Smooth Sailing: Winter Breezes & Christmas Vibes

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Peace & Love @ GAP 's Christmas Collection
Let’s float away on Christmas day with a winter’s breeze in the sails and love in our hearts… This set’s opening track is by Casbah 73, which is one of the best releases of 2018, I believe. And somewhere in the middle you will hear a song by The Staves, which is one of the best Christmas tracks I’ve heard so far this year.

The wonderful single Black Man Ray by China Crisis spent 13 weeks on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 14 in April 1985. It was also the band's biggest hit single in Australia, reaching number 30. It was released to promote their album Flaunt the Imperfection, which was produced by Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker. He was even credited as an official member of China Crisis on the record sleeve, although he never appeared on stage with the band. Becker apparently requested to meet with China Crisis after hearing their 1983 song Papua. When he was approached by Virgin to work on the album, he was living on Hawaii, and had to leave his expecting partner Eleanor to assist. Flaunt the Imperfection eventually reached the Billboard 200 and it hit the Top Ten in the UK.

Stewart Mason about Flaunt the Imperfection on Allmusic:
"The overall sound is considerably prettier than before -- the placid Eno-like "Black Man Ray? is downright beautiful -- and the arrangements mix synthesizers with traditional instruments in what was for 1985 an unusually graceful way, with neither predominating."

Enjoy Christmas edition of Smooth Sailing!

Tracklist:

Casbah 73 ‎– Love Saves The Day (2018)
Brenda Russell ‎– I Want Love To Find Me (1983)
Nightshift – Ocean Bay (2007)
China Crisis – Black Man Ray (1985)
The Norwegian Fords – Wonder What It Takes (To Take Your Girlfriend Home) (2011)
Rumer – Home Thoughts From Abroad (2012)
The Staves – Home Alone, Too (2018)
Carpenters – Boat To Sail (1976)
Jose Feliciano ‎– Golden Lady (1974)
Richard Torrance ‎– Anything's Possible (1978)
Bill LaBounty – Livin' It Up (1982)
Phil Upchurch / Tennyson Stephens ‎– Don’t I Know You? (1975)
Heat ‎– Follow You Home (1981)
Robert Byrne ‎– Pretend He's Me (1979)
Kim Carnes – Mistaken Identity (1981)
Grace Rico – Rough Life (In The City) (1986)
79.5 – I Stay, You Stay (2018)
Steely Dan – Gaucho (1980)
Rufus ‎– Stop On By (1974)

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