ACMJ International Blog

Fly Away - The Songs Of David Foster

Most of David Foster fans are probably enjoying the recent CD/DVD release "You Are The Inspiration - The Music Of David Foster & Friends" (or "Hit Man - David Foster & Friends"). Having said so, if you are die-hard Foster fans since he created great music in late 70' s and early 80's with first-call L.A. studio musicians and great singers, this commercial mass appealing product would not be enough satisfactory in terms of singers and musicians involved. Now, you will solve this matter with the forthcoming another David Foster tribute album entitled "Fly Away - The Songs Of David Foster" . Here is the official press release;

Fly Away / The Songs of David Foster is an album that brings new life to some of the brighter gems in the immense catalogue of David Foster. Featuring a spectacular cast of vocalists, including Bill Champlin, Jeff Pescetto, Cecily Gardner, Robbie Dupree, Bill LaBounty, Joe Pizzulo, Ole Borud, Bill Cantos, Arnold McCuller, Frank Adahl, Lisa Lovbrand, and the unforgettable Warren Wiebe, backed-up by an elite group of studio musicians, including David Foster himself, Jay Graydon, John Robinson, Michael Landau, Paul Jackson Jr, Nathan East, Abe Laboriel, Neil Stubenhaus, Dan Warner, Jeremy Lubbock, Tollak Ollestad, Ramon Stagnaro, Brandon Fields and many others, this is a once-in-a-lifetime record that will not fail to live up to the expectations of the most demanding Foster fans.

In advance of the release of the full-length album, Contante & Sonante presents a limited edition 3-song EP previewing two of the album's songs, "In The Stone" and "No Explanation", plus a bonus track,"After All", performed by the soulful Leslie Smith, which is available only on this EP release. "In The Stone" is a powerful cover of the Foster-penned Earth, Wind & Fire classic. This amazing version is respectful to the original yet presents exciting new elements. The legendary Bill Champlin on lead vocals adds some soul to this funky jam, supported by the smoking Danish All Star Horns and an all-star rhythm section that includes John "JR" Robinson on drums, Nathan East on bass and Paul Jackson Jr. on guitar.

"No Explanation", originally performed by Peter Cetera for the Pretty Woman soundtrack, is a ballad that Foster co-wrote with singer/songwriter Bill LaBounty. What a treat to listen to LaBounty’s take on his own song! The acoustic setting is perfect for the singer's evocative performance, supported by the wonderful harmonica of Tollak Ollestad and some tasteful guitar playing by Dan Warner. The result is pure bliss.

"After All" is one the musical gems that Foster created with Jay Graydon for Al Jarreau. Here, an inventive arrangement breathes new life into this smooth ballad, featuring the voice of the very soulful singer Leslie Smith, a horn arrangement by Jan Glaesel, and fantastic musicianship by session greats John "JR” Robinson, Abe Laboriel and Dan Warner. Remember, this wonderful track won't be included in the full-length album, so you won't want to miss it!

Track listings:

EP (available exclusively at www.contanteysonante.com):

1. In The Stone (Bill Champlin)
2. No Explanation (Bill LaBounty)
3. After All (Leslie Smith) * bonus track not included on the full-length CD

full-length CD (due to release on March 2009):

1. Prelude (Tomi Malm --featuring David Foster)
2. In The Stone (Bill Champlin)
3. No Explanation (Bill LaBounty)
4. Jojo (Arnold McCuller)
5. The Colour Of My Love (Frank Adahl)
6. Heart To Heart (Jeff Pescetto)
7. Fly Away (Robbie Dupree)
8. Look What You've Done To Me (Cecily Gardner --featuring David Foster)
9. Through The Fire (Ole Borud)
10. The Best Of Me (Lisa Lovbrand)
11. Nothin' You Can Do About It (Frank Adahl)
12. Whatever We Imagine (Bill Cantos)
13. When Will The World Be Like Lovers (Jeff Pescetto, Robbie Dupree, Bill Cantos, Arnold McCuller, Joe Pizzulo and Frank Adahl)
14. Live Each Day (Warren Wiebe)

Marc Jordan's 2008 Holiday Single now available on physical CD!

As you may probably know, Marc Jordan released Chirstmas single entitled "Every Time It Snows" to conicide with the 2008 holiday seaon with a bonus track "Have Yourself A Merry Christmas" , the timeless standard produced by his wife Amy Sky . It was being serviced to radio and is available only on iTunes Canada Store. It meaned that most of his long-time fans over the world could not get its physical CDs. And only canadian residents could get its downloaded file via iTunes Store. I am pleased to let you know that the physical CD has become available through Amy Sky's Official Website Store. How about buying this CD single for 2009 Holiday Season from now!?

