Adult Contemporary Music in Japan

Monthly Recommended Discs Page

Many Adult Contemporary Music CD are releasing every month. SO, I would hereby show you Adult Contemporary Music CD New Release ( also including Reissue) information. As "Recommended Discs of The Month" , I would highly recommend to buy several albums with my personal review. In Addition, I would also give you release information regarding other remarkable recent titles supported by one of the well-known on-line music store "Music Boulevard" as "Noteworthy Discs of The Month" .

• Recommended Discs of This Month (Back to latest monthly recommendation)

• Recommended Discs of November, 1998
  • New Releases
    1. Lou Pardini / Look The Other Way
    2. America / Human Nature
    3. RTZ - Return To Zero / Lost
    4. Bobby Caldwell / Anthology - Timeline
  • Reissues
    1. Kazu Matsui Project / Time No Longer
    2. The Kazu Project / Standing In The Wings
    3. Seawind / Seawind
    4. Seawind / Window Of A Child

• Noteworthy Discs of November, 1998
  • A.O.R. / West Coast Music
    1. Kenny Loggins / December
    2. Bruce Hornsby / Sprit Trail
    3. Paul Anka / Body Of Work (includes duet with Peter Cetera, Celine Dion and more)
  • Contemporary Christian Music
    1. Bob Carlisle / Stories From The Heart
  • Fusion / Contemporary Jazz
    1. Warren Hill / Life Thru Rose Colored Glasses
    2. Yellow Jackets / Club Nocturne
    3. Will Downing & Gerald Albright / Pleasure Of The Night

     

   

• LOU PARDINI / LOOK THE OTHER WAY

  Lou Pardini, a songwriter, producer, arranger and keyboard player became widely known for his grammy-awarded song "Just To See Her" perfromed by Smoky Robinson in 1988. His talent as a vocalist has been revealed when he sings several songs on the album of the group "Koinonia". He released his first solo album "Live And Let Live" here in Japan in 1996, which has been also released in the United States as the album titled "Night To Remember" afterwards. And his first album "Live And Let Live" was said that it was really perfect Adult Contemporary Music album among AOR/West Coast Music/Fusion Music fans all over the world. Now he comes back with another excellent vocal album. What a stylish album this is.....

   

 

• Label : Victor Entertainment, Inc. Japan (VICP-60497)
• Release Date: October 21, 1998
• Producers: himself
• Musicians:
  • Bass: Vail Johnson, John Patitucci
  • Drum Programming: Steve Dublin
  • Guitar: James Harrah
  • Sax: Scott Mayo, Dave "Rev" Boruff
  • Back Vocals: Sid Sham, Scott Mayo, Mindi Stein, Rose Stone, Alfie Silas, Howard McCarry, Olivia McCarkle, Bunny Hull, Bill Champlin, Joseph Williams
• Tracks:
  1. Better Late Than Never
  2. We've Got So Far To Go
  3. Love Is A Hurtin' Thing
  4. Time Out For Love
  5. I'll Always Be There
  6. Look The Other Way
  7. Place In My Heart
  8. Method To The Madness
  9. How Can I Stop Loving You
  10. I Just Had To Fall
  11. Take It Away (Bonus Track for Japanese Version)
  12. What Might Have Been (Bonus Track for Japanese Version)

       

• AMERICA / HUMAN NATURE

  As a matter of fact, this album absolutely meet your expectation if you are waiting for the album which deserves the name of this group. The sound is really that of "America" with familiar harmonies and gentle melodies. Comparing with the former album "Hour Glass" (1994) and Gerry Beckley's solo album "Van Go Gan" (1995), I dare to say that this album must be much better. This album is dedicated to the memory of Carl Wilson (1946-1998) known as the member of Beach Boys.

• Label : Oxygen Records, a division of King Biscuit Entertainment Inc. USA (90004-2)
• Release Date: September, 1998
• Producers: Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell with Hank Linderman
• Musicians:
  • Guitars: Hank Linderman, Paul Livant, Ira Siegel, Micheal Thompson
  • Keyboards: Phil Galdson
  • Bass: Brad Palmer, Jason Scheff
  • Drums: Phil Jones
  • Bongos: Willie Leacox
  • Clarinet: Henry Diltz
  • Vocals: Timothy B. Schmit, Robert Lamm, Carl Wilson, Jeff Foskett, Andrew Gold, Robbyn Krimsse, Serena Nelson
• Tracks:
  1. From A Moving Train
  2. Wednessday Morning
  3. Town And Country
  4. Moment To Moment
  5. Hidden Talent
  6. Wheels Are Turninh
  7. World Alone
  8. Overwhelming World Suite (Overwhelming World - Come Back - Barstow)
  9. Pages
  10. Hot Town
  11. Whispering
  12. Oloololo
• International Order Information

 

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• RTZ - Retuen To Zero / LOST

  I guess you may be dissapointed when you listen to new tracks on the album "Boston - Greatest Hits" (1997). Why? The answer is simple! The image of the Boston's sound is deprived from not only Tom Scholtz's great sound creating talent but also from the spacy voice of the original vocalist Brad Delp. On the album "Walk On" (Boston's 4th album), Tom Scholtz managed to keep the Boston's sound with the help of Fran Cosomo and the greatest vocalist Tommy Funderburk without Brad Delp. On the contrary we could confirm how Brad Delp is one of the great vocalist. In 1991, Brad Delp embarked on the new journey with Barry Goudreau, another original guitarist of Boston under the name of "RTZ- Return To Zero". The difference of the sound between Boston and RTZ is, I think, that of RTZ is more straight one without delayed echo which makes the sound of Boston spacy. The melodies of RTZ are really excellet comparing with good old Boston's. Now, RTZ has just restarted their band activity after returing to zero again.

