Tale of the Tape/Don't Say No

by Billy Squier

Overview

Before Billy Squier's career exploded (albeit briefly) with 1981's Don't Say No, the ex-Piper frontman issued an overlooked debut solo outing, 1980's Tale of the Tape, which has become increasingly hard to find over the years -- especially on CD. But longtime fans have reason to rejoice, as Squier's first two solo releases were compiled together as a "two for one" deal in the U.K. (but easily obtainable in the U.S. as an import) -- Tale of the Tape/Don't Say No. Additionally, it also doesn't hurt that these two albums were Squier's best solo outings. While not as commercially successful or renowned as, say, Emotions in Motion, Squier's solo debut contained quite a few standouts that measure up well against his later hits -- "Rich Kid," "You Should Be High Love," and "The Music's All Right" -- and set the stage perfectly for his breakthrough sophomore effort. Undoubtedly his best solo effort, Don't Say No shows Squier going more for a heavy Led Zeppelin-esque sound on the hit title track and "Lonely Is the Night," but also manages to slip in quite a few melodic, pop-based tunes as well, especially the album opening "In the Dark" and "My Kinda Lover." As of 2004, Tale of the Tape/Don't Say No is the only way to get Squier's first release on CD, and with a fair list price, it's just about what you'd shell out for two separate CDs anyway. ~ Greg Prato

Product Details

Release Date:	08/10/2004
Label:	Beat Goes On
UPC:	5017261206244

Tracks

1. The Big Beat
2. Calley Oh
3. Rich Kid
4. Like I'm Lovin' You
5. Who Knows What a Love Can Do
6. You Should Be High Love
7. Who's Your Boyfriend
8. The Music's All Right
9. Young Girls
10. In the Dark
11. The Stroke
12. My Kinda Lover
13. You Know What I Like
14. Too Daze Gone
15. Lonely Is the Night
16. Whadda You Want from Me
17. Nobody Knows
18. I Need You
19. Don't Say No

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Billy Squier   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Percussion,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Piano
Cary Sharaf   Guitar
Ernest Carter   Percussion
David Sancious   Keyboards,Synthesizer
Richard T. Bear   Keyboards
Bruce Kulick   Guitar
Alex Ligertwood   Vocals (Background)
Mark Clarke   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Alan St. Jon   Keyboards,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Woodstock Children's Chorus   Vocals (Background)
Ellen Todd   Choir Director
Bucky Ballard   Bass
Bobby Chouinard   Drums

Technical Credits

Billy Squier   Composer,Producer
Garry Rindfuss   Assistant
Wally Traugott   Mastering
Alan Robinson   Liner Notes
Desmond Child   Composer
George Marino   Mastering
Eddy Offord   Producer
Geoffrey Hargrave Thomas   Treatments,Photography
Roger Vitale   Production Supervisor
Dick Kranzler   Photography
Spencer Drate   Design,Art Direction
Bob Heimall   Design,Art Direction