ACMJ International Blog

Fonda Feingold /Fonda Fein Gold +4

There is not so many late 70's or early 80's under-rated artists left behind now, who should be properly re-evaluted by us, Adult Contemporary music freaks because everybody has serached out and checked almost all the possible vinyls released in those days. Fonda Feingold must be the one. 70's. Fonda Feinglod released her solo debut album entitled "Fonda Feingold" for Polygram (Mercury) in 1978 featuring David Lasley and Arnold McCuller on background vocals.
Due to lack of label's enough promotion, Fonda's critically acclaimed album was shelved along with a lot of other great music of its time. Honestly speaking, I have not been aware how Fonda's 1978 album was really excellent "light and mellow" vocal album before Fonda contacted me a few years ago by e-mail. Once I got her 1978 album through the famous e-bay, I have been waiting for her come-back album release. For your information, you can also find her name as a keyboard player on your familiar albums including Paul Davis' 1980 self-title album.
In April 2005, she released her self-producing come-back album "Before and After" which was reviewed as one of my recommended albums of 2005's. And now in 2007, we are pleased to let you know that her self-title debut album is now reissued on CD by Vivid Sound as one of the Toshikazu Kanazawa's "Light Mellow Choices" releases. It should be also noted that this reissued CD includes 4 bonus tracks taken from her self-released 1980's 4 tracks EP (limited 1,000 copies pressed ) "Finally", two of which were produced by Paul Davis. I believe that this is one of the must-buy albums for you.

Label : Vivid Sound Corp., Japan (VSCD-3358)
[Origial Release Mercurry/Phonogram,USA (SRM-1-3721)]
Release Date: July 18, 2007 (Original Release Year: 1978)
Producer: Hank Medress, David Appell
Fonda Feingold: Lead & Background Vocals, Keyboards

Tracks
1. Fly
2. Warm In The Night
3. Feelin' Your Love
4. Gift Of A Love Song
5. What Is It, Anyway?
6. Day Dreamin'
7. Whatever Happened To Harry?
8. I'll Never Let You Know You're Breaking My Heart
9. The Catchin'
10. Abby Knows
11. Livin' Without You (bonus track)
12. Would You Mind Too Much? (bonus track)
13. Taking Our Own Sweet Time (bonus track)
14. She Cries Like A Rainy Night (bonus track)

Recent Japanese female vocalists CD reissues to note

As you may know, there were many Japanese artists' albums recorded in Los Angeles produced and backed up by first-call L.A. musicians in late 70's and early 80's. Some of them are really worth being revisited and others are not......
Hiromi Iwasaki, one of the top female idol singer in late 70's / early 80's, recorded an album "I Won't Break Your Heart" in 1984. She was a little bit different from other young female idol singers of that day in terms of her vocal talent and thus Hiromi is now one of the top musical actress and has been releasing very good contemporary pop albums over the years. The album "I Won't Break Your Heart" was recorded at Lighthouse Recorders, North Hollywood from Jan.16 to Feb.13, 1984 with Steve Lukather, Michael Landau, David Foster, Bill Champlin, Neil Stubenhaus, David Boruff, Randy Kerber, Carmen Grillo and many others. Only 2 songs out of 10 original songs on this album are in English and rest 8 songs are in Japanese. The 2 English songs "Both Of Us" and "Every Now And Then" are very good duet tunes featuring Bill Champlin. This album was reissued on CD once but has been out of print over the years. Now in 2007, This album is reissued again as one of twenty two Hiromi Iwasaki's albums reissue series. This might be a good 80's pop album for you. Why don't you try?

The Other one you might have to pay attention is Tantan's 1978 album "Trying To Get To You". Taeko Morino, aka Tantan, completed this solo album with Tom Saviano who arranged 8 songs rhythm section on this album. Steve Lukather, Ed Green, Lenny Castro and many others were involved. This album is all English vocal album including many R&B / Contemporary covers such as "Day Break" written by David Pomeranz, well-known by Cheryl Lynn's version, "Better Days" originally performed by Melissa Manchester and "Trying To Get To You" known for Valerie Carter's version. This is not so much surprising album but worth trying.