• Label : MTM Music 196663 (Distribuetd by Intercord Record Service in Germany and Switzerland IRS CD 995.556)
• Release Date: September,
• Producers: Barry Goudreau
• RTZ:
  • Brad Delp: Vocals
  • Barry Goudreau: Guitars
  • Brian Maes: Keyboards
  • Dave Stefanelli: Drums
  • Tim Archibald: Bass
• Tracks:
  1. When Yoy Love Someone
  2. Tum This Love Around
  3. Someday
  4. Violent Days
  5. Change For Change
  6. One In A Million
  7. Given Ypu Up For Dead
  8. Don't Wait
  9. Talk To Me
  10. Don't Lead Me On
• International Order Information

• BOBBY CALDWELL / ANTHOLOGY - TIMELINE

  Bobby Caldwell, who is said to be one of the king of A.O.R., has released his anthology album titled "Timeline" in the United States in September 1998, which is the first greatest hits album released in the States. On the other hand, his greatest hits album has been released in Japan in 1992 with 2 unreleased songs. In casr the US Version of "Timeline" were on sale, several tracks were appeared on both greatest hits album. Therefore, Japanese version is now released with the different tracklisting from US Version. Needless to say, 20th anniversary version of "What You Won't Do For Love" and new song "Good To Me" are also included. Tracklisting for Japanese version seems to be more Adult Contemporary Music oriented, which means not jazzy.

• Label : Polydor, Japan (Sin-Drome) (POCP-7345)
• Release Date: October 14, 1998
• Tracks:
  1. My Flame
  2. Take Me Back To Then
  3. You Promised Me
  4. All Of My Love
  5. Next Time (I Fall)
  6. Real Thing
  7. Janet
  8. Back To You
  9. Once Upon A Time
  10. Where Is Love
  11. Let It Be Me
  12. I Give In
  13. Baby, It's Cold Outside (Duet with Vanessa Williams)
  14. Tell It Like It Is (Duet with Michael Lington)
  15. Good To Me
  16. What You Won't Do For Love (New 20th Anniversary Version)
• International Order Information

• KAZU MATSUI PROJECT / TIME NO LONGER

   

  Kazu Matsui, most famous bamboo flute player in the contemporary music field has started his own project recording from this album "Time No Longer" in 1981. Before releasing this album, Kazu established his status in the music industry by performing bamboo flute, the traditional Japanese musical instrument on the several movie soundtracks such as "Shogun". He fully suceeded to show his talnet as a producer by this album and since then he continues to produce many albums including Keiko Matsui's (his wife's) smooth jazz instrumental projects in addition to his own project albums. After 1990, his musical direction has been varied from Adult Contemporary based one influenced by West Coast Music and Smooth Jazz to the Non-genre or Hard-to-be -categorized one. On this first album, Kazu gives you good Fusion music including vocal tunes performed by Carl Anderson.

 

• Label: Cool Sound Inc. (COOL-013) <Kazu Records KAZUCD8101>
• Release Date: October 10, 1998 (Original Release: January, 1981)
• Producer: Kazu Matui (except "Goblin Hunt" by Larry Carlton)
• Musicians:
  • Guitar: Robben Ford, Steve Lukather, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, Paul Jackson Jr.
  • Piano: Russell Ferrante, Victor Feldman
  • Keyboards; Brian Mann, Terry Trotter
  • Harp: Katie Kirkpatrick Mann
  • Bass: Alphonso Johnson, Abraham Laboriel
  • Drums: Jeff Porcaro, John Ferraro, Vince Colaiuta
  • Percussions: Steve Forman, Alex Acuna
  • Vocals: Grant Gullickson, Carl Anderson
• Tracks:
  1. Overture (Rainy Moon)
  2. Sunset And The Mistrel
  3. Voice From Dark
  4. Dwars' Workshop
  5. Goblin Hunt
  6. Father On (Song From The Prison)
  7. Bonfire (Centeredance)
  8. The Desert
  9. Time No Longer (The Great Time - Giant Wakes Up)
• More information about Kazu Matsui: Keiko and Kazu Matsui Personal Homepage

• THE KAZU PROJECT / STANDING IN THE WINGS

   

   After releaseing his first solo album "Time No Longer" in 1981, Kazu constantly made his own project albums featuring many session musicians in Los Angeles. In 1982 "The Direction West" featuring Carlos Rios and Bill Champlin, "Standing On The Outside" (1983) which was released here in Japan as the solo album of Robben Ford, "Is That The Way To Your Heart" featuring Greg Walker, Phillip Ingram and Norman Dozier in 1984 and this album "Standing In The Wings" featuring Chris Farren and Tommy Funderburk. This album is the best Kazu Matsui Project album for the AOR fan, I belive you can understand the reason why I say. Fortunately we are able to get this album on CD at last beyond more than 10 years from original release date.

