{{For|the song of the same name|Waves of the Danube}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = Oh How We Danced | type = Studio | artist = Jim Capaldi | cover = OhHowWeDancedoriginal.jpg | alt = | released = February 1972 | recorded = December 1971 | studio = Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Sheffield, AL<br />Island Studios, London | genre = Rock | length = 37:25 | label = Island | producer = Jim Capaldi, Chris Blackwell | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Whale Meat Again | next_year = 1974 | misc = {{Singles | name = Oh How We Danced | type = studio | single1 = Eve | single1date = February 1972 | single2 = Oh How We Danced | single2date = June 1972 }} {{Extra album cover | header = CD reissue cover | type = studio | cover = OhHowWeDanced.jpg | border = | alt = | caption = }} }} '''''Oh How We Danced''''' is the debut studio album by the British musician Jim Capaldi. The album was recorded while Traffic was on hiatus due to Steve Winwood's struggles with peritonitis<ref>Capaldi, Jim (1983). "The Ends of Traffic, Soloing & Brazil". ''Fierce Heart'' press kit.</ref> and was released by Island Records in 1972. Like his contemporary albums with Traffic, it was unsuccessful in his native United Kingdom but did better in the United States, reaching number 82 in the ''Billboard'' 200 chart<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/jim-capaldi/chart-history/tlp/|title=Billboard 200 - Jim Capaldi|magazine=Billboard |accessdate =October 5, 2017}}</ref> and producing the hit single "Eve", which reached number 91 in the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=jim capaldi|chart=all}} "Eve" chart history], Billboard.com. Retrieved August 11, 2011.</ref><ref>''Billboard'', 12 Feb 2005, p. 8: "Jim Capaldi, solo artist, songwriter and drummer with British rock ... of the much-covered "Love Hurts" in 1975 and enjoyed widespread airplay with the singles "Eve" and "It's All Up to You."</ref><ref>Nite, Norm N. (1980). ''Rock On: The Modern Years: 1964–Present''. Vol. 2. p. 64: "Jim Capaldi Born: Aug 24, 1944 Hometown: Evesham, Worcestershire. ... He achieved an American hit in 1972 with "Eve," followed in 1975 by two chart entries, "lt's Alright" and "Love Hurts".</ref> "Eve" failed in the UK on its initial release as a single in 1972, but when reactivated two years later reached the 'breakers' list just outside the Top 50.

The track "Open Your Heart" is a surplus recording from Traffic's then most recent album, ''The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys''. All of the remaining tracks, save "How Much Can a Man Really Take?", were recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.

==Reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/oh-how-we-danced-mw0000082843 |title=Jim Capaldi - Oh How We Danced review |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |work=AllMusic |publisher=All Media Network |accessdate=2019-09-10 }}</ref> |rev2 = ''Classic Rock'' |rev2score = {{Rating|7|10}}<ref name="classic" >{{cite magazine |title=Jim Capaldi - Reissues |magazine=Classic Rock |date=July 2012 |last=Stauntam |first=Terry |issue=172 |page=105}}</ref> }} Critical reception for ''Oh How We Danced'' was resoundingly positive. ''Rolling Stone'' applauded Capaldi's clever yet earnest lyrics and the strong collection of guest musicians, concluding that the album has "not a whiff of mediocrity to be heard."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/jimcapaldi/albums/album/143670/review/5941380/oh_how_we_danced |title=Album Reviews: Jim Capaldi - Oh How We Danced |last=Carr |first=Patrick |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=27 April 1972 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430160303/https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/jimcapaldi/albums/album/143670/review/5941380/oh_how_we_danced |archivedate=30 April 2009 |accessdate=2019-09-10 }}</ref> Allmusic's retrospective review complimented the strong set of songs and "its mellow vibe, generated by the genial familiarity of the players". They also made note of "Capaldi's sweet, unassuming voice", an echo of ''Rolling Stone'''s reference to his "sweet smooth easy voice."<ref name="Allmusic"/> In a review for the 2012 reissue of the album, Terry Stauntman of the British magazine ''Classic Rock'' described the album as very close to Traffic latest works, with the difference that "the more soulful side of the band is given a sharper focus".<ref name="classic" />

==Track listing== All tracks composed by Jim Capaldi, except where indicated. ;Side one # "Eve" – 3:39 # "Big Thirst" <small>(Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason)</small> – 5:27 # "Love Is All You Can Try" – 3:23 # "Last Day of Dawn" – 4:24

;Side two # "Don't Be a Hero" – 5:58 # "Open Your Heart" – 4:04 # "How Much Can a Man Really Take?" – 5:21 # "Anniversary Song" (<small>Saul Chaplin, Al Jolson)</small> – 4:28 <small>[Mislabeled on some releases as "Oh How We Danced"]</small>

One further track, "Going Down Slow All the Way", was recorded at an unidentified studio in England and released as the b-side to the single "Eve". The track features only piano, tambourine, bass drum, and a single vocal, all presumably played by Jim Capaldi, who produced the track by himself. It was included as bonus of the 2012 CD release of the album.<ref name="Allmusic"/>

==Personnel== * Jim Capaldi – lead vocals, piano (track 6), acoustic guitar (track 4)

;Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (except tracks 6–7) * David Hood – bass * Roger Hawkins – drums * Barry Beckett – piano, organ (tracks 1, 5) * Jimmy Johnson – electric guitar

;Additional musicians * Paul Kossoff – electric guitar (tracks 2, 4–5, 7–8) * Dave Mason – harmonica (track 2) electric guitar solo (track 5) * Steve Winwood – organ (track 1, 6), backing vocal (track 6), guitar (track 3) * Chris Wood – flute (track 7), electric saxophone (track 6) * Ric Grech – bass (track 6) * Jim Gordon – drums (track 6) * Rebop Kwaku Baah – percussion (tracks 4, 6), congas (track 7) * Trevor Burton – bass (track 7) * Mike Kellie – drums (track 7) * Bob Griffin – piano (track 7) * Sunny Leslie – backing vocal (track 2)

;Technical * Chris Blackwell, Jim Capaldi – producers * Brian Humphries, Jerry Masters – engineer * Neal Preston – cover photography

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050512085217/http://www.jimcapaldi.com/ Jim Capaldi's official website]

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Category:1972 debut albums Category:Jim Capaldi albums Category:Albums produced by Chris Blackwell Category:Albums recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio Category:Island Records albums