ACMJ International Blog

URS / SOMEBODY NEW

Urs Wiesendanger, a Swiss-born talented music producer / songwriter, would now bring his 2nd solo CD "Somebody New" to your rich ears. Let me explain his short bio. Urs admits he has been mainly influenced by Quincy Jones, David Foster, Robbie Buchanan and Jeff Lorber. His passion and strength lies in writing / producing "West Coast Main Stream Pop-Music" influenced by R&B and Jazz. Besides that Urs has been working with a lot of the best known Swiss artists at his own Fast Peak Studio located in his hometown Zurich, he keeps on traveling in Europe and to California. He has been working and producing with several artists and musicians like Jeff Lorber, Warren Hill, Robbie Buchanan, Warren Wiebe, and many more. In October 1998, he finished his first solo effort "The Real Me" including the tune "Another Chance For Love" featuring Warren Wiebe. I should add that it was January 2002 when I could get this album due to mainly distribution matters.

This 2nd solo effort "Somebody New" includes versatile 11 sophisticated tunes.
The album is opended by the title track, a gorgeous ballad song featuring the late Warren Wiebe and Jay Graydon adds a spectacular guitar solo. Then, "Your Love Was Special" follows, which is beautifully sung by Michael Sembello. Bill Cantos also dedicates his remarkable voice to this album, singing the love song "The Final Reason Why" which also features Michael Landau on guitar and Robbie Buchanan on Fender Rhodes and piano. Urs himself shows his vocal talent on the track "Morning Light" in addition to his superior keyboard playing all through the album. Jeff Pescetto emotionally sings the magical ballad "I Remember". Last but not least, Warren Wiebe appears again on another excellent love song "Hold Me" backed up by Robbie Buchanan on keyboards and James Harrah playing all the guitars.

Label: Contante & Sonante, Spain (CSCD-0105)
Release Date: October 2005 (available soon)
Producer: Urs Wiesendager
Tracks:
1. Somebody New
2. Your Love Was Special
3. Tell Me Where The Days Have Gone
4. The Final Reason Why
5. If Only For A Day
6. After We Make Love
7. Morning Light
8. I Remember
9. If You Still Care For Me
10. Hold Me
11. Somebody New Jazzy Version

TOTO next album "Falling In Between" will be for Frontiers Records early Feb. 2006

From the October 20 press release of Frontiers, the leading AOR/Melodic Rock label:-

Frontiers Records is immensely proud to announce the signing of rock legends TOTO for the release of their forthcoming new studio album "Falling In Between".

Almost thirty years of history, seven Grammy Awards won, twelve studio records with almost 30 millions of records sold, record breaking tours and a loyal following of young and old fans and musicians who have won every possible award one can get! This and more is what TOTO has counted in the history of rock music.

Now, six years after their latest - all original - album Mindfields and with new member Greg Phillinganes in the line-up on keyboards, together with fellow keyboard players David Paich and Steve Porcaro, TOTO are now ready to unleash a brand new studio album.

TOTO’s guitar player, Steve Lukather describes “Falling in Between” as a labour of love and “something we REALLY wanted to do and try to make it our personal best".

Recorded by the band over a period of about six months in Los Angeles, with Steve MacMillan (long time Trevor Horn collaborator) taking care of the final mix, the new record has taken shape as the band’s “most daring and inventive release ever” according to Lukather. He adds: “With Mindfields we had just gotten Bobby Kimball back in the band and we were finding our way with it”. Therefore "Falling In Between" sounds more cohesive, with 6 more years of being a band and a music that is fresh, heavier, at times more progressive and of course still with some great radio songs and melodies and the classic TOTO imprint!

The new album is also going to offer many surprises to the fans. "Our old singer Joseph Williams came back and did a duet with me that's total radio, almost like Africa part 2" explains Lukather, "plus there is Ian Anderson (JETHRO TULL), the CHICAGO horn section, L. Shankar (PETER GABRIEL), Lenny Castro and more guests. I think when people hear it everyone will have a smile on the face. EVERYONE in the band brought their best to the party!".

The final tracklisting will include songs like the title track “Falling In Between”, "Simple Life", "Dying On My Feet", "Bottom of Your Soul", “Let it Go", "Nowhere in Sight", "Spiritual Man", "Ain't Your World", "The Reefer Man" and "Hooked".

“If this is the last record we even make (it won’t be, I hope)” concludes Lukather, “I can walk away knowing we threw DOWN the best we got. I hope the fans will all enjoy and appreciate the love and passion that went into making "Falling in Between, see you all very soon on tour!".

The band has already confirmed tour dates in Europe in February and March 2006, with a two years long massive World Tour schedule that is set to hit all continents in 2006 - 2007!

"Falling In Between" will reach the shops in early February 2006 on Frontiers Records.