ACMJ International Blog

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.

MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND / "How Long" (1989) reissue

Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the reissue of MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND’s masterpiece “How Long” on June 8th 2007. In order to coincide with the release of Michael Thompson’s new band debut album TRW’s “Rivers of Paradise”, Frontiers and Michael agreed that it was a perfect time to re-release this masterpiece on the same day. Michael Thompson is nowadays one of the most well known and respected guitar players. He played with Michael Bolton, Great White, Cher, Shania Twain, Leann Rimes, Jennifer Lopez, Richard Marx, Faith Hill, Celine Dion, Madonna and several others.

In 1988, after working to try and get a deal with his band Slang for several years, Thompson got signed by Geffen Records to release one album entitled "How Long", under the Michael Thompson Band (MTB) monicker. The singer for this group was Rick 'Moon' Calhoun, previously front man for the AOR cult band THE STRAND, Michael's long time friend. Completing the line-up were another bunch of highly respected studio professionals such as: John Andrew Schreiner (on keyboards), Leon Gaer (bass), John Keane (drums). In 1989, the album "How Long" was released.

On "How Long" more first-call musicians appeared as guests, in particular drummer-maestro Terry Bozzio, Pat Torpey (of MR BIG), bassist Jimmy Haslip, ex KANSAS vocalist John Elefante, TOTO's Bobby Kimball and GREAT WHITE associates Michael Lardie and Wyn Davis (who also produced the album). Songwriters would include, among others, AOR luminaries such as: Jeff Paris, Mark Spiro, Bill Trudell and Brett Walker.

As of today “How Long” is regarded as one of the highest examples of hi-tech AOR / West Coast, with a superb production and immaculate songwriting. During the years it became more and more of a collector’s item and the prices paid on E-bay exceeded 80 dollars! This 2007 reissue comes completely remastered and adds 2 songs "Right To Be Wrong" and "Love Goes On" which were recorded during the original sessions and the first fruit of a reunion between Michael, Moon Calhoun and songwriter Jeff Paris entitled “Wheelchair”: an appetizer for an upcoming brand new album to be expected sometime in 2008 !

Label: Frontiers Records, Italy (FRCD-337) (Original Release: Geffen Records, USA)
Release Date: June 8, 2007 (Original: April, 1989)
Producers: Alan Niven and Wyn Davis
Michael Thompson Band is:
Vocals, Drums, Guitars: Moon Calhoun
Guitars: Michael Thompson
Keyboards: John Andrew Schreiner
Bass: Leon Gaer
Drums: John Kenae
Additional Musicians:
Drums: Terry Bozzio, John Robinson, Bernie Pershey, Pat Torpey
Bass: Trey Thompson, Jimmy Haslip
Guitars: Wyn Davis, Alan Niven
Percussion: Michael Fisher, Steve Forman, Wyn Davis
Background Vocals: Bobby Kimball, Billy Trudell, John Elephante, Tyana Parr, Patty Unaitis, Mike Lardie, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Myrna Mathews

Tracks:
1. Secret Information
2. Give Love a Chance
3. 1000 Nights
4. Wasteland
5. Never Stop Falling
6. Can’t Miss; Gloria
7. Stranger
8. Baby Come Back
9. How Long
10. Right To Be Wrong (bonus track)
11. Love Goes On (bonus track)
12. Wheelchair (2007 brand-new song)

Lionel's Dad "Pie" is now easy to buy.

Pleased to advise you that Lionel's Dad (Mark T. Williams) latest CD "Pie" is now available through DSB Records, Germany.

In spite of my notice the 6th solo CD "Pie" would be soon available through his official website in August on this ACMJ International blog, the website is still under reconstruction. Thus, I have not reviewed this CD on Adult Contemporary Music In Japan, my main website yet as of today. Now, I have been noticed through a post for Joseph Williams Mailing List that this CD has been easily available through the above-mentioned retailer.

Enjoy Mark T. Williams latest effort!