• Label: Café Records (CR010)
• Producers: Don Breithaupt (track 1), Amy Sky & himself (track 2)
• Musicians;
• • Don Breithaupt: Piano (track 1)
  • Steve Hunter: Piano (track 2)
  • Mike Francis: Guitar (track 2)
  • Maury Lafty: Bass (track 2)
  • Lyle Molzan: Drums (track 2)
• Tracks:
  1. Every Time It Snows
  2. Have Yourself & Merry Little Christmas

David Roberts Japan tour and another album release very soon

David Roberts is now busy for preparing his first Japan Tour 2008 to fill his missing 26 years absence and promote his brand-new 2nd solo album "Better Late Than Never" released in July breaking his 26 years silence. David will perform 2 shows in Tokyo, 1 show in Osaka and 1show in Nagoya early October.

And you will be very pleased to hear that David will release another album titled "Missing Years", a collection of his unreleased demos recorded mainly in early-mid 90's.
This release will be sold ahead of its official release date, at Club Quattro, when David Roberts will perform there.

Label: Vivid Sound Corp., Japan (VSCD3365>

Release Date: October 8, 2008
Tracks:
1. Run Back
2. Misunderstood
3. Gone But Not Forgotten
4. Until Your Heart's Content
5. Run Away With Me
6. Forbidden Fruit
7. Nothing Matters Tonight
8. I Love You So Much It Hurts
9. Higher Power
10. One Soul
11. No Ordinary Girl
12. Cry Me A River Tonight
13. I Still Believe

Live shows deatils would be as below;

Live Dates and Venues:

October 4, Saturday at Club Quattro Shibuya, Tokyo
(Show Start: 7PM)
October 6, Monday at Club Quattro Shinsaibashi, Osaka
(Show Start: 7PM)
October 7, Tuesday at Club Quattro Nagoya, Nagoya
(Show Start: 7PM)
October 8, Wednesday at Club Quattro Shibuya, Tokyo
(Show Start: 7PM)

Venue's official website: Club Quattro

Tour Members:

David Roberts: Keyboards and Vocals
Paul Mabury : Drums
Lauren Ellis : Bass

Pat Bergeson : Guitar

Brad Cole : Keyboards (known for his recording and tour supporting for Phil Collins)
Fred Mollin : Rhythm and Acoustic Guitar and Percussion (producer of the album "Better Late Than Never")

More Information: Tom's Cabin

In addition to the live gigs, David Roberts will perform for the promotion of "Better Late Than Never" and "Missing Years" at Tower Records Shibuya on October 3 Friday. The promotional in-store live will start from 7PM.

Tower Records Shibuya official website

Jay Graydon All Stars "Live in Japan 1994.1.19" Super High Material CD with bonus DVD

We could have DVD release of the Jay Graydon All Stars' 1994 live performance in Japan with 2 bonus CDs with the live audio recordings deleting MC as "Airplay For The Planet Live In Japan 1994.1.19" in December 2007. This was the must-have DVD for all of AOR/Westcoast music lovers, even though the video of the performance was shot as the private recorded data for the band, using a single camera and not intended to be published those days. And now again , The Super High Material CDs 2008 remastered version has just been released on 2 discs. If the difference between the first edition and the re-released version were only the materials of the disc and not omitting MC during the live performance, it is easy to skip. However, the re-released version is now on sale with a bonus DVD.... The bonus DVD includes Jay Graydon All Stars 1996 live videos. 6 tracks were taken on February 13, 1996 at Gino, Stockholm Sweden. And 2 tracks with live rehearsal taken on February 2, 1996 at Theater Drama City, Osaka Japan. It cannot help being criticized that the quality of the video are much worse than 1994's. Sound is also not so good regarding Swedish one. Therefore, this version should not be recommended to everyone but Jay's mania must express sincere gratitude to share the valuable memories by publishing this video. As you may know, 1996 tour members includes the voice of Airplay, Tommy Funderburk and Ned Doheny. Further, on February 13, two surprising guest players were captured by this video. These guys are Bill Champlin and Jason Scheff! On "She Just Can't Make Up Her Mind ", Bill appeared from behind and started to sing. Jason also appeared on stage and stayed in the background playing bass for a couple of songs.

