Roller Coaster Weekend

1974 studio album by Joe Vitale

Studio album by

Joe Vitale

Released

1974

Studio

Criteria Recording Studios (Miami, Florida)

Genre

Rock
pop rock
soft rock

Length

37:40

Label

Atlantic – SD 18114

Producer

Howard Albert
Ron Albert
Joe Vitale

Joe Vitale chronology

Roller Coaster Weekend
(1974)

Plantation Harbor
(1981)

Singles from Roller Coaster Weekend

"Take a Chance on Love"
Released: October 7, 1974^[1]
"Shoot 'em Up"
Released: March 1975^[2]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[3]

Roller Coaster Weekend is the debut solo studio album by American rock musician Joe Vitale, released in 1974 by Atlantic Records. The album wasn't a commercial success and was his last solo album until 1981's Plantation Harbor (released seven years later). After the recording of Roller Coaster Weekend, Vitale would join the Stills-Young band and tour with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young line-up, as well as the Eagles.^[4]

The song "Falling," was borrowed in part for Joe Walsh's song "At the Station", later recorded and released on Walsh's fourth solo album But Seriously, Folks... (1978)

Critical reception

In a retrospective review by AllMusic critic Rob Caldwell gave the album a star rating of 2 out of 5 (meaning "Poor") and he stated that considering the stalwart guitarists featured on the album it's a "song-oriented album" and he also added that the album "never quite gets off the ground."^[5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joe Vitale

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Roller Coaster Weekend"	2:58
2.	"(Do You Feel Like) Movin'"	3:38
3.	"Mad Man"	4:23
4.	"Take a Chance On Love"	3:07
5.	"School Yard"	4:47

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"Shoot 'em Up"	3:29
7.	"Feeling's Gone Away"	3:31
8.	"Two of Us"	3:29
9.	"Falling"	4:02
10.	"Interlude"	1:03
11.	"Step On You"	3:14
Total length:		37:40

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.^[6]

Musicians

Joe Vitale – lead and background vocals; drums; bass guitar; keyboards; piano; synthesizers; vibraphone; flute; finger cymbals; gong; timpani; additional percussion
Joe Walsh – guitar
Phil Keaggy – guitar
Rick Derringer – guitar
Nelson "Flaco" Padron – congas; additional percussion
"Howie" (Howard Albert) – handclaps
"Ronnie" (Ron Albert) – handclaps

Production

Howard Albert – Record producer; engineer
Ron Albert – producer; engineer
Joe Vitale – producer
Alex Sadkin – audio mastering
Arman Kachaturian – design; art direction

References

^ "Joe Vitale - Roller Coaster Weekend".
^ "Joe Vitale Discography - All Countries - 45cat".
^ "Rollercoaster Weekend - Joe Vitale | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
^ "JOE VITALE - ROLLER COASTER WEEKEND - Music on Vinyl".
^ "Rollercoaster Weekend - Joe Vitale | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
^ Roller Coaster Weekend liner notes. Atlantic Records. 1974.