# Front Seat (album)

Front Seat is a 1989 jazz album by the Japanese saxophonist Sadao Watanabe. The album features vocals by Patti Austin on two tracks, one of which, "Any Other Fool", reached number 6 during its 31 weeks on Billboard magazine's Adult Contemporary chart.

## Release and commercial performance

Front Seat was released on June 25, 1989. It spent 21 weeks on Billboard magazine's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, where it reached number 8 in the issue dated March 3, 1990.

## Critical reception

The editors of Billboard magazine selected "Only in My Mind", "Any Other Fool", "Front Seat", "Anga la Jua" and "Wild Flowers" as the album's "standout tracks".

## Track listing

All songs written by Sadao Watanabe, except as noted.
* "Sailing" - 5:55
* "One More Time" - 4:59
* "Only in My Mind" (with Patti Austin) (Watanabe, Jeff Pescetto) - 4:44
* "Miles Apart" - 4:10
* "Any Other Fool" (with Patti Austin) (Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren) - 5:06
* "On the Way" - 5:18
* "Anga la Jua (Place in the Sun)" - 4:22
* "Wild Flowers" - 3:22
* "Front Seat" - 2:56
* "Takin' Time" - 4:37

## Personnel

* Sadao Watanabe – Alto saxophone (1, 2, 4–10), Sopranino saxophone (3)
* George Duke – arranger (1, 2), Yamaha TX816 (1, 2), Roland D-550 (1, 2), Synclavier (1, 2)
* Robbie Buchanan – arranger (3, 4, 5, 6, 10), keyboards (3, 4, 5, 6, 10), synthesizers (3, 4, 5, 6, 10)
* Russell Ferrante – arranger (7, 8, 9), keyboards (7, 8, 9)
* Oscar Castro-Neves – acoustic guitar (9)
* Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (1–6, 10)
* Jimmy Haslip – bass (7)
* Abraham Laboriel – bass (1, 2, 6)
* Neil Stubenhaus – bass (3, 4, 5, 10)
* Alex Acuña – drums (7, 9), percussion (3–7, 9, 10)
* Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 2)
* Jeff Porcaro – drums (3, 4, 5, 10)
* John Robinson – drums (6)
* Efrain Toro – percussion (7, 9)
* Carlos Vega – drums (1, 2)
* Patti Austin – lead vocals (3, 5), backing vocals (3, 5)
* Alex Brown – backing vocals (1)
* Carl Carwell – backing vocals (1)
* Syreeta Wright – backing vocals (1)

## Production

* Sadao Watanabe – executive producer
* Robbie Buchanan – producer (3, 4, 5, 6, 10)
* George Duke – producer (1, 2)
* Russell Ferrante – producer (7, 8, 9)
* Erik Zobler – recording (1, 2), mixing (1, 2)
* Kevin Fisher – assistant engineer (1, 2)
* Debbie Johnson – assistant engineer (1, 2)
* Steve Holroyd – assistant engineer (1, 2)
* Dave Ridean – additional engineer (1, 2)
* Stephanie McCravey – production coordinator (1, 2)
* Jeff Balding – recording (3, 4, 5, 10), mixing (3, 4, 5, 6, 10)
* Ken Allandyce – assistant engineer (3, 4, 5, 10)
* Derrick Marcel – assistant engineer (3, 4, 5, 6, 10)
* Frank Wolf – recording (6)
* Wade Jaynce – assistant engineer (6)
* Bart Stevens – assistant engineer (6)
* David Hentschel – recording (7, 8, 9)
* Keith Blake – assistant engineer (7, 8, 9)
* Duane Seykora – assistant engineer (7, 8, 9)
* Marylata Elton – production coordinator (7, 8, 9)
* Miki Cannon – production coordinator
* Kyle Davis – production coordinator
* Hiroshi Makishima – production coordinator
* Riki Ninomiya – production coordinator
* Akihiko Sato – production coordinator
* Akio Ohno – photography
* Yoshihiko Matsubara – artwork design

## Charts

Chart performance for Front Seat :
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
| Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums | 8 |