Al Jarreau - Breakin' Away CD

User reviews and community discussions of the Al Jarreau - Breakin' Away CD are limited in the available sources, with one detailed personal retrospective praising its musical joy and production but not directly addressing CD-specific sound or build quality. The album enjoys a strong overall reputation as Jarreau's most popular release, highlighted by contemporary press acclaim and chart success.

### Sound Quality
No user reviews explicitly comment on the CD edition's sound quality, such as clarity, dynamics, or mastering. The sole reviewer focuses on the album's "positive" West Coast sound with Fender Rhodes, horn licks, and Jarreau's "happy" vocals, describing it as "contagious" and embedding deeply in listeners' minds. Press from the era (e.g., Stereo Review) noted it "can be listened to many times without exhausting its many possibilities," implying enduring sonic appeal.

### Build Quality and Reliability
No mentions of CD build quality (e.g., disc durability, packaging) or reliability (e.g., playback issues, pressing errors) appear in reviews or discussions.

### Strengths
- Musical positivity and vocal performance: Reviewers emphasize Jarreau's joyful scatting and phrasing, evoking "smiling, laughing or dancing" (Record World) and full control (Billboard).
- Production and style: Praised as "fresh, light, and consistent" (CashBox) with an "engaging mixture" of jazz and pop (Rolling Stone ★★★), produced by Jay Graydon featuring elite musicians like Steve Lukather.
- Hit tracks and legacy: Standouts include "We're In This Love Together," "Breakin' Away," "Roof Garden," and "Teach Me Tonight"; certified platinum, #1 on Jazz/R&B charts, Grammy winner for Best Male Pop Vocal.

### Weaknesses
- Minor personal note: One reviewer occasionally skips the "Blue Rondo A La Turk" cover.
- No broader criticisms in discussions; rated highly by Record Mirror (★★★★) as a "fine and pleasing package".

### Overall Reputation
The album holds iconic status in Jarreau's catalog as his "best and most popular effort," a "standard bearer" of L.A. pop/R&B that charted for two years on Billboard 200 (peak #9) and earned Album of the Year Grammy nomination. Discussions evoke nostalgia for '80s innocence, with fans defending its "smooth" sound against dismissal as shallow. No CD-specific consensus exists due to sparse user feedback.