Boz Scaggs Music Community

Middle Man
Columbia Records
Recorded 1979
Year Of Release: April 1980
DSD Remastered Import 2004

Tracks: 

1.  JoJo
2.  Breakdown Dead Ahead
3.  Simone
4.  You Can Have Me Anytime
5.  Middle Man
6.  Do Like You Do In New York
7.  Angel You
8.  Isn't It Time
9.  You Got Some Imagination

Produced and engineered by Bill Schnee

Principal Musicians:

David Foster (RCA Records) - All keyboards and synthesizers
David Hungate - Bass
Steve Lukather - Guitars
Ray Parker, Jr. (Arista Records) - Guitar
Jeff Porcaro - Drums

Additional credits noted by individual titles.

1. JoJo (B. Scaggs, D. Foster, D. Lasley)
John Pierce - Bass, Adrian Tapia - Sax solos (*See Note), Backup vocals by David Lasley, Sharon Redd, Charlotte Crossley
*  Horn credits on JOJO:  "I wrote the first arrangement for JOJO for Boz during rehearsals at SIR when he first played the tracks to us ....and Johnny Madrid and I got a "feel" for the tune. I have those rehearsal recordings on cassette....took the tape home and came up with the arrangement .....used my arrangement when  the band was on a LA TV ABC show called "Fridays". I knew Jerry and "Seawind" back then..Seawind was our "warm-up act at Universal that summer..and Jerry was the MAN...even back then from all the recording with Michael Jackson for Quincy Jones. Kim and I are good friends and have recorded many times together. Jerry Hey and Kim Hutchcroft and Bill Richenbach played my arrangement on that show...I was in London with Helen Reddy at the time of the TV  taping 1981. It's my arrangement on the recording. I'm playing flute overdubs and the sax solo. We did that one night at Bill Schnee's. I had been skiing all week.....got a phone call from Boz ...and just drove back from Mammoth to play the session......it was just Bill, Boz and me in the studio the night I recorded my solo on JOJO....and Boz played the track and noted the spots he wanted me to blow... I chose Alto sax.......and I did my thing!!  - JOJO-SAX" 

2. Breakdown Dead Ahead (B. Scaggs, D. Foster)
Rick Marotta - Drums, Don Grolnick - Electric Piano, Steve Lukather - Additional guitars and solo, Backup vocals by Venetta Fields, Paulette Brown, Bili Thedford

3. Simone (B. Scaggs, D. Foster)
David Paich - Additional synthesizer, Backup vocals by Venetta Fields, Paulette Brown, Bili Thedford

4. You Can Have Me Anytime (B. Scaggs, D. Foster)
Carlos Santana - Guitar solo

5. Middle Man (B. Scaggs, D. Foster)
Backup vocals by Venetta Fields, Paulette Brown, Julia Tillman Waters (Arista), Oren Waters (Arista)

6. Do Like You Do In New York (B. Scaggs)
Joe Vitale (Elektra Records) - Drums, Ray Parker, Jr. - Bass, James Newton-Howard - Clarinet, David Paich - Organs & Synthesizers, Backup vocals by David Lasley, Bill Champlin, Charles Irwin

7. Angel You (B. Scaggs, D. Foster)
Steve Lukather - Guitar Solo, Backup vocal by Rosemary Butler

8. Isn't It Time (B. Scaggs)
Rick Marotta - Drums, Don Grolnick - Acoustic piano, Steve Lukather - Guitar solo, Backup vocals by Venetta Fields, Paulette Brown, Bili Thedford and Rosemary Butler

9. You Got Some Imagination (B. Scaggs, S. Lukather, B. Schnee)
Steve Lukather - All guitars, Backup vocals by Venetta Fields, Paulette Brown, Julia Tillman Waters, Oren Waters 

Strings Arranged by David Foster except on "You Can Have Me Anytime" arranged by Marty Paich
Action by Irv Azoff and Front Line Management
Recorded and Mixed at Studio 55, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed by Guy Bourdin
Design: Nancy Donald

JOJO
(B. Scaggs/D. Foster/D. Lasley)

Look out behind you
JoJo's got his gun
He wouldn't mean to
You know he likes his fun

JoJo digs those spinning lights
Way out games and dizzy heights
below him
JoJo dig those Broadway nights
and flashy lines
You know him

He got you covered
You'll know it right out front
Hey! Fifty dollars
He'll get you all you want

JoJo dig those spinning lights
Way out games and dizzy heights
below him
And its all below him
JoJo dig those Broadway nights
flashy lines
You know him

Ever so rarely that man in a
million's born
Gentle and soft
But who'd just as soon off you
For looking the wrong way as not
JoJo Go Jo

His baby stays high
Got to keep her sweet
He keeps her just right
Keeps her on the street

JoJo dig those spinning lights
Way out games and dizzy heights
Oh below him
JoJo dig those Broadway nights
Oh, you know him

