" (Horace Silver) – 5:20
  4. "Dolores" (Wayne Shorter) – 3:29
  5. "As We Would Say" – 3:19
  6. "Children of the Ghetto" featuring Susaye Greene (Chris Amoo, Eddie Amoo) – 7:02
  7. "When, Where, How and Why" – 5:20
  8. "C.G.C." – 3:31
  9. "Seen" – 4:28
  10. "Sunday Song" – 1:27
  11. "E.F.P." – 3:45
  12. "Big Nick" (John Coltrane) – 4:35

Personnel

  • Courtney Pine – tenor saxophone on tracks 3, 6, 7 and 9, soprano saxophone on tracks 1, 2, 4 and 10, Leblanc bass clarinet on tracks 5 and 8
  • Ray Carless – baritone saxophone on tracks 1 and 7
  • Kevin Robinson – trumpet on tracks 5,7
  • Julian Joseph – piano on tracks 1–4, 6, 7, 9 and 10
  • Roy Carter – producer and keyboards on "Children of the Ghetto"
  • Orphy Robinson – vibraphone on tracks 1 and 7
  • Martin Taylor – guitar on "Children of the Ghetto"
  • Gary Crosby – bass
  • Mark Mondesir – drums on tracks 1–7 and 9
  • Ian Mussington – percussion on "Children of the Ghetto"
  • Susaye Greene – vocals on "Children of the Ghetto"
  • Cleveland Watkiss – vocals on tracks 1, 7 and 8

Technical

  • John Timperley, Pete Brown – engineer
  • Billy Banks – executive producer
  • David Hiscock – photography

Charts

Chart performance for Journey to the Urge Within
Chart (1986) Peak
position
UK Albums (Official Charts Company)[4] 39

Certifications

Certifications for Journey to the Urge Within
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[5] Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Allmusic Review
  2. ^ Richard Cook and Brian Morton, The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette (Penguin, 1992: ISBN 978-0-14-015364-4).
  3. ^ Yanow, S.Allmusic Review: Journey to the Urge Within accessed 20 May 2010
  4. ^ "Journey to the Urge Within | Album". Official Charts. 25 October 1986. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  5. ^ "British album certifications – Courtney Pine – Journey to the Urge Within". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 February 2024.