ACMJ International Blog

"California Groove" - AOR/Westcoast Music 4 discs French Compilation now internationally available!

"California Groove" (Warner Music France) 75 all-time best AOR/West Coast Music tunes compilation on 4 CDs was released April 6, 2009 exclusively in France. I am pleased to let you know that it has just become available internationally through AMAZON. Here is the full track listing;

• Disc 1
  1. Ventura Highway - America
  2. Las Vegas Turnaround - Daryl Hall & John Oates
  3. Lotta Love - Nicolette Larson
  4. Dismal Day - Bread
  5. Dance With Me - Orleans
  6. Border Town - The Souther Hillman Furay Band
  7. Some People Call It Music - John David Souther
  8. Summer Breeze - Seals And Croft
  9. You'Re So Vain - Carly Simon
  10. Long Hot Summer Nights - Wendy Waldman
  11. Chuck E'S In Love - Rickie Lee Jones
  12. Easy For You To Say - Linda Ronstadt
  13. It Doesn'T Matter - Firefall
  14. I'M Easy - Boz Scaggs
  15. Junkman - Danny O'Keefe
  16. I Saw The Light - Todd Rundgren
  17. Willin' - Little Feat
  18. Suzy - Terence Boylan
  19. Ghost Town - Poco
  20. Life'S Been Good - Joe Walsh

• Disc 2
  1. Oh Lori - Alessi Brothers
  2. Damn You Girl - Barnaby Bye
  3. Break The Chain - Jim Messina
  4. Mama Coco - Gino Vannelli
  5. Future Train - Felix Cavaliere
  6. Swearin' To God - Frankie Valli
  7. Too Young - Crackin'
  8. Night Time In The Switching Yard - Warren Zevon
  9. On The Swing Shift - Ned Doheny
  10. What A Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
  11. Survival - Marc Jordan
  12. Night People - Vapor Trails
  13. This Is It - Kenny Loggins
  14. Ticket To My Heart - The Wilson Brothers
  15. Genevieve - Andrew Gold
  16. Casablanca - Dane Donohue
  17. Gotta Get Back To Love - Bill Champlin
  18. Thunder Island - Jay Ferguson
  19. Ride Like The Wind - Christopher Cross

• Disc 3:
  1. Livin' It Up - Bill Labounty
  2. Hot Rod Hearts - Robbie Dupree
  3. I Keep Forgettin (Every Time You'Re Near) - Michael Mcdonald
  4. You'Re The Only Woman (You & I) - Ambrosia
  5. Get Used To It - Roger Voudouris
  6. Who'll Be The Fool Tonight - Larsen-Feiten Band
  7. Cool Night - Paul Davis
  8. I'd Really Love To See You Tonight - England Dan & John Ford Coley
  9. Falling - Leblanc And Carr
  10. Fly Away - Peter Allen
  11. Nite Crawler - Larry Carlton
  12. Got A Hold On Me - Christine Mcvie
  13. California 1 - Con-Funk-Shun
  14. That'S Why I Came To California - Leon Ware
  15. What Cha Gonna Do For Me - Chaka Khan
  16. Stop, Look, Listen - Patti Austin
  17. Please Don'T Walk Away - George Benson
  18. We're In This Love Together - Al Jarreau
  19. 99 - Toto

• Disc 4:
  1. When Sky Calls (Don'T Touch That Phone) - Michael Franks
  2. Nice Girls - Eye To Eye
  3. On The Beach - Chris Rea
  4. Ocean Bay - Nightshift
  5. More Than You'll Ever Know - Michael Ruff
  6. I Love L.A. - Randy Newman
  7. The Higher You Rise - Maxus
  8. She Waits For Me (Early Airplay Demo) - Jay Graydon
  9. Where There'S No Tomorrow - Peter Cetera
  10. The Big House - Stephen Bishop
  11. First Time - Michael Sembello
  12. Countdown (Captain Fingers) - Lee Ritenour
  13. Sister'S Beautiful - Geyster
  14. Hard To Say I'M Sorry - Chicago
  15. My Baby - David Pack
  16. Cure Kit - JaR
  17. French Music Par Excellence - Week End Millionnaire

Omega Sunrise "Feel The Change": hidden treasure to be unearthed

I wonder if I said that there is not so many hidden treasures left to be reissued on CD. This recognition has not changed for me, however, OMEGA SUNRISE's 1983 album "Feel The Change" must deserve the hidden treasure for AOR / Westcoast / Fusion / Contemporary Christian music lovers. Omega Sunrise was a band that recorded and toured from 1979 through 1986. In 1983 they recorded their first album on New Jerusalem Records titled "Feel the Change" produced by Kim Hutchcroft well-known as the sax/flute player of the legendary "Seawind". The music of OMEGA SUNRISE was very close to that of Seawind featuring Debbie Seibert who sang like Pauline Wilson, backed by good horn section. On this album, you can listen to the cover versionof "Follow Your Road" originally performed by Seawind on their 1979's album "Light The Light".

