Valerie Carter / The Way It Is

Valerie Carter released the solo album with Richard Hovey and Jon Lind as the trio band Howdy Moon in 1974 was the sole album by the band Howdy Moon, released in 1974. She performed live at The Troubadour, Los Angeles then. Valerie released her two solo albums in late 70's; her 1st "Just A Stone Throw Away" (1977), and one of AOR masterpieces "Wild Child" (1978) supported by members of Toto. After long absence in 80's, she started to sing again as the background vocalist for Jackson Browne and/or James Taylor in early 90’s.
In 1996 she returned with this 3rd solo album “The Way It Is” mainly targeting to Japanese market.

After releasing 5 tracks CD “Find A River” in 1998, around 2000 she moved to St. Petersburg, Florida to help care for her mother and retired as a professional musician. She started her own label and released compilation album in 2001 and live CD in 2003, which became the last one....
In 2009, Valerie Carter was arrested in St. Petersburg on drug charges, for cocaine and, two months later, for crack. Valerie ended up not in prison but in drug court, where the sentence is rehab. James Taylor paid the tab for the three-month rehab stint in Texas that qualifed her for a graduation certificate in 2011..... It was very sad new to hear that she died of a heart attack on 4 March, 2017, at the age of 64.

Release: 17 May, 1996
Label: Canyon International, Japan. (Pony Canyon PCCY-00888)

Tracks:
1. The Way It Is
2. Love Needs A Heart
3. That's The Way Of The World
4. Blessing In Disguise
5. Into The Mystic
6. Birds
7. I Say Amen
8. Who Is She (And What Is She To You)
9. When The Blues Comes To Call
10. I Wonder Why
11. Sea Of Stars
12. Whistle Down The Wind

1996 US version (Countdown Records ‎ 77737-2) had different track order and did not include track 3 “That’s The Way Of The World” and track 4 “Blessing In Disguise”.

Bonus track(s) added to the reissued CD version(s):
2010 HEI Global Entertainment, Japan (HEIG-0017 released on 9 November, 2011)
13. Crazy You
14. Tomorrow Morning
15. Find A Rive

2017 Pony Canyon, Japan (PCCY-50083 released on 21 June, 2017)
13. After The Gold Rush
14. Crazy You
15. Tomorrow Morning
16. Happiness
17. Find A River

The above bonus tracks were originally on the follow up 5 songs EP “Find A River” (1998).

Producer: Eddie Offord
Executive Producers: Tina Snow and Robert L. Tauro

Valerie Carter: Vocals

- Musicians -
Drums: Mouricio Lewak
Bass: Kevin McCornicks
Guitars: Mark Goldenberg, James Harrah
Keyboards: Scott Plunkett
Sax: Joe Sublette
Percussion: Debra Dobkin
Viola: Novi Novog
Background Vocals: Sweet Pea Atkinson, Jackson Browne, Edwin McCain, David Lasley, Lyle Lovett, Arnold McCulier, Kate Markowitz, Linda Ronstadt, Phobe Snow, James Taylor

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