(Jo, you are so low
Oh Oh Jo how low can you go)

JoJo dig those spinning lights
Way out games and dizzy heights below him
JoJo dig those Broadway nights
Broadway nights
You know him

Say, what do you think
of gentlemen wearing mink?
Gentle and soft
But who'd just as soon off you
For looking the wrong way as not
JoJo Go Jo

So look out behind you
JoJo got a gun
But he wouldn't mean to
He likes his fun

JoJo dig those spinning lights
Way out games and dizzy heights below him
Man, it's way below him
JoJo dig those Broadway nights
Flashy lines below him
JoJo
How low can you go
JoJo

[Return To Index]

BREAKDOWN DEAD AHEAD
(B. Scaggs / D. Foster)

I call ya
You ain't in
What's this cold reaction
Where have you been

Ooh baby
Layin' it on the line
If this is last call and you say that's all...
You can take, it's fine

I'm sorry but
It don't make sense
You'd be a fool to just run out on first offense
Ooh baby play it smart
Before you go south with your big mouth
Better check your heart

Danger- there's a breakdown dead ahead
Maybe you're in way above your head
I may burn, might upset you
But you know I'd never let you down

I told ya
No more lyin'
No more tears a fallin'
Stop your cryin'

Ooh baby
I'm your man
Before you go back to your sidetrack
Baby understand

Danger- there's a breakdown dead ahead
And just maybe you're in way above your head
I may burn, might upset you
But you know I'd never let you down
No no no
No no no no
No no no no no no no

Danger there's a breakdown dead ahead
And just maybe you're in way above your head
I may burn, might upset you
But you know I'd never let you down
No no no

Danger- there's a breakdown dead ahead
And just maybe you're in way above your head
I may burn, might upset you
But you know I'll never let you down down down down
No no no

[Return To Index]

SIMONE
(B. Scaggs/D. Foster)

Darling, let's stop this pretending
What more is there to say
Here's to your eyes
In my final demise
Oh, Simone it's you

I knew from the start
That my easily touched heart
Was about to go out for a ride
Conquer the room
With a touch of perfume
Oh Simone it's you

Oh Simone my heart is breaking
Yes my dear I think it's going fast
Gotta let me know
Gotta let it show for it to last

Oh Simone to hold you
Dance you into the night
And on into the dawn
And on and on and on to make it right

Make it romantic
Make it up I don't care
Look up and sigh
Even if it's a lie
Oh Simone what can I do

What charm could sway me
Then burn and betray me
But thrill me the way that you do
Second to none
So completely undone
Oh Simone it's you

Oh Simone my heart is breaking
Yes my dear I think it's going fast
Gotta let me know
Gotta let it show for it to last

Oh Simone to hold you
Dance you into the night
And on into the dawn
And on and on and on to make it right

It's time they told you
It's about time you knew
Straighten your gown
Throw a Manhattan down
Yes Simone it's true

Why do you think you're fooling somebody
Do you think that I can't see
There's no doubt, not a trace
It's all over your face
Oh Simone, it's me
Ooh hoo ooh hoo

Oh Simone my heart is breaking
Yes my dear I think it's going fast
Gotta let me know
Gotta let it show for it to last

Oh Simone to hold you
Dance you in to the night
And on into the dawn
And on and on and on to make it right

Oooohh
Yes my dear I think it's going fast

[Return To Index]

YOU CAN HAVE ME ANYTIME
(B. Scaggs/D. Foster)

Here we are
In a room full of strangers
And an open door

Here we are
Away from all dangers
But that open door
Is calling out again
Acting like a friend
Who wants to know
If you might come away
I wonder what you'll say
You wander out again

On wings of the night
Once again you'll take flight
And I don't hear your voice anymore
Tonight's dream will end
But I'll stay long after then
And you can have me anytime

Here we are
Alone in the shadows
Of our lonely room
Here we are
We all have those
Very lonely rooms

Like a faithless child
Frightened of the wild
He runs and hides
To keep from being still
We run around until
We lose ourselves again

On wings of the night
Once again you'll take flight
And I don't hear your voice anymore
Tonight's dream will end
But I'll stay long after then
And you can have me anytime

Tonight's dream will end
But I'll stay long after then
And you can have me anytime

[Return To Index]

MIDDLE MAN
(B. Scaggs/D.Foster)
Originally an instrumental

Yes, I quite understand
I just might have your man, tonight

He'll be lookin' good,  Hollywood
Everything right on cue
There's a clue
If you're in town when he's around
Well if anything I can do, baby
I could get him on the line
Yes I think you'd like him fine

You could spend all his money,  honey

He'll want a little
Just a little
Taste of your love
He'll need a little
Just a little
Bit of your love
He'll take you uptown
Downtown
Over Third Avenue
So if you need a little
I'll be the Middle Man for you

