Playing for Keeps (album)

Playing for Keeps
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 1980
GenreRock, pop rock
Length36:32
LabelWolfgang, Columbia
ProducerRon Nevison
Eddie Money chronology
Life for the Taking
(1978)
Playing for Keeps
(1980)
No Control
(1982)
Singles from Playing for Keeps
  1. "Get a Move On"
    Released: 1979
  2. "Let's Be Lovers Again"
    Released: 1980
  3. "Running Back"
    Released: 1980
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Playing for Keeps is the third studio album by American rock musician Eddie Money, released in July 1980 by Wolfgang Records and Columbia Records. It continues the expansion to include pop oriented tracks that began with the previous album.

The inclusion of the reggae-influenced "Running Back" as well as the syrupy duet "Let's Be Lovers Again" with Valerie Carter are indicative of the attempt to maintain rocker status and successfully migrate into the pop charts at the same time.

Several of the tracks were written in conjunction with band member Randy Nichols who toured and recorded with Money at the time.

"Get a Move On"- also featured on the soundtrack from Americathon featuring John Nelson slide guitar - received AOR airplay as did "Trinidad", but the singles chosen for release didn't stir much excitement with reviewers or radio.

The album was briefly released on the CD format, but quickly withdrawn. It had not been reissued on CD until 2012 when the four first albums were remastered and re-released by a European label named Rock Candy.

Following the end of the tour supporting this album, Money experienced a collapse and subsequent hospitalization. A notable break allowing for recuperation followed.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Trinidad"Lonnie Turner, Greg Douglass5:08
2."Running Back"Radcliffe "Dougie" Bryan4:01
3."The Wish"Money, James Lyon3:58
4."Get a Move On"Money, Paul Collins, Lloyd Chiate3:47
5."When You Took My Heart"Randy Nichols, Darrell Verdusco, Jerry Marcellino, David Sieff3:36
6."Satin Angel"David Lewark, Money4:04
7."Let's Be Lovers Again"Money, Lyon3:54
8."Nobody Knows"Nichols, Money3:54
9."Million Dollar Girl"Money4:30
Total length:36:32

Personnel

  • Eddie Money – vocals
  • John Nelson – lead guitar
  • Jimmy Lyon – guitars, solos (tracks 1, 3, 5, 8)
  • David Lewark – guitars, solos (tracks 6, 9)
  • John Nelson – slide guitar (track 4)
  • Greg Douglass – guitars (track 1)
  • Bob Glaub – bass guitar (tracks 2, 5, 7–9)
  • Kenny Lewis – bass guitar (tracks 3, 4, 6)
  • Lonnie Turner – bass guitar (track 1)
  • Randy Nichols – keyboards
  • Robert Blass – Keyboards (tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, 8)
  • Gary Mallaber – drums and percussion (tracks 1, 2, 5–9)
  • Carmine Appice – drums (tracks 3, 4)
  • Emilio Castillo – horns (track 9)
  • Steve Kupka – horns (track 9)
  • Valerie Carter – vocal duet on "Let's Be Lovers Again"

Charts

Chart (1980) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[2] 35

References

  1. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Playing for Keeps - Eddie Money". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  2. ^ "Eddie Money Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2019.