The band released another album titled "Run from the Night" on Morada Records, USA in 1985. The album "Run from the Night" did fairly well with several songs charting in localized markets around the US. Unfortunately, this album seems to be hard to be reissued due to various contractual reasons at this moment. After touring for 3 years with a schedule of about 8 months on the road each year, Omega Sunrise played its last concert in the Summer of 1986 in Fresno, California.

• Label: Vivid Sound Corporatio, Japan <VSCD3336> (Original: New Jerusalem, USA <NJR-001>)
• Release Date: October 21, 2009 (Original Release Year : 1983)
• Producer: Kim Hutchcroft
• Omega Sunrise:
  • Debbie Seibert: Vocals
  • Mark Seibert: Guitar, Vocals
  • Mike Gonzales: Bass
  • Reggie Turner: Keyboards
  • Paul Thaxter: Drums
  • Ron Pierce:Trumpet, Flugelhorn
  • David H. Neece: Sax
  • Paul Natzke: Trombone, Vocals, Synth
• Tracks:
  1. Renewal
  2. Your Love
  3. Spot Light
  4. Can You Hear Him
  5. Too Hip
  6. Celestial Funk
  7. No Disguise
  8. First Love
  9. Eternal Day
  10. Feel The Change Comin'
  11. Follow Your Road

Mr. Mister "Welcome To The Real World" Japanese limited reissue with 3 bonus tracks

Mr. Mister's "Welcome To The Real World" must be one of the smash hit albums in 80's, which climbed to #1 on the Billboard album charts during early 1986 featuring two #1 hit singles; "Broken Wings" and "Is It Love" another top 10 hit peaking at #8 on the Billboard chart.

After producing 3 great albums as the band "Pages", it was 1984 when Richard Page and Steve George formed Mr. Mister along with Steve Farris and Pat Mastelotto and released their 1st album "I Wear The Face" which was not so successful in terms of the sales as Pages days. In June 1985, the second album "Welcome To The Real World" followed. The first single "Broken Wings" cut in August 1985 was the breakthrough for the band, which climbed up the chart and finally reached # 1 position on the Billboard in December 2005.

In August 2009, the album has been reissued as the LP style paper sleeve limited edition with 3 bonus tracks, using 2006 remastered version.

• Label: BMG Japan, Inc. (BVCP40048)
• Release Date: August 5, 2009
• Mr.Mister:
• • Richard Page: Bass, Lead Vocals
  • Steve George: Keyboards, Vocals
  • Steve Farris: Guitar
  • Pat Mastelotto: Drums
• Tracks:
• 1. Black/White
  2. Uniform of Youth
  3. Don't Slow Down
  4. Run to Her
  5. Into My Own Hands
  6. Is It Love
  7. Kyrie
  8. Broken Wings
  9. Tangent Tears
  10. Welcome to the Real World
  11. Broken Wings (single version) (bonus tack)
  12. Kyrie (single version) (bonus tack)
  13. Is It Love (single version) (bonus tack)

Two long-time out of print albums Think Out Loud - S/T, Clif Magness - Solo are reissued!

A newly founded label based in Munich Germany, YESTERROCK started to reissue records that either haven’t been available for years or previously only released on vinyl but not on CD yet. The label gains essential support in the search for these hidden treasures from both UNIVERSAL and SONY amongst others. Various independent label’s and artist’s contributions also help that CD’s now can be released which lately - in particular cases - only have been available in used and overpriced status on common internet platforms such as Amazon and Ebay. On June 24, 2009, two noteworthy albums have been reissued.

One is "Think Out Loud - s/t" and the other is " Clif Magness -Solo".

"Think Out Loud" are a studio project featuring singer Peter Beckett best known for his group Player and Steve Kipner also known for his great solo album "Knock The Walls Down". They released the self-titled album in 1988 for A&M Records, with the remarkable additional musicians including Steve Lukather, Randy Goodrum, Tris Imboden, Bob Marlette and Michael Landau. Beckett and Kipner shared lead vocals through out the album and the album should be one of the best AOR works done in late 80's.

