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In a solo career now numbering five decades and counting, California’s Lee Ritenour – a.k.a. Captain Fingers – remains one of music’s most virtuosic and prolific guitarists.  An in-demand session guitarist who has played for artists including Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin, Ritenour released his first recording as a leader in 1975 with First Course; his most recent, A Twist of Rit, was issued earlier this year.  Now, Cherry Red’s Robinsongs imprint has looked back to Ritenour’s first two albums of the 1980s to combine Rit and Rit 2 on one CD.

With his fusion of jazz, funk, R&B and pop, Ritenour’s albums fit comfortably into the radio-friendly groove of his contemporaries including Bob James, David Sanborn, The Brecker Brothers, Tom Scott and George Benson.  After recording for labels including Epic and the Japanese-based JVC, he signed with Elektra Records.   1981’s Rit was his third album for Elektra (and eleventh overall).  Ritenour called upon an array of heavy hitters.  The guitarist’s supporting cast included such ubiquitous luminaries of the era including David Foster, Greg Phillinganes, Richard Tee and Don Grusin (keyboards), Harvey Mason (digital drums/percussion), David Hungate and Abe Laboriel (bass), Jeff Porcaro (drums), Paulinho da Costa (percussion).  Foster and Johnny Mandel both penned arrangements, and Chuck Finley and Jerry Hey provided horns.

The first side of Rit featured songs written or co-written by Texas-born vocalist Eric Tagg.  Bill Champlin (Sons of Champlin, Chicago) co-wrote “Is It You” with Ritenour and Tagg, and the bright, infectious tune featuring Champlin on background vocals earned Ritenour a U.S. Top 20 Pop hit.  “Countdown (Captain Fingers)” featured Ritenour himself providing the vocoder-enhanced lead; it, too, charted as a Top 50 Dance hit.  The eclectic album also made room for original instrumentals and a smooth reworking of Sly and the Family Stone’s “(You Caught Me) Smilin'” with Champlin’s distinctive backgrounds.  Rit reached the Top 5 of the U.S. Jazz chart, and an impressive No. 26 berth on the Billboard 200.

Ritenour followed much of the same path for Rit 2, again enlisting Eric Tagg as lead vocalist and prominent collaborator.  Harvey Mason and Ritenour were jointly responsible for the modern, electronic-influenced arrangements.  Tagg, Harvey Mason, Don Grusin and Nathan East formed the core Lee Ritenour Band on the album, joined by returning guests such as da Costa, Porcaro, Phillinganes, Laboriel and Hey as well as drummer John Robinson and saxophonist Tom Scott.  Rit 2 again blended vocals and instrumentals, boasting both AOR-styled rock tracks and fusion ballads.  “Cross My Heart” aimed for the dancefloor and made it to No. 69 on the Hot 100.  Tom Scott had his featured slot on “Promises, Promises” (not the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song).  Despite the heavy wattage of the guests involved, Ritenour delivered potent solos on tracks including “Keep It Alive,” “A Fantasy” and “Roadrunner.”  (In addition to his electric and acoustic guitars, the versatile multi-instrumentalist also added keyboards, bass, guitar synthesizer and OBX drums to the sessions!)

Robinsongs’ two-fer of Rit and Rit 2 has new liner notes by Charles Waring detailing the albums’ histories and offering commentary on the songs.   Alan Wilson has remastered.  Rit/Rit 2 is available now and can be ordered at the links below!

Lee Ritenour, Rit/Rit 2 (Robinsongs WROBIN3CD, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

1. Briefcase
2. (Just) Tell Me Pretty Lies
3. No Sympathy
4. Is It You
5. Dreamwalk
6. Countdown (Captain Fingers)
7. Good Question
8. (You Caught Me) Smilin’
9. On the Slow Guide
10. No Sympathy (Reprise)
11. Cross My Heart
12. Promises, Promises
13. Dreamwalkin’
14. Keep It Alive
15. A Fantasy
16. Tied Up
17. Voices
18. On the Boardwalk
19. Road Runner
20. Malibu