Backgrounder: Nelson Riddle - Changing Colors

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
July 6, 2023
View read count

Yesterday, I posted on Nelson Riddle's little-known Communication album in 1971 for MPS Records. Two years later, Riddle recorded a second album for MPS that was equally excellent—Changing Colors. The song list on this album was a fresh mixed bag, including three originals, a George Harrison song and standards:

My Life (composed by Claus Ogerman)
My Sweet Lord (George Harrison)
Sao Paulo (Nelson Riddle)
(They Long to Be) Close to You (David, Bacharach)
My One and Only Love (Wood, Mellin)
Lamento (Jobim, DeMoraes)
When the World Was Young (Philippe/Gérard)
Naomi (Nelson Riddle)
Just a Little Lovin' (Arnold, Clements)
Changing Colors (Nelson Riddle)

Love that Up, Up and Away opening on My Life, a playful jab at Marty Paich, who arranged the brass for The 5th Dimension on their hit. The song could easily have been an early 1970s opening theme for a TV sitcom or drama.

Here's Nelson Riddle's Changing Colors without the interruption of ads...

Continue Reading...

This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
Copyright © 2026. All rights reserved.

Track Listing

My Life (composed by Claus Ogerman); My Sweet Lord (George Harrison); Sao Paulo (Nelson Riddle); (They Long to Be) Close to You (David, Bacharach); My One and Only Love (Wood, Mellin); Lamento (Jobim, DeMoraes); When the World Was Young (Philippe/Gérard); Naomi (Nelson Riddle); Just a Little Lovin' (Arnold, Clements); Changing Colors (Nelson Riddle).