"Mornin'" by Jarreau

Song#:  1384
Date:  03/19/1983
Debut:  80
Peak:  21
Weeks:  15
Genre:  Pop, R&B, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Before anyone says anything, no...I did not forgot to put "Al" in his name. For whatever reason, after the major success of his Grammy-winning LP "Breakin' Away," Al Jarreau decided to chuck his first name and go simply by Jarreau. His follow-up album would then be the self-titled "Jarreau." The rebranding didn't seem to work out as he returned to his full name on his next album. But before that, the mononymous Jarreau issued this first single from the "Jarreau" LP. It would become his second R&B Top 10 hit (#6) while just barely missing out on the pop Top 20. It would do even better at AC where it reached #2. The hit would propel the album to #13 pop, #4 R&B, and #1 jazz. It would be his second platinum album following "Breakin' Away."

ReduxReview:  I read somewhere that the co-writer of this song Jay Graydon though that Jarreau was a pretty bad lyricist. Based on this song, I'd have to agree. It was the main reason I didn't like this song. Chattin' up Cheerios, an oriole, a shoeshine man, and touching the face of God was all a bit too silly for me. It's a lovely, breezy tune that can be quite enjoyable if you can just get passed the lyrics. The bridge is especially effective. These days, I think the lyrics may be part of the goofy charm of this song. Jarreau greeting his cereal kind of made this a memorable tune that still gets a lot of supermarket airplay. (P.S.: The video for this song is equally weird and goofy with a real Jarreau walking and floating through an animated world.)

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:   This song, co-written by David Foster and Jay Graydon, was first recorded as an instrumental. It appeared on an album titled "The Best of Me" that Foster recorded for release in Japan. Graydon, who produced Jarreau's "Breakin' Away" album, took the song to Jarreau thinking it would be a perfect fit for him. Jarreau then wrote the lyrics and recorded the song.

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