A Gift of Song (The Sandpipers album)

A Gift of Song
Studio album by The Sandpipers
Released	1971
Recorded	Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles
Genre	Pop/Rock
Label	A&M SP 4328 (U.S.)
The Sandpipers chronology
Come Saturday Morning (1970) A Gift of Song (1971) Ay, Ay, Ay, Manila! (1977)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

A Gift of Song was an LP album by The Sandpipers, released by A&M Records in 1971 with catalog number SP 4328. Other international releases included Canada (A&M SP 4328), Germany (A&M 85 870 IT), and the United Kingdom (A&M AMLS 64328).

The February 12, 1972 issue of Billboard reviewed the album saying, "Their sound is beautiful and their sense of quality is superb, this of course aided by top production work by Bones Howe and Bob Alcivar. A programmer's delight, this LP includes "Never Can Say Goodbye," "Never My Love" and the title tune. A particularly strong cut is "Leland Loftis." Should make the Sandpipers once again a big chart group."

The album was the first by the group not to make the Billboard charts after seven entries from 1966 to 1970. In another first for the group, no singles from the album made the U.S., U.K. or Canadian charts.

Founding member Richard Shoff did not appear on the album, but returned for the group's final effort, Overdue, in 1977.

Track listing

Side One

1. "A Gift of Song" (Patty Ingalls) 3:21
2. "It's Too Late" (Carole King) 3:22
3. "Never My Love" (Don and Dick Addrisi) 2:49
4. "Leland Loftis" (Dale Bobbitt-Jim Brady) 2:44
5. "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" (Randy Newman) 2:55

Side Two

1. "Never Can Say Goodbye" (Clifton Davis) 2:48
2. "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" (Barry and Robin Gibb) 3:29
3. "An Old Fashioned Love Song" (Paul Williams) 2:49
4. "Chotto Matte Kudasai (Never Say Goodbye)" (Loyal E. Garner-Jeanne Nakashima) 3:19
5. "If" (David Gates) 2:53
6. "A Gift of Song (Reprise)" (Patty Ingalls) 1:39

Production

• Producer: Bones Howe and Bob Alcivar for Mr. Bones Productions, Inc.
• Arranger: Bob Alcivar
• Sound Engineering: Bones Howe at Wally Heider Recording, Hollywood
• Mastering: Frank DeLuna, A&M Studios
• Art Direction: Roland Young
• Front Cover Photography: Jim McCrary
• Album Design and Back Cover Photo: Chuck Beeson
• Musicians: Hal Blaine, Paul Humphrey (drums), Joe Osborn (bass), Larry Knechtel, Michael Omartian (piano, organ, electric piano), Pete Jolly (accordion, piano), Dennis Budimer, Tommy Tedesco, Mike Deasy, Zavier (guitar), Larry Bunker, Gary Coleman (congas and percussion), Jim Horn, Bill Perkins (saxes and woodwinds), Ray Triscari, Tony Terran (trumpet), Lew McCreary, Mike Barone (trombone), String Section: Sid Sharp, William Kurasch, Arnold Belnick, Stanley Plummer, Ralph Schaeffer, Joy Lyle, Jim Getzoff, Jacob Krachmalnick, Jesse Ehrlich, David Schwartz.
• Special Thanks: Ed Barton, John Golden
• Production Assistant: Pam Vale

References