High Crime is the seventh studio album by Al Jarreau, released in 1984. While slightly lower in the charts than his 1981 Breakin’ Away and 1983 Jarreau release, this album scored in the top 10 on the Billboard Jazz charts and top 50 in the Billboard 200. In 1986 the album received a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male. The album was certified Gold in 1986.
AllMusic gave the album the following review: “High Crime is fueled by the hard-pushing hit from Jarreau’s previous album Boogie Down, producer Jay Graydon cranks up the energy level some more and comes up with a snazzy high-tech vehicle for his converted R&B singer. The sound is hotter, stoked by greater reliance upon synthesizers and electronically goosed rhythm tracks, and Jarreau’s own vocals are more hectic, though again not much in the way of individuality is required of him. But the material this time isn’t as strong—though ‘Murphy’s Law’ is pretty catchy with its flugelhorn punctuations—and so the reluctance to exploit the unique vocal talents of Jarreau is more glaring. The minor hit single of the album, oddly, is the mundane ballad ‘After All,’ an ominous harbinger of bathos to come from Jarreau down the road.”
Tracklist
1 Raging Waters
Arranged By – Jay Graydon, Robbie Buchanan
Bass – Bob Beats
Drums – Skinsoh Umor
Guitar – Jay Graydon
Synthesizer – Robbie Buchanan
Written-By – Al Jarreau, Jay Graydon, Robbie Buchanan
4:25
2 Imagination
Arranged By – Al Jarreau, Clif Magness, Glen Ballard, Jay Graydon
Arranged By [Horns] – Jerry Hey
Bass – Nathan East
Drums – Chip McSticks
Guitar – Jay Graydon
Horns – Bill Reichenbach (2), Charles Loper, Chuck Findley, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey
Percussion [Symbolic Crashes & Lo Hat] – Mike Baird
Programmed By [Fairlight] – Gary Chang
Synthesizer – Jay Graydon, Robbie Buchanan
Written-By – Al Jarreau, Clif Magness, Glen Ballard, Jay Graydon
4:45
3 Murphy’s Law
Arranged By – Jay Graydon, Paul Bliss, Steve Kipner
Backing Vocals – Al Jarreau, Richard Page
Concept By [Computer] – Jay Graydon, Paul Bliss, Steve Kipner
Flugelhorn – Gary Grant, Jerry Hey
Guitar – Jay Graydon
Synthesizer – Jay Graydon
Written-By – Paul Bliss, Steve Kipner
4:06
4 Tell Me
Arranged By – Jay Graydon
Bass – Jake Jugs
Cymbal [Cymbals] – Mike Baird
Drums – Tyrone B. Feedback
Synthesizer – Greg Phillinganes, Jay Graydon, Robbie Buchanan
Written-By – Al Jarreau, Greg Phillinganes, Jay Graydon
4:33
5 After All
Arranged By – Al Jarreau, David Foster, Jay Graydon, Jeremy Lubbock, Robbie Buchanan
Drums – Mike Baird
Guitar – Jay Graydon
Piano – David Foster
Programmed By [Dx-1] – Erich Bulling
Synthesizer – David Foster, Robbie Buchanan
Written-By – Al Jarreau, David Foster, Jay Graydon
4:18
6 High Crime
Arranged By – Bobby Lyle, Jay Graydon
Backing Vocals – Al Jarreau, Bill Champlin, Carmen Twillie
Guitar – Jay Graydon, Paul Jackson*
Piano – Robbie Buchanan
Programmed By [Dx-1] – Bo Tomlin*
Synthesizer – Bobby Lyle, Jay Graydon
Written-By – Al Jarreau, Bobby Lyle, Jay Graydon
4:29
Video: Al Jarreau – High Crime Live In London 1984
