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 stores "CD Now" and "Amazon.com" as "Noteworthy Discs of The Month" .

Contents

• Recommended Discs of This Month (Back to latest monthly recommendation)
• Recommended Discs of February, 1997
  • New Releases
    1. Richard Marx / Flesh and Bone
    2. Sembello / Backwards In Time
    3. Mark Portmann / No Truer Words
    4. David Diggs / Eyes Of Storm
    5. Bryan Duncan / Blue Skies

RECOMMENDED DISCS OF FEBRUARY, 1997

RICHARD MARX / FLESH & BONE

 

Now at last Richard Marx's 5 th album "Flesh & Bone" has been released here in Japan on February 26. This album will be also released soon all over the world. However, each version contains different bonus tracks as follows:

• Label: Capital (USA) (Japan: Toshiba EMI-Capital TOCP-8888)
• Release Date: February 26, 1997 (Japan), April 21, 1997 (UK), April 1, 1997 (Canada), April 8, 1997 (USA), May, 1997 (France)
• Producers: Randy Jackson and himself
• Musicians:
  • Bass: Randy Jackson
  • Guitars: Bruce Gaitsch, Michael Landau, Michael Thomson
  • Drums: Herman Matthews, Jonathan Moffett
  • Percussion: Chris Trujillo
  • Keyboards: Greg Phillinganes, Simon Franglen, Tom Keane, Matt Rollings, David Innis
  • Horns: Lee Thornberg, Steve Grove, Jerry Hey, Gary Grant, Charley Loper, Marc Russo
  • Harmonica: Kim Wilson
  • Back Vocals: Fee Waybill, Maurice White, Cindy Mizelle, Paullette McWilliams, Luther Vandoross, Nita Whitaker, Bob Bowker, Jeff Morrow, Tony Ransom, Steve Grissette
• Basic Tracks (US Version):
  1. Fools Game
  2. You Never Take Me Dancing
  3. Touch Of Heaven
  4. What's The Story
  5. Can't Lie To My Heart
  6. Until I Found You Again
  7. My Confessions
  8. Eternity
  9. What's Wrong With That
  10. The Image
  11. Breathless
  12. Miracle
• Bonus Tracks (Japanese Version):
  1. Every Day Of Your Life (Duet with Aska)
  2. Every Day Of Your Life (Richard Marx Solo Version)
  3. Too Shy To Say
• Bonus Tracks (European Version except France):
  1. Surrender To Me (Duet with Lara Fabian)
  2. Talk To You Later (Duet with Fee Waybill)
     • Musicians on "Talk To You Later":
       • Drums: Simon Phillips
       • Bass: John Pierce
       • Guitars: Steve Lukather
  3. Too Shy To Say
• Bonus Tracks (French Version):
  1. Surrender To Me (Duet with Lara Fabian)
  2. Every Day Of Your Life (French Version) (Duet with Roch Voisine)
• Bonus Tracks (Canadian Version):
  1. Surrender To Me (Duet with Lara Fabian)
  2. Every Day Of Your Life (English Version) (Duet with Roch Voisine)
• Bonus Tracks (Mexican and Latin American Version):
  1. Surrender To Me (Duet with Lara Fabian)
  2. Every Day Of Your Life (Richard Marx Solo Version)
• Bonus Tracks (Asian Version except Japan)
  1. Every Day Of Your Life (Duet with Aska)
  2. Surrender To Me (Duet with Lara Fabian)
  3. Angel's Lullaby

SEMBELLO / BACKWARDS IN TIME

 

This is the 4th solo album of Michael Sembello . This album has both ethnic taste and black contemporary taste. Stevie Wonder's influence are existing clearly on some tracks. At the same time, you can feel a original taste of Michael Sembello which appeared on his former solo works. Good album. You must take care that this album is released under the name of "Sembello", not "Michael Sembello" !