• Label : Cool Sound Inc. (COOL-014) <Kazu Records KAZUCD8505>
• Release Date: October 10, 1998 (Original Release: June,1985 under Warner Japan)
• Producer:Kazu Matsui
• Musicians:
  • Keyboards: Steve Wood, Martin Lund, Barnaby Finch, Gery Stober
  • Guitars: Carlos Rios, Dan Huff, Bruce Gaitsch, Issei Noro, Grant Geissman
  • Pianos: Randy Waldman
  • Drums: John Robinson, Moyes Lucas, Greg Bissonette
  • Bass: Jimmy Johnson, Leon Gear, David White, Vince Colaiuta
  • Percussion: Mike Fisher, Ed Mann, Freddie Washington Jr.
  • Background Vocals: Maxi Anderson, Marlena Jeter, Phillip Ingram, Darryl Phinnesee
  • Shakuhachi: himself
• Tracks:
  1. Don't Look Back (lead vocal: Chris Farren)
  2. Standing In The Wings (lead vocal: Tommy Funderburk)
  3. That Girl (lead vocal: Chris Farren)
  4. Desire (Short Road To Heaven) (lead vocal: Chris Farren)
  5. Doctor O'men (lead vocal: Tommy Funderburk)
  6. Head Above Water (lead vocal: Tommy Funderburk)
  7. Into The Nightfall (lead vocals: Chris Farren and Andrea Robinson)

• SEAWIND / SEAWIND

   If you should not heard the name of this excellent group "Seawind", I believe that you have heard or seen the name of "Seawind Horns" on the varoius albums. In early 70's in Hawaii, this group has started to play at the club under the group name called "OX". Harvey Mason decided to produce this local band and the members of "OX" were brought to Los Angeles and started to perform at the famous L.A. club "Baked Potato" and at that time they renamed the group as "Seawind". Then they succeded to get the recording deal with CTI and released this debut album produced by Harvey Mason in 1976. Seawind was the one of the best fusion band featuring female vocals in late 70's. On this first album, first half (A-side of the LP record) is voal-oriented and the second-half (B-side of the LP record) is instrumet-oriented.

• Label:Vivid Sound Corporation (VSCD716) (Original Label: CTI)
• Release Date: October 15, 1998 (Original Release Year: 1976)
• Producer: Harvey Mason
• Seawind:
  • Pauline Wilson: Vocals and Percussion
  • Bob Wilson: Drums and Percussion
  • Bud Nuanez: Guitar and Vocals
  • Ken Wild: Bass and Vocals
  • Jerry Hey; Trumpet, Flugelhorn, French horn and Vocals
  • Kim Hutchcroft: Sax, Soprano recorder and Vocals
  • Larry Williams: Paino, Keyboards, Sax and Vocals
• Additional Musicians:
  • Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa, Ralph McDonald, Harvey Mason
  • Synth Programming: Ian Underwood
• Tracks:
  1. We Got A Way
  2. You Gotta Be Willin' To Lose (Part II)
  3. He Loves You
  4. The Devil Is A Liar
  5. A Love Song / Seawind
  6. Make Up Your Mind
  7. Praise (Part I)
  8. Roadways (Part I & II)

• SEAWIND / WINDOW OF A CHILD

  After the big success of their firs album "Seawind" in 1976, the second album "Window Of A Child" was released. It is said that this second album has set Paulinho Wilson at the center of the sound comparing their first album. Seawind released 4 albums in total, 3rd album "Light The Light"(1979) and "Seawind"(1980) under A&M Records. And for your information, the compilation album which contains tracks from their first album "Seawind" and this second album plus unreleased materials has been released under Noteworthy Records USA, The album titles is "Remember".

• Label:Vivid Sound Corporation (VSCD717) (Original Label: CTI)
• Release Date: October 15, 1998 (Original Release Year: 1978)
• Producer: Harvey Mason and Bob Wirtz
• Seawind:
  • Pauline Wilson: Lead Vocals and Percussion
  • Bob Wilson: Drums and Percussion
  • Larry Williams: Keyboards and Woodwinds
  • Kim Hutchcroft: Sax and Flutes
  • Jerry Hey; Brass
  • Ken Wild: Bass
  • Bud Nuanez: Guitar
• Additional Musicians:
  • Percussion: Harvey Mason, Bill Sommers
  • Synth Programming: Ian Underwood
  • Strings; Charles Veal
  • Trombone; Bill Reichenbach
• Tracks:
  1. One Sweet Night
  2. Wings Of Love
  3. Do Listen To
  4. Campanas De Invierno (Bells Of Winter)
  5. Window Of A Child
  6. Angel Of Mercy
  7. Lovin' You
  8. Hallelujah
  9. Countin' The Days

   

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