Album Liner Notes
Storytime
Storytime is a good example of why track-level credits matter in Jeff Berlin's discography. He is definitely on the album, but not as the only bassist: the record deliberately rotates players by song.
Overview
This is not a 'Jeff as house bassist' session. Discogs credits four bassists across the album (Steve Tischer, Jeff Berlin, Dave LaRue, Andy West), which makes Storytime a curated keyboard-led project rather than a fixed band record.
Jeff's two tracks sit in the most overtly fusion-oriented pocket of the program: 'Sparkle Plenty' adds Steve Morse, and 'Dumb Life' keeps the Berlin/Smith engine with Brad Dutz percussion. That gives his contributions a clear stylistic lane.
Production and engineering are similarly distributed. Eddy Offord handles production/recording/mix on the bookend tracks, while T Lavitz and Jimmi Mayweather drive much of the mid-album studio work. The result is a sonically varied but coherent 1986 fusion set.
Quick Snapshot
- Released in 1986 on Passport Jazz (PJ 88012 LP / PJCD 88012 CD), with multiple international pressings in the same year.
- The eight-track program is written primarily by T Lavitz, with co-writes by Steve Morse ('Sparkle Plenty') and Paul Barrere ('I'm Callin' You').
- Jeff Berlin is credited specifically on 'Sparkle Plenty' and 'Dumb Life,' both with Steve Smith on drums.
Jeff on two specific tracks
Berlin appears on 'Sparkle Plenty' and 'Dumb Life,' and the entry now states that explicitly.
Rotating bassist architecture
Storytime uses four different bassists across eight tracks, so personnel must be read track by track.
Dual production approach
Eddy Offord and T Lavitz split production responsibilities, with multiple studios and engineers involved.
Listen For
Sparkle Plenty
One of Jeff Berlin's two appearances, pairing him with Steve Morse and Steve Smith in a tight fusion lineup.
Dumb Life
Jeff's second credited track keeps the Berlin/Smith rhythm link and adds Brad Dutz percussion color.
Crystal
The closing track (without Jeff) helps frame the album's broader cast approach, with Steve Tischer on bass and Chet Catallo on guitar.
Track Listing
- A1. Between Coming And Going — 3:23
- A2. Sparkle Plenty — 4:16
- A3. A Voice From Without — 3:48
- A4. I'm Callin' You — 4:35
- B1. Baby Talk — 4:06
- B2. Dumb Life — 3:46
- B3. Glendale World — 2:30
- B4. Crystal — 4:35
Musicians
- T Lavitz: keyboards (A1-B2, B4), piano (B3), soprano saxophone (B4)
- Jeff Berlin: bass (A2, B2)
- Steve Tischer: bass (A1, B4)
- Dave LaRue: bass (A3, B1)
- Andy West: bass (A4)
- Steve Smith: drums (A2, A4, B2)
- Rod Morgenstein: drums (A1, A3, B1, B4), percussion (A1)
- Steve Morse: guitar (A2, A4)
- Chet Catallo: guitar (B4)
- Dave Samuels: vibraphone (B3)
- Kim Parks: saxophone (A3)
- Paul Barrere: lead vocals (A4)
- Amy Holland, Mike McDonald: vocals (A4)
- Brad Dutz: percussion (A4, B2)
- Luis Stefanell: percussion (B1)
Technical Credits
- Producer: Eddy Offord (A1, B4)
- Producer: T Lavitz (A2-B3)
- Executive producer: Jim Snowden
- Recorded and mixed by Eddy Offord (A1, B4)
- Engineer/recorded/mixed by Jimmi Mayweather (A2, A4, B2); remixed by Jimmi Mayweather (A3, B1)
- Additional engineering: Chuck Fedonczak (A3, B1), Scott A. Noll and Warren Burleigh (B3), Rich Head (B3), Rick O'Neil assistant (A2, A4, B2)
- Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc
- Recorded/mixed/engineered across Axis Sound Studio, Bijou Studios, Eddy Offord Studio, Secret Sound, and Songbird Studios