• Label: Isol Discus Organization / Ward Records, Inc. Japan (GQCP-59044)
• Release Date: September 24, 2008
• Tracks on bonus DVD (Tracks 1-9: Live in Stockholm, Tracks 11-12: Live in Osaka)
  1. Cryin' All Night
  2. Bix
  3. It Will Be Alright
  4. She Just Can't Make Up Her Mind
  5. Nothin' You Can Do About It
  6. Whatcha Gonna Do For Me
  7. Pamela
  8. After The Love Has Gone
  9. Stranded
  10. Live Rehearsal (February 2, 1996 in Osaka)
  11. She Just Can't Make Up Her Mind
  12. Stranded

Joseph Williams' rare tracks now available: "Tony 'N' Tina Wedding" Movie Soundtrack CD

Tony 'N' Tina is well-known as the long-running Off-Broadway interactive play (in which the actors interact with the audience, which acts as the audience of the wedding being performed both on-stage and around them in the aisles. The movie based upon the play was created and granted a limited release in 2004, featuring Joey McIntyre (ex. New Kids on the Block, a boy band that enjoyed enormous success in the late 1980s and early 1990s).

When the movie premiered at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival in November 2004, we had to pay our attention to the soundtrack of the movie because Joseph Williams dedicated his tunes to this movie. Joseph performed 2 Toto's songs;"Rosanna", "Hold the line", "Can You Feel The Love Tonight", "Angel Eyes" (composed by Joey), and "Scream and Shout" (composed by Joseph and Joey). And at that moment, they published that "Angel Eyes" and "Scream and Shout" would be appeared in the soundtrack of this movie. Thus, huge Joseph Williams and Toto fans had been keeping their eyes whether the soundtrack CD will be released or not. More than 3 years passed since then. Now, I am delighted to let you know this news....

Yes, the soundtrack CD is now available! Joseph sings 6 tunes in total: "Kids From Queens", "Scream & Shout", "Don't Leave Me Tonight", "I Don't Want To Lose Your Love", "Wishing You Were Here" and "Waiting". "Scream & Shout" is the alternative version of "Everywhere I Go" (original version appeared on Joseph's 3rd solo album "3" released in 1997). "I Don't Want To Lose Your Love" is very beautiful love song duet with Miari Peterson. "Wishing You Were Here" is another alternative version of Joe's well-known tune "Perfectly Clear", the opening track of the album "I Am Alive" (1996).

Joseph Williams & Jason Scheff on the latest Japanese movie soundtrack CD

"Blue Wolf: To The Ends of the Earth and Sea", a Japanese major movie released in March 2007 will also be released more than 60 countries and you can take a look at Genghis Khan's life, from his birth to conquests in Asia in late 12th century. Genghis Khan is said to be the father of Mogolia.
Apart from the movie itself, we should pay our attention to the soundtrack album because of two singers. One is Jason Scheff and the other is Joseph Williams.

　Jason Scheff would perform a power ballad titled "Anything For You" written with Greg Mathieson and originally performed by Tommy Funderburk for his latest solo album "Anything For You"(2005). Joseph would sing mid-tempo a little bit TOTO-vein pop titled "Safe And Sound".

Label: Avex Arts, Japan (AVCF-26913)
Release Date: February 28, 2007

Bobby Caldwell / The Best

The king of AOR, Bobby Caldwell's long-awaited AOR/Westcoast oriented new album "Perfect Island Nights" will be released early spring of this year. And I have wrote on my main web "Adult Contemporary Music In Japan", his masterpiece debut album has also been reissued with "Can't Say Goodbye" original LP version. In addition, the Best, another Bobby Caldwell's song collection CD are now available.

Probably, you would say "Bobby Caldwell's Best CD again? How many best hits album of his has been released !?"
Actually, 1992's "Greatest Hits" (Japan only), 1998's "Timeline"(Japan only), 1998's "The Anthology Part 1" (USA) , 2001's"Time & Again - The Anthology Part 2" (USA) and 2001's "Songmaster" were released.

In commercial sense, it is very important to release another collection CD just before brand-new release so that music-lovers can revisit Bobby's past works. What is the attractive point of this time "The Best" release? The Best includes several meaningful tracks:

"Show Me Your Devotion"
The duet with Marilyn Scott taken from her solo album "Sky Dancing"

"Janet" (short urban mix)
1985's promotional only version, which is totally different from the original version

"Jamaica" (with The Jazz Crusaders)
The original version is on Bobby's 3rd album "Carry On". This version is self-cover version taken from 1995's Jazz Crusaders album "Happy Again".

How about this CD?

The new compilation ablum "Fantasia" features many rare tracks!

A notable compilation CD titled "Fantasia" has just been released in Japan. This CD includes many rare tracks such as several from Dara Sedaka's album which will be reissued in August and other remarkable David Foster related songs.
Among them. you will be pleased to know that "Hold Me Close" performed by Vickie Moss which was only available on very rare 45 rpm vinyl. Or you are now considering to buy this CD because of "Caravan" performed by Kitaro with Pages.

