Adult Contemporary Music in Japan

NEW RELEASES

TOM KEANE / SMOOVE' AND JUICY COVERS	<ACM Rating: >
Tom Keane's self-cover album is now ready to go as his second effort for aosis records, Japan. This second CD are songs that Tom have had covered by other artist. Such as Chaka Kahn, Al Jarreau, Barbara Streisand, Chicago, George Benson and Celine Dion. Most of the songs are fairly old but it sounds good. Tom sings some of them and on some and play melody on a synthesizer. Comapared with "I Love A Gershwin Tune", his first effort for aosis records, needless to say, this album includes evergreen Westcoast/AOR tunes. However, "I Love A Gershwin Tune" was interesting for me from the viewpoint of music production quality. On the album "I Love A Gershwin Tune", Tom shows his excellent ability as an arranger by making famous jazzy Gershwin tunes into modern-pop tunes. When I listen to "Through The Fire" on this "Smoove' and Juicy Covers" album, it just reminded me of the instrumental version done by David Foster. As regards "Will You Still Love Me", Tom's vocal is excellent but something is missing, which must be well-produced basic tracks with real drums and horns. "Loving Every Moment" must be the best track, which is really well-arranged featuring Bill Champlin's background vocal. I dare to say that aosis Records should give Tom more budget to make his album perfect-satisfactory level next time. The label should be aware that Tom Keane album we are waiting for is not a cover song collection album but his brand-new original AOR/Westcoast album. Don't you agree with me?
Label: aosis records, Japan (VICL-69037) Release Date: January 24, 2001 Producer: Kaz Masumoto All Arrangements, Keyboards, Programming & Vocals : Tom Keane Musicians: Guitars : Michael Landau, Chris Camozzi Bass & Upright Electric Bass : Jason Scheff Background Vocal : Bill Champlin
International Order   Melody Blvd. Cruisin' Music at GEMM	Tracks: Through The Fire Tell Me What I Gotta Do One More Time Around Will You Still Love Me No One Emotion Loving Every Moment

 

HIROSHI SHINKAWA / SHINKIES	<ACM Rating: >
The label producer of aosis records, Horoshi Shinkawa has released his own second effort for the label "Shinkies" recorded in Los Angeles with his old buddies. This album includes 6 favorite tunes of his own, all of which makes us comfortable every time beyond the age. This album is opened by "It's The Falling In Love" written by David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager and originally performed by Carole King on her second album "Too". And the famous Chaka Kahn's smash hit "Wat'cha Gonna Do For Me" written by Ned Doheny and Harmish Stewart follows. Yumi Kawamura, a Japanese female singer, sings these two songs very well. Then 4 instrumental tunes continues. On "Altogether Alone" written and originally performed by Hirth Martinez, you would fully enjoy Michael Landau's gentle jazzy electric guitar solo. Sax solo by Tom Scott is also marvelous on Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" and "Under The Jamaican Moon" written by Stephen Bishop with Leah Kunkel. The most important thing might be that Curt Bisquera plays real drums on all the tracks, which should make the music alive and give the album humanity.
Label: aosis records, Japan (VICL-69036) Release Date: January 24, 2001 Producer: Toshiya Kamada and himself Arrangement and Acoustic Piano: himself Musicians: Guitars : Michael Landau, Paul Jackson Jr. Drums: Curt Bisquera Bass: Abraham Laboriel, Lee Sklar Keyboards: Tom Keane Sax: Tom Scott, Larry Williams Trumpet: Jerry Hey, Gary Grant Trombone: Bill Reichenbach Lead Vocals on track 1 and 2:Yumi Kawamura Background vocals: Yumi Kawamura, Tetsuya Takahashi
International Order   Melody Blvd.	Tracks: It's The Falling In Love What'cha Gonna Do For Me Altogether Alone Mercy Mercy Me Under The Jamaican Moon Daylight

  