There's not any releases as "Think Out Loud" before 1997. It was really surprising incident that MTM Records, Germany convinced Peter and Steve to produce a follow-up album and "Shelf Life" was released, which featured eleven brilliant songs including the original version of "Invisible Man" performed by 98 Degrees, which ranked on number 12 Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart dated September 27, 1997.  

Clif Magness is widely known for his Grammy award winning and Oscar nominated Writer / Producer ' career rather than a singer. Clif started his professional music carrier in 1980 by 2 solo singles release titled "The Rest Of The Night" and "There's Nothing So Expensive As Woman Who's Free For The Night" under Scotti Bros., USA. Clif came across his fatal songwriting partner, Glen Ballard in 1983 and they wrote "It's Gonna Be Special"for the motion picture "Two Of A Kind" performed by Patti Austin. They started to produce many albums from 1984 such as "All I Need" of Jack Wagner. In 1991, The two talented songwriters released their own album with Jay Graydon as the super group Planet 3. After the success as a singer, Clif released his first solo album in 1994 by the request of Empire Records, Sweden. Throughout the 1990s and in to 2000, Clif continued to work with outstanding artists such as Celine Dion and Amy Grant. In 2003, Clif produced the biggest breakout artist of the year, Avril Lavigne.With the success of Avril Lavigne, Clif has continued to break new ground writing and producing a whole new group of young superstars including Cherie Amore, Jessica Simpson, Kelly Clarkson, O-Town and many others. In 2009, Clif re-released his solo album"Solo" available on iTunes. then finally Physical CD has followed by YESTERROCK . All tracks of the original album are digitally re-mastered and two unreleased bonus tracks "Black And White" and "Running Forever" are added to this reissue.

Bobby Kimball talks...

Here is the laetst Bobby Kimball interviews done by Music Taste & HoriPro Entertainment Group,Inc, the Japanese home for West Coast All Stars featuring Bobby Kimball, Joseph Williams, Jason Scheff and Bill Champlin / Tommy Funderburk and Joseph Williams solo works. Bobby talks about TOTO and West Coast All Stars and so on. Enjoy this!If you would like to buy West Coast All Stars' official US physical release (CD-R format) or download MP3, now you can do at CD Baby. Follow the link at the bottom of this article. And you can download MP3 of Joseph Williams recent solo works "Two Of Us", "Tears" and "Smiles" there too.

SIncerely - Mariya Takeuchi Song Book Complete Edition

Mariya Takeuchi must be one of the best female singer/songwriters of Japan and she continues to release great albums over three decades. In 2002,

Cover album of Mariya Takeuchi release from musical big ones commemorating Mariya Takeuchi's 30-year anniversary. All tracks are remastared and a bonus track "Slow Love" performed by Olivia Newton-John is added to this special low-priced reissue. Enjoy many interesting performances done by your favorite singers including Richard Page, Marc Jordan, Christopher Cross, Richard Marx and many others. Please note that David Foster play the piano on very beautiful ballads "Teko's Theme" featuring Nita Whitaker, which is worth listening if you should miss.

• Label: Universal Music, Japan (UPCH-1638,1639)
• Release Date: December 17, 2008
• Tracks (CD-1)
  1. Love Storm (Lisa Loeb)
  2. Manhattan Kiss -Just Another Dream (Tiffany)
  3. At The Station (Richard Marx)
  4. My Sweet Home (Ann Wilson)
  5. Confession (Roberta Flack)
  6. Single Again (Phobe Snow)
  7. Plastic Love (Marilyn Martin)
  8. Camouflage (Bobby Caldwell)
  9. Time Strangers (Laura Branigan)
  10. Everyday Is Special (Rita Coolidge)
  11. Hearty Party Tonight (The Pointer Sisters)
  12. When Angels Cry (Marilyn Martin & Joe Pizzulo)
• Tracks(CD-2)
  1. Cheer Up (Eric Martin)
  2. Let's Try Again (Kim Carnes)
  3. PURE LOVE - LUCKY STAR (Richard Page)
  4. Mersey Beat (Juice Newton)
  5. Winter Lovers (Cyndy Lauper)
  6. Nostalgia (Christopher Cross)
  7. Forever Friends (Amy Sky & Marc Jordan)
  8. Midnight Nightingale (Gino Vannelli)
  9. Convenient Lover (Amy Foster Gillies)
  10. Night at the Amphitheater (Terri Nunn)
  11. Teko's Theme (Nita Whitaker with David Foster)
  12. Slow Love (Olivia Newton-John)

Sincerely... Mariya Takeuchi Songbook Complete Edition / V.A.

