Jamiroquai Emergency On Planet Earth CD

Personnel: Jay Kay (vocals); Glenn Nightingale, Gavin Dodds, Simon Bartholomew (guitar); Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra (strings); Mike Smith, Gary Barnacie (flute, saxophone); Wallis Buchanan (didjeridoo); John Thirkell (trumpet); Richard Edwards (trombone); Toby Smith (keyboards); Stuart Zender, Andrew Levy (bass); Nick Van Gelder (drums); Kofi Kari Kari, Maurizio (percussion); D.J. Zire (DJ); Linda Lewis, Vanessa Simon (background vocals).
Includes liner notes by Jay Kay.
Composers: Nick Van Gelder; Toby Smith; Wallis Buchanan; Jason Kay.
Personnel: Glenn Nightingale, Gavin Dodds, Simon Bartholomew (guitar); Jono, Gavin Edmonds (strings); Gary Barnacie, Gary Barnacle, Mike Smith (flute, saxophone); Wallis Buchanan (didjeridu); John Thirkell (trumpet); Richard Edwards (trombone); Toby Smith (keyboards); Nick Van Gelder (drums); Maurizio Ravalio, Kofi Karikari, Maurizio (percussion); DJ Dzire, DJ Zire (turntables); J.K. Lewis, Vanessa Simon, Jason Kay, Linda Lewis (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Mike Nielson ; Jason Kay; Mark McGuire; Mike Nielsen.
Liner Note Author: Jason Kay.
Illustrator: James Marsh.
Unknown Contributor Role: The Reggae Philharmonic Strings.
Arrangers: Jono; Gavin Edmonds; Toby Smith; J.K. Lewis; Jason Kay.
Jamiroquai made a large initial splash in 1993 with Emergency on Planet Earth, a psychedelic melange of tight funky rhythms, acid rock intimations, and '70s soul melodies. Frontman Jay Kay introduces himself with an environmentally oriented manifesto inside the sleeve, and his lyrics smack of idealist save the planet revolution. But this revolution would be held on the dancefloor if the band's impressive rhythm section had anything to say about it. Horns, string arrangements, and a didgeridoo provide full texture on most of the album's tunes, and the socially aware party vibe raged into the U.K.'s number one album slot. For a debut, Emergency shows quite a range of diversity, from the up-tempo jazzy instrumental "Music of the Mind" to the stop-start funk of "Whatever It Is, I Just Can't Stop." ~ Troy Carpenter
Jamiroquai's debut brings together a utopian worldview, funky '70s R&B influences and the liberated sensibility of England's burgeoning acid-jazz movement. The band, led by singer Jason "Jay" Kay, rides a funky groove while spreading a message of peace, love and environmental conscientiousness. The results of this meeting of heart and head range from Brazilian-flavored instrumentals like "Music Of The Mind" to to songs like "If I Like It, I Do It," on which yesterday's jazzy soul is spun around on today's hip-hoppy turntables.
Jamiroquai also flexes its improvisational muscle on two songs that clock in at over eight minutes. On "Blow Your Mind," Kay scats like George Benson, and the band captures the funky flow of "Summer Madness"-era Kool & The Gang. "Revolution 1993" is a 10-minute vamp on self-determination, featuring an Afro-Caribbean rhythm, Herbie Mann-inspired flute, a raging Moog synthesizer and the darting strings of the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra.Entertainment Weekly (8/13/93, p.74) - "...turn out gritty organic grooves with enthusiasm..." Rating: B+
Q (3/01, p.124) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...A funky and beautiful record, a contender for best British soul album of the '90s, and frankly better than anything Stevie Wonder has made since HOTTER THAN JULY..."