• Label : Nippon Columbia (COCY-80474)
• Release Date: February 21, 1997
• Producers: Richard Rudolph and himself
• Musicians:
  • Bass: Nate Watts, Alfred Rubalcava
  • Keyboards: Greg Phillinganes
  • Trumpet: Gary Grant
  • Saxophone: "Rev" David Boruff
  • Horns: Herb Alpert
  • Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta, Greg Bissonette, Raymond Pounds
  • Synth Programming: David Matkosky, Steve Porcaro
  • Percussion: Humberto "Nenge" Hernandez
  • Backing Vocals: Toshi Kubota, Nikki Haris, Gina Harley
• Tracks:
  1. Too Much Bizarre
  2. Never Go Home
  3. Backwards In Time
  4. The Life Of My Broken Heart
  5. Exotic Erotic
  6. Dangerous Questions
  7. The Road To Lonely
  8. Rocking Chair
  9. I Believe In You
  10. Who Is
  11. Ride The Snake... (To Be Continued)
  12. Rub The Stone

MARK PORTMANN / NO TRUER WORDS

 

Mark Portmann is known as ex Rippingoton's Keyboard player. He has just released his solo album with some excellent vocal tracks performed by Warren Wiebe and Bill Champlin this time. All instrumental tracks are also very good. This must be one of contemporary Jazz / Fusion masterpiece album in late 90's.

• Label: Zebra Records, USA (ZD 44001)
• Release Date: January 28, 1997
• Producer: Himself
• Executive Producer: Ricky Schultz
• Musicians:
  • Guitars: Alan Hinds, John Defaria, Marty Walsh, Brian Monroney, Michael Thompson
  • Drums: Tony Morales, Bernie Dresel, Ricky Lawson
  • Percussion: Steve Reid, Paulinho Da Costa, Raphael Padilla
  • Bass: Freddy Washington, Neil Stubenhaus
  • Saxophone: Steve Groves, Jeff Lashiwa
  • Lead and Backing Vocals: Warren Wiebe, Lori Perry, Bill Champlin
  • Backing Vocals: Marilyn Scott, Joseph Williams
• Tracks:
  1. No Truer Words
  2. Slink
  3. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Lead Vocal: Lori Perry)
  4. Walla, Walla
  5. Canyons
  6. Come As You Are (Lead Vocal: Bill Champlin)
  7. The Last Song
  8. Michi
  9. Here I Go Again (Lead Vocal: Warren Wiebe
  10. Summer In Trujillo
  11. Destinations
• More Information: Please visit Mark Portmann Official Website right now!

DAVID DIGGS / EYE OF THE STORM

David Diggs, One of talented keyboard/guitar player is well known not only for his own solo works such as "Streetshadows" (1985), which was a top 10 entry on Billboard's Jazz Album Chart for 26 weeks, but also for his producing works with Quincy Jones, Irene Cara, Brothers Johnson and/or Richie Furay.

This is his latest release which was completed at the end of 95, sent to radio in the middle of 96 and just recently begun marketing due to contractual issues

• Label: Indiggnant Music, USA
• Release Date: January, 1997
• Producer: Himself
• Musicians:
  • Guitars: Paul Jackson Jr.
  • Drums: Robbie Diggs, Harvey Mason
  • Bass: Eddie Watkins. Jr.
  • Saxophone: Ernie Watts, Tom Saviano
• Tracks:
  1. After The Harvest
  2. Elusion
  3. Eye Of The Storm
  4. The Way To Her Heart
  5. Listen To The Solitude
  6. Last Fight Home
  7. Shibuya Station
  8. Oslo
  9. In The Garden
  10. Train To Marseille
  11. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
• Order Information: Please visit David Diggs Official Website right now!

BRYAN DUNCAN / BLUE SKIES

Bryan Duncan (ex Sweet Comfort Band), the superstar of Contemporary Christian Music is one of the best blue-eyed soul singers. I have to review his latest album "BLUE SKIES" released in the very end of December 1996 as missing piece to be reviewed here.

• Label: Myrrh Records (a division of Word, Inc), USA
• Release Date: December 30, 1996 (at Christian Book Store)
• Producers: Dan Posthuma and Dan Garcia (Associate Producer)
• Musicians:
  • Guitars: Tim Pierce
  • Keyboards: Alan Pasqua
  • Drums: Scott Williamson, Bob Wilson
  • Bass: Jimmie Lee Sloas
  • Mini-Moog Bass: James Raymond
  • Percussion: Eric Boseman, Steve Latanation
  • Trumpet: Larry Hall
  • Sax: Kim Hutchcroft
  • Trombone & Euphonium: David Beetty
  • Background Vocals: Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell, Lisa Lashawn, Dave Pettway
• Tracks:
  1. Blue Skies
  2. Turnin'
  3. After This Day Is Gone
  4. One Touch Away
  5. Dying To Meet You
  6. A Whisper Heard Around The World
  7. No Greater Love
  8. Tell Me Where You Are
  9. Joy Is A Singable Thing
  10. Take Another Look At Me
  11. Take Heart
• More Information: Please visit Bryan Duncan Official Website right now!

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