Larry John McNally two new albums "Folksinger" & "BQE"

2 penned songs "A Man In A Man's World" and "Sleep On It" recorded by Chaka Kahn for her solo debut album in 1978 opened the door to Larry John McNally as a recording artist with ARC Records. Thus, Larry John McNally's career began in 1981 with the release of his debut album "Larry John McNally". Soon After his debut album had released, ARC Records stopped their business and we had waited for his 2nd album "Fade To Black" produced by Gary Katz and himself until 1986. His 3rd album ""VIBROLUX" took 9 years since then to be released under Pioneer LDC, Japan. He continues to record and perform both as a solo artist and with his trio in clubs and concert venues from Tokyo to Kokomo. LJM's own recordings are coveted treasures among his devotees and delightful finds for those who happen upon them for the first time. They are filled with songs of passion, angst, city lights, and more, all with the unique ability to create both an aural as well as visual cinematic-like impression.

Larry John McNally has released two brand-new solo albums at the same time in 2009! The first one is "Folksinger", a blend of introspective songwriting and an R&B feel. Guitars, accordion, mandolin, tambourine, 12 string guitar and the B3 organ. This is a special limited edition, signed, 26 page DVD sized booklet, printed on watercolor paper and available only for a limited time until the jewel box CD is printed. The CD includes 11 brand new songs with Larry John McNally's blend of Folk-Hendrix meets 60's Folk/Rock. A fresh modern interpretation of the songwriter as folksinger. With McNally's usual dose of heart and soul.

Another one "BQE" is the first instrumental album from Larry John McNally. McNally is probably best known as a singer/songwriter whose songs have been recorded by The Eagles, Bonnie Raitt, Aaron Neville and many others. "Instrumental" may not be the most accurate description of this music. This album features ambient guitar based instrumentals with wordless vocals, which is somewhere between Pat Metheny and Brian Eno. A number of these tracks have been featured in films, including "Mia Bella" in the Iraq war documentary, "The Ground Truth." This CD package is a special 18 page, signed, limited edition, DVD sized package, custom printed on watercolor paper. Another first here is the inclusion of 13 pages of artwork by LJM. The cover and additional artwork were designed by the renowned old school screen print masters, Hatch Show Print in Nashville.  

• Release Date: January 27, 2009
• Tracks of the album "Folksinger":
  1. Folksinger
  2. Mystery Girls
  3. Moving Day
  4. Flowers Girl
  5. 3 Legged Dog
  6. Muddy Waters Can't Be Satisfied
  7. Amagansett
  8. My Brother Mike
  9. Faces You Loved
  10. Beautiful Child
  11. Ghost Who Dreams
• Tracks of the album "BQE":
  1. BQE
  2. King Street
  3. Jesse At 10
  4. Mia Bella
  5. The View From Brooklyn Bridge
  6. Michael
  7. Rainy Night In Red Hook
  8. Cathedral Parkway
  9. Last Week Of August
  10. Peace

Marc Jordan / Live At El Mocambo +1

Vivid Sound has announced to reissue one of the hardest-to-get album of Marc Jordan, "Live At El Mocambo" alternatively known as "Secrets Live" here in Japan on February 20, 2008 as one of the Ligh Mellow's Choice series supervised by Toshikazu Kanazawa. This album was originally released in 1981 on RCA/RVC Records, Canada and Japan. And in 1992, the album was once re-released on CD in France by La Califusa Records. Recorded live April 11, 1980 at El Mocambo, Tronto Canada, the album was produced by Keith Whiting and Marc. 5 tracks out of 9 were unreleased materials, and 4 tracks; "I'm A Camera", "Survival", "Lost In The Hurrah" and "From Nowhere To This Town" were from Marc's first two solo albums "Mannequin" (1978) and "Blue Desert" (1979). Only those well-known 4 tunes were included later on Marc's another live album entitled "Live- Now & Then" in 1997. Therefore, many Marc's fan are eager to have a chance to listen to 5 unreleased materials only on this live album.

Finally, remastered reissued CD will be available and you should also note that the new version will include a bonus live tracks at El Mocambo. The tune is "Tattooed Lady" from the album "Blue Desert"! Thus, even if you were lucky enough to have the original LP and/or French reissued CD, you cannot help getting the new reissued CD!

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.