Here is the details of this CD release:

Label: Westwood Records, Japan (SDCF-1008)
Release Date: July 22, 2004

Tracks:
1. Love At Second Sight / David Foster & Vickie Moss
　　　　All Instruments : David Foster &Vocals : David Foster, Vickie Moss
2. Keep Me In Love With You / Dara Sedaka
　　　　Arrangement & Keyboards: David Foster Guitar: Jay Graydon
　　　　Drums: Mike Baird Percussion: Pauk Lari
　　　　Bass: Dennis Belfield Background Vocals : Pages - Richard Page, Steve George
3. Ocean Blue / Steve Raiman
4. Hold Me Close / Vickie Moss
　　　　Arrangement & Keyboards : David Foster
5. Margarita / Marc Jordan
　　　　Drums: Mike Baird Bass: Mike Porcaro Guitar: Micheal Landau
　　　　Keyboards: Robbie Buchanan
　　　　Percussion: Lenny Castro Sax: Ernie Watts Vocals: Marc Jordan
　　　　Background Vocals: Pages - Richard Page, Steve George
6. You Can't Hurry Love / Smooth Jazz Express
　　　　Piano & Hamond B-3: Neil Larsen Drums: Ricky Lawson Bass: Ricky Minor
　　　　Percussion: Lenny Castro
7. Caravan / Kitaro & Pages
　　　　Drums: Mike Baird Bass: Nathan East Keyboard: Russell Ferrante
　　　　Vocal: Pages - Richard Page, Steve George
　　　　Keyboard, Guitar, Harp, Synthseizer: Kitaro
8. The Ring Of Mysterious Stardust Remix / Air Element
9. Toki-no--kanata-ni / Air Element
10. Someday / Dara Sedaka
　　　　Arrangement & Keyboards: David Foster Guitar: Steve Lukather, Mike Landau
　　　　Drums: Mike Baird
　　　　Percussion: Paul Lari Bass: Dennis Belfield
　　　　Background Vocal: Pages - Richard Page, Steve George
11. Dance With The Wind / Steve Raiman
12. The Best Of Me / David Foster
　　　　Keyboards & Vocal: David Foster Fender Rhodes: Jeremy Lubbock
　　　　Background Vocals: Richard Marx
13. Endless World / Kazuto_
14. The Rainbow Story / Sojiro
　　　　Ocarina: Sojiro Strings: SDR Ensemble
15. The Great Yellow River / Sojiro
　　　　Ocarina: Sojiro Strings: SDR Ensemble
16. Dance With Me / Marc Jordan
　　　　Drums: Mike Baird Electric Guitar: Mike Landau Bass: Mike Porcaro
　　　　Keyboards: Robbie Buchanan, Marc Jordan Percussion: Lenny Castro
　　　　Accordian: Michael Boddicker
　　　　Vocals: Marc Jordan Background Vocals: Pages - Richard Page, Steve George

Gino Vannelli / The Longer You Wait - and "Ultimate Collection" CD box -

"The Longer You Wait" is one of the most widely-known rare songs. This song should have been released as a track on his 2nd Arista album "Twisted Heart" in 1982, which was never released due to creative differences between the record company. It got shelved in long battles with the label and thus Gino could not record for 4 years before coming back with 1985 album "Black Cars".

However, A single from this LP was released as a promo.....available only for very short time. This is it, "The Longer You Wait" b/w "Bandito" (Arista AS0664). The song is very pop one produced, arranged and written by Gino with his brothers, Joe and Ross.

Now, the rare song is available as a bonus track of "Gino Vannelli Ultimate Collection", the limited edition Dutch exclusive 32-bit remastered 3 CD Box, which suddenly appeared in front of us in the end of December 2003. Besides "The Longer You Wait", the box also includes rare live material and remixes:- "Black Cars" (Dance Mix), "Hurts To Be In Love" (Live), "Where Am I Going" (Live), "People Gotta Move" (Live). Needless to say, All Gino hits such as "Brother To Brother", "Living Inside Myself", "I Just Wanna Stop" are on the discs. Now is the time to re-discover Gino Vannelli!

Tim Feehan / Dirty Love

The 3rd one is "Dirty Love" performed by Tim Feehan. This track can be found as the 3rd track of the motion picture "The James Bond 007 - License To Kill" soundtrack CD (1989). I strongly believe that no explanation regarding this famous movie wound be necessary.

Besides this Tim Feehan track, the soundtrack CD includes 10 tracks such as "License To Kill" performed by Gladys Knight, "If You Asked Me To" by Patti LaBelle and 6 orchestrated tracks coducted by Michael Kamen.

Tim Feehan's "Dirty Love" is a hard-edge driven rock tune produced by David White with him.
A year later, Tim Feehan released his 2nd solo album "Full Contact" under the same label, i.e MCA Records, which features Tim's self-performing version of "Heart In Pieces" known for Chicago version.