There's a hot moon tonight
If I feel like jumping I just might
We could grab a pack, go back, and start
A little thing or two, me and you
I can't resist you know there's
Something I've been dying to do
Maybe we could take in all the sights
We could roll some heavy dice

We could blow all my money, honey

I want a little
Just a little
Taste of your love
Not just a little
But every little
Trace of your love
I'll take you uptown, downtown
Up a lonely avenue
Yes I'm in the middle, smack-dab middle,
Man for you

I want a little
Just a little
Taste of your love
Need a little
Just a little
Taste of your love
I'll take you uptown, downtown
Down a lonely avenue
Oh I am the middle
Yes the middle man for you
Yes I need a little
Just a little
Taste of your love

[Return To Index]

DO LIKE YOU DO IN NEW YORK
(B. Scaggs)

Keep on walking
I'm talkin' about your street
Don't let nothin' or nobody, hey
Throw you off your beat

Do like you do in New York
Go another round
Do like you do in New York City
Don't look down

Watch your brother
Give the man a hand
Come to know that
And you'll come to understand

You've got to
Do like you do in New York
Go another round
Do like you do in New York City
Don't look down

Do like you do
Do like you do
Do like you do in New York City

Do like you do in New York
Go another round
Do like you do in New York City
Don't look down

Do what you do
When you do what it is in the big town
Do what it is whatever it is
Do what you gotta do
To take care of biz in the big town

[Return To Index]

ANGEL YOU
(B. Scaggs/D. Foster)

Angel you, set 'em up right
Make love like no tomorrow
Make it like you mean to know
Baby it's true
You walk a high wire
You're lovin it, heaven knows
Honey, and it really shows

How 'bout Saturday
How about tomorrow
We could make it tomorrow
I need to know
Well, alright

Angel you, you light up the night
Making it beg or borrow
Did ya ever think of turnin' pro
Honey ain't it true, it's gotta be love
Love like no tomorrow
I love you 'cause you need it more

How 'bout Saturday
How about tomorrow
We could make it tomorrow
I need to know
Yes, well, we could make it
Right now, right now, right now
I need you so

How 'bout Saturday
How about tomorrow
Alight, alright, alright tomorrow
I need to know
Well alright
We could make it
Right now, right now, right now, right now

[Return To Index]

ISN'T IT TIME
(B. Scaggs)

Last time this happened
Thought it wouldn't happen anymore
But that was before
And now once again
As it happens
Well, why do I listen anymore
Facing the door
I wonder again

Isn't it time you got the news
Isn't it time you knew
There's someone else out here with you
There's someone else
And you can trust in me

Think back and remember
All the disappointments you've been through
Well I felt them too
And all I can say
Is crazy stories
Really shouldn't get the best of you
I want you too
So I wouldn't let them

Isn't it time you got the news
Isn't it time you knew
There's someone else out here with you
There's someone else
And you can trust in me

Isn't it time you got the news
Isn't it time you knew
There's someone else out here with you
There's someone else with you
You can trust
It's me

Isn't it time you got the news
Isn't it time
There's someone else out here with you
You can trust in me
You can trust in me, well

Isn't it time, you got the news, isn't it time
Isn't it time, you got the news, isn't it time

[Return To Index]

YOU GOT SOME IMAGINATION 
(B. Scaggs/ S. Lukather/ B. Schnee)

Yes, I caught your flashy hand jive
From the corner of my eye
Talk about a cheap shot honey
My, my, my

Next you're makin' eyes at three dudes
Do you think that I can't see
What you gonna do for encores
Don't look to me

Lean and mean Barbara Jean
You got a mind like a tattle tale magazine
So stop your schemin', you must be dreaming
To think I'd fall for you
You got some imaginaton

Talk about some mumbo-jumbo
Talk about a mixed-up mind
You've got all those egos
Working overtime

Long about the stroke of midnight
No doubt where you'll be
Getting off across town
Getting over me

Lean and mean Barbara Jean
You got a mind like a tattle tale magazine
Stop your schemin', you must be dreaming
To think I'd fall for you
You got some imaginaton

You don't hang around with sleazos
You don't jump in bed too fast
You just floor me honey
Talk about some class

We're talkin' low blow animal
Any way you can
Wear 'em down eventually
You play knock down, drag-'em out, get your man
But you don't get to me

Lean and mean Barbara Jean
You got a mind like a tattle tale magazine
So stop your schemin', you must be dreaming
To think I'd fall for you
You got some imaginaton

Lean and mean Barbara Jean
You got a mind like a dirty dirty magazine
So stop your screaming riff you must be crazy if
You thought I'd fall for you
You got some imagination

Lean and mean you got a mean machine
A mind like a tattle tale magazine
So stop your scheming, just keep on dreaming
You thought I'd fall for you
You got some imagination

Lean and mean Barbara Jean
You got a mind like a... magazine
So alligator
Catch u later
You must be crazy, love
You Got Some Imagination

[Return To Index]

(Thanks for your help, Eddie!)