Double Talk (feat. Carl Michaels)

LeRoux is a nationally prominent southern rock group that was elected to the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2009. LeRoux takes its name from the Cajun French term for the thick and hearty gravy base (roux) that's used to make a gumbo. Louisiana's LeRoux (the first Capitol album) was a musical gumbo that blended various instruments and arrangements for some spicy, mouth-watering pop-rock. Using blues, R&B, funk, jazz, rock, and Cajun as their base, their Southern anthem "New Orleans Ladies," voted Song of the Century by Gambit Magazine (a New Orleans Publication). LeRoux stayed with Capitol Records until 1981. In 1981 they recorded The Last Safe Place Album for RCA. This record produced the top twenty hit “Nobody Said It Was Easy” and the top 5 AOR hit “Addicted”. The group’s final RCA record produced the MTV hit “Carries Gone”.
In 1981 writer/producers Rex Pearce and Dale Murray started working on a project with the South Louisiana vocalist Carl Michael Dornier. Carl’s stage name is Carl Michaels. Carl received substantial regional air play with the Rex Pearce penned ballad “You’re The One Love of My Life”. As a result of that success more tunes were recorded. In 1981 it was decided to use LeRoux as the band on the new Carl Michaels tracks. Therefore, nine of the eleven tracks on this CD include the original members of LeRoux. Those members were Leon Medica (bass), Jeff Pollard (guitar), Tony Haselden (guitar), Rod Roddy (keyboards), David Peters (drums), and Bobby Campo (trumpet, flute & percussion). These 1981 tracks were restored and transferred to a digital format. The results were astounding! There is an analog ambience yet a fresh digital sound. This CD also contains two new tunes. The songs are “Eclipsed By Love” (a blues rock song) and “Double Talk” (a timely tune with a New Orleans second line beat). Four of the original LeRoux members played on the new songs. Those members are Leon Medica, Tony Haselden, David Peters, and Bobby Campo. Carl Michaels sang the lead vocals on the two new songs.
The first song on this CD, “Cajun Song”, was written by former Doobie Brother, Michael McDonald. It is a catchy tune with a definite New Orleans feel. Reach Out was written by producer Dale Murray and is a quality soulful ballad that includes a string section from the New Orleans symphony. “Pure Love” is a mid-tempo pop tune written by Bob Stone. Bob wrote the number one hit for Cher, “Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves”. LeRoux’s Tony Haselden wrote “You’re The Woman In My Eyes”. Tony wrote the number one hit “That’s My Story” by Collin Raye. This CD contains eleven great songs and is a must have for LeRoux fans because the original band members played on nine tracks. The Carl Michaels vocals truly compliment the great tracks played by LeRoux. Carl has the ability to sing blue eyed soul and also nail a high range pop tune with the best of them. This CD contains some New Orleans spice, blues rock, R & B Louisiana style, a soulful ballad, adult contemporary, and rock music. This album like the first LeRoux record is also a musical gumbo that represents the very best of LeRoux’s recording session work at a time when the original group was at the peak of its popularity.