TOTO new live CD/DVD "Falling In Between Live" release

Toto will release another live DVD filmed during the latest tour in Paris on March 26, 2007 is entitled "Falling In Between Live" and is scheduled for release at the end of September. (Japanese version will be released in October.) This DVD will feature the full show, nothing cut out. At the end of August in Europe, a double CD of the full concert will also be released. (Japanese version will follow on September 5.) Double CD tracks seems to be as follows:

[Disc 1]
01. Falling In Between
02. King Of The World
03. Pamela
04. Bottom Of Your Soul
05. Caught In The Balance
06. Don't Chain My Heart
07. Hold The Line
08. Stop Loving You
09. I'll Be Over You
10. Cruel
11. I Will Remember

[Disc 2]　
01. Rosanna
02. I'll Supply The Love
03. Isolation
04. Gift Of Faith
05. Kingdom Of Desire
06. Hydra
07. Taint Your World
08. Dying On My Feet
09. Africa
10. Drag Him To The Roof

Patti Austin / Patti Austin (1984) Reissue!

This must be also one of the long-awaited CD reissues. 1984's self-titled album "PATTI AUSTIN" is her follow-up to her 1982's smash hit pop album "Every Home Should Have One" including #1 pop hit single "Baby Come To Me" duet with James Ingram for Quincy Jones' Qwest label. Patti enjoyed good chart action and significant airplay with the singles "It's Gonna Be Special" and "Shoot the Moon", both of which were written by Clif Magness and Glen Ballard. Speaking of "Hot! In the Flames of Love" and "Star Struck", both penned by Narada Michael Walden got high attention R&B and dance chart and thus she established her firm position in the R&B field.
This album had been reissued once in 1991 only for Japan but have been out-of print for very long time. In the summer of 2007, Mosaic Records will reissue this album under their Contemporary Reissues series presenting the definitive versions of the most important recordings in contemporary jazz and Adult Contemporary Music.

Label: Mosaic Contemporary, USA (Original Release: Qwest Records)
Release Date: August 24, 2007 (Original Release: 1984)
Executive Producers: Quincy Jones, Ed Eckstine
Producers: Narada Michael Walden, David Pack, Clif Magness, Glen Ballard, Ollie E. Brown, Quicy Jones

Tracks:
1. It´s gonna be special
2. Rhythm of the heat
3. All behind us now
4. Hot: In the flames of love
5. Change your attitude
6. Shoot the moon
7. I´ve got my heart set on you
8. Fine fine fella (Got to have you)
9. Starstruck
10. Any way you can

Lee Ritenour /RIT 24bit digital remastering reissue now available!

Everybody knows that there are many albums of Lee Ritenour to be reviewed. Having said so, among AOR/Westcoast lovers, this album should be the highest priority CD to be listened because of its production with David Foster. Otherwise, this is the best Eric Tagg featured albums. Mr. Briefcase", the opening track of this album is really the masterpiece tune. Generally, this album is well-known for "Is It You"? which reached #15 position on the US chart.
This album has been reissued on CD several times. Probably, the first reissue was done in 1994 by Discovery Records, USA. Therefore, most of this blog readers seems to possess this album already on CD like me. And there is not necessary for you to read how this album is awesome. Comparing 2007's 24 bit digital remastered CD with the 1994 release, the 2007 CD is far better in terms of clearness and powerfulness. Worth considering whether you will replace this masterpiece now!

Label: Warner Music Japan (WPCR25049) (Original Release: Elektra Records, USA)
Release Date: June 27, 2007 (Original Release: 1981)
Producers: David Foster, Harvey Mason and himself
Lee Ritenour: Guitars, Vocoder Vocals, Guitar Synth.
Musicians:
Drums: Harvey Mason
Keyboards: David Foster, Michael Boddicker, Greg Phillinganes, Richard Tee, Greg Mathieson
Bass: Abrahama Laboriel, Louis Johnson, David Hungate, John Pierce
Drums: Jeff Porcaro, Alex Acuna, Rick Shlosser
Percussion: Steve Forman, Paulinho Da Costa
Trumpet, Flugel Horns: Jerry Hey, Chuck Finley, Gary Grant
Trombones: Lou McCrary, Charles Loper, Bill Reichenback
Vocals: Bill Champlin, Eric Tagg
Strings Arangement: Johnny Mandel

Tracks:
1. Mr. Briefcase
2. (Just) Tell Me Pretty Lies
3. No Sympathy
4. Is It You?
5. Dreamwalk
6. Countdown (Captain Fingers)
7. Good Question
8. (You Caught Me) Smilin'
9. On The Slow Glide
10. No Sympathy (Reprise)