Radioland is the third studio album by American singer Nicolette Larson. It was produced by Ted Templeman and released by Warner Bros. Records in 1981.

Radioland
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 1981[1][2]
Studio
GenrePop
Length30:22
LabelWarner Bros. Records
ProducerTed Templeman
Nicolette Larson chronology
In the Nick of Time
(1979)
Radioland
(1981)
All Dressed Up and No Place to Go
(1982)

Background

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Radioland reached No. 62 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the charts for twelve weeks.[3] Three singles were released from the album during 1981; "Ooo-Eee" in January, "How Can We Go On" in April and "Radioland" in June. All three failed to appear on the Billboard Hot 100. Radioland later received its first release on CD from Wounded Bird Records in 2005.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]

On its release, Billboard commented that the album "explores the full range of Larson's talent, from hard-rocking numbers like 'Radioland' to a bluesy torch ballad, 'Long Distance Love'". They added, "There are also shades of pretty, sinuous midtempo pop-rock, along the lines of her hit 'Lotta Love'."[5] Cash Box noted Larson's "inspiring vocal versatility" and Templeman's "beautifully thick production". They concluded, "This something-for-everyone LP is suited to a variety of formats."[1] In a retrospective review, Bruce Eder of AllMusic felt the album was a "bold, melodic collection of midtempo country-inspired pop/rock". He added, "Her voice isn't always strong or rich enough to sustain interest in which she's singing, but the diversity of sounds holds the interest."[4]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Radioland"Sumner Mering3:08
2."Ooo-Eee"Annie McLoone3:28
3."How Can We Go On"Andrew Kastner3:27
4."When You Come Around"Nicolette Larson, Andrew Kastner, Larry John McNally2:51
5."Tears, Tears and More Tears"Allen Toussaint3:45
6."Straight from the Heart"Andrew Kastner3:35
7."Been Gone Too Long"Lauren Wood3:26
8."Fool for Love"Adam Mitchell3:43
9."Long Distance Love"Lowell George2:59

Personnel

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Production

  • Ted Templeman – producer
  • Jim Isaacson – engineer
  • Gene Meros – additional engineer
  • Kent Duncan – mastering at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, California)
  • Joan Vallejo – production coordinator
  • Gribbitt!, Murry Whiteman – design
  • Pete Johnson – art direction
  • George Holz – photography
  • Derek Sutton – management

Charts

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Chart (1982) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[6] 68
US Billboard 200[3] 62

References

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  1. ^ a b "Reviews: Album - Hits out of the Box" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 42, no. 35. January 17, 1981. p. 11. Retrieved July 3, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  2. ^ Priddy, Tom (9 January 1981). "Music: Pop-Rock". The State. p. 7B. Retrieved 18 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Billboard. "Nicolette Larson Radioland Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  4. ^ a b Bruce Eder. "Radioland - Nicolette Larson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  5. ^ Billboard magazine – Billboard's Top Album Picks: Pop – January 17, 1981 – page 54
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 173. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.