PAGES / PAGES	<ACM Rating: >
Everybody loves Pages, the one of the best AOR band. Their first album "Pages" was originally released in 1978. (Original Vinyl: Epic, USA 35459). This album had been reissued on CD once in Europe (made in Austria) in 1994. (Reissued CD: Epic Europe 4758612). However, now this reissued CD is out-of -print and became one of the collector items among AOR/Westcoast lovers. Epic Records, Japan has reissued this album at the beginning of the 21st Century. Enjoy the Pages' highly sophisticated- jazz-influenced progressive rock music with Westcoast harmonies! And if you have Euro reissued CD version, you feel sorry for the poor quality of the CD jacket, its color, no musicians credit, no lyrics and so on. This Japanese version solves this matter too!
Label: Epic Records, Sony Music Entertainment, Japan (ESCA7848) (Original Label: Epic Records, USA) Release Date: January 11, 2001 (Original Release: September 4, 1978) Producer: Bobby Colomby Pages was: Richard Page: Lead and Background Vocals, Clavinet Steve George: Keyboards, Background Vocals Peter Leinheiser: Guitars Jerry Manfredi: Bass Russ Battelene: Drums Additional Musicians: Percussion: Steve Foreman, Caludio Slon, Bobby Colomby, Chuck Silverman, Tim Downs Vibes: Victor Feldman Conga: Francisco Aquabella Background Vocals: Philip Bailey, Lani Groves, Donna Fien, Mary Hylan, Linda Mallah, Bobby Colomby Sax: Michael Brecker Horns Arrangement: Randy Brecker Strings and Flutes Arrangement: Dave Grusin
International Order   Melody Blvd. Cruisin' Music at GEMM	Tracks: Clearly Kim This Is For The Girls Let It Go Listen For The Love Love Dance If I Saw You Again Interlude It's Alright Room At The Top I Get It From You

 

CHRIS EATON / VISION	<ACM Rating: >
This is one of the finest CCM albums ever released till now. Please note that Chris Eaton is not coming from U.S.A but from UK. The recording session of this album had been done in London, Los Angeles and Nashville, supported by many talented studio musicians. Chris Eaton was born in West Midlands, UK on September 16, 1958. Chris became known in UK music industry by two songs recorded by Clif Richard for Clif's 1981 album "Wired For Sound". "Little Town" written for Clif Richard for 1982 album "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" climbed up the UK chart and ranked # 11 highest, which gave him another step. Chris got a chance to write two songs for Amy Grant for the album "Unguarded"(1985) and at the same time he got a deal as a solo singer with Reunion Records, USA. Thus, "Vision" was released in 1986 in the United States. The sound of this album is still fresh one for me due to mid 80's gorgeous keyboards oriented arrangement with tight drums. For your information we had to wait for almost 10 years until Chris released his second solo album "Wonderful World"(Sparrow Corporation SPD1431) in 1995, which was also fine album. And please note that his latest album "Cruisin'"(1997) (later released in 1998 as "What Kind Of Love" for US) is also released here in Japan by Cool Sound as newly digital remastered version at the same time.
Label: Cool Sound, Inc. Japan (COOL-062) (Original Label: Reunion Records, USA <LP: WR-8349, Reissued CD: REND-24355>) Release Date: January 10, 2001 (Original Release Year: 1986) Producers: Brown Bannister and Jack Joseph Puig Musicians: Keyboards: Robbie Buchanan, Rhett Lawrence, Larry Williams, Dave Cooke, Robin Smith Guitar: Dann Huff, Paul Jackson Jr., Michael Landau, Phil Palmer Bass: Neil Stubenhaus, Nathan East, Phil Palmer Drums: Paul Leim, Carlos Vega, Charlie Morgan Percussion: Lenny Castro Horns: Mel Colins Background Vocals: Tom Kelly, Tommy Funderburk, Mark Williamson, Nick-Glennie Smith, Don Snow
International Order   Melody Blvd. Cruisin' Music at GEMM	Tracks: Vision Don't Underestimate My Love When My Heart Breaks Golden Rule Hold Back The Tears Love For The Common Man Talk To Me This Is For Real Don't Play Games It Was Love