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 February, 1999
  • New Releases
    1. John Keane / Straight Away
    2. Kyle Vincent / A Night Like This
    3. Billy Ward / Two Hands Clapping
    4. Janey Clewer / Kiss By Kiss
  • Reissues
    1. Sneaker / Loose In The World
    2. Roby Duke / Not The Same

• Noteworthy Discs of February, 1999
  • Adult Contemporary / Black Contemporary / Fusion
    1. Quincy Jones / From Q, With Love (Listen Before You Buy ! )

     

• JOHN KEANE / STRAIGHT AWAY

 

John Keane is one of the most expected next generation AOR musicians, known not only for his drum session works but also his film soundtrack composition. He started his professional music career with Tom Keane, his elder brother in 1977 at the age of 12 as the Keane Brothers. In 1981, Keane Brothers released the band album under the name of "Keane". After releasing "Today, Tomorrow and Tonight" in 1982, John has been playing as one of the busiest session drummer in L.A. music scene. In 1996, John has completed and released privately his first solo instrumental album "Any Other World". And now, he is about to release the vocal-featured solo album "Straight Away" under the Intercord Record Service, Germany.

 

 

• Label: Intercord Record Service, Germany (IRS 992.100)
• Release Date : February 8, 1999
• Producer: Himself
• Supported Musicians:
  • Guitars: Michael Landau, Brue Watson, Tim Pierce, Buzz Feiton
  • Bass: Ted Landau, Jason Scheff, Ronnie "Salsa Suprema" Sage, John Pierce, Jerry Scheff
  • Synth: Tom Keane
  • Keyboard: Steve Porcaro
  • Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
  • Background Vocals: Todd Taylor, Guy Thomas
• Tracklisting:
  1. Straight Away
  2. Red Raven
  3. We Love Our Fantasies
  4. Venice Is Sinking
  5. After Dark
  6. She Cannot Be Denied
  7. Last Frontier
  8. Headlines & Deadlines
  9. Darkside Of The Earth
  10. Since I Met You
  11. Still
  12. More

• KYLE VINCENT / A NIGHT LIKE THIS

Kyle Vincent is known for his solo debut album "Kyle Vincent" (1997) charted at # 18 on Radio & Records Hot AC, # 26 on Billboard's Adult Alternative and finished at # 69 for the entire year on Radio and Records 1997 Hot AC Chart. Kyle formed the band "Candy" in the mid-80's. Candy released their only album'Whatever Happened To Fun..." on the Mercury label and toured with Rick Springfield. The group disbanded a couple years after. For your information, Candy guitarist Gilby Clarke went on to join Guns'n Roses.Vincent signed a solo deal with MCA in'92, recorded his first solo album entitled "Trust", and opened for Barry Manilow on his entire U.S.'93 Greatest Hits Tour. However, as sometimes happens, the project was shelved and the album was never released. In 1998, the never-released album "Trust" has been released on a cassette only for his crazy fans in the United States. And now in 1999, "Trust" has been released on CD here in Japan as the album "A Night Like This". Very good melodic rock album this is. If you like Richard Marx, this album is for you.

• Label: Air Mail Recordings, Japan (AIRCD-007)
• Release Date: January 20, 1999
• Musicians:
  • Guitar: Gilby Clarke
  • Acoustic Guitars: Jerry Beckley
  • Bass: Luis Johnson
  • Drums: John Robinson
  • Sax: Gerald Albright
  • Back Vocals: John Ford Corey, Jerry Beckley
• Tracks
  1. A Night Like This
  2. Never Say Die
  3. Trust
  4. Something To Remember Me By
  5. Maybe It's Better This Way
  6. What Am I Gonna Do
  7. Change The World
  8. For All The Wrong Reasons
  9. Wherever You Are Tonight
  10. Now I Know
• Label Contact Information: <Fax> +81-3-5376-1193 <Address> 2-10-3-#1507 Simotakaido Suginami-Ku Tokyo, Japan

• BILLY WARD / TWO HANDS CLAPPING

   

  Billy Ward is a talented NY based drummer who is known for his drum play with Bill Champlin and King Of Hearts for us. This is his drum-oriented solo album featuring many of his friends such as Bill Champlin, Jim Beard and John Patitucci. According to the linernotes of this album, this album was recorded live in the studio with no rehearsals and no overdubs or repairs. There are many interesting works on this CD, some of which you may feel it is a little bit strange and inexperienced music. As for me, "Sound Of The Rain" is such one, on which I feel Billy has succeeded to express the atmosphere of rainfalls by his awesome drum-play and Bill Champlin added his excellent vocal touch. You can find out the different possibility of the drums as an instrument by listening this album. I cannot say this album is a kind of pop album. But if you would really like to discover another possibility of the drum as an instrument, Try to listen to this album.

   

• Label: Drumpike
• Release Date : December, 1998
• Producer: Himself
• Guest Musicians:
  •  B3 Organ & Lead Vocals: Bill Champlin
  • Acoustic Guitar & Vocal: Glen Phillips
  • Fender Rhodes: Jim Beard
  • 6 String Electric Bass: John Patitucci
  • Electric Guitar and Vocals: Chris Whitley
  • Keyboard & Vocal: Joy Askew
• Tracks:
  1. Sound Of The Rain
  2. Be Careful
  3. Step Inside
  4. Devaney's Goat
  5. Some Mortal Drama
  6. Aphasia
  7. My Interior Landscape
  8. High Heel Sneakers
  9. Wee Small Hours
  10. Danger Zone

• JANEY CLEWER / KISS BY KISS

Janey Clewer, who I believe is the best of the best female singer-songwriter during the second half of the 1990's has just released the collection album picking from her 3 solo albums, "Janey", "Call Me Romantic" and "When Stars Collide" in the United States. Her 1st solo album "Janey" was released in Scandinavia in 1996 and 2nd solo album "Call Me Romantic" was released in the United States from Thoughtscape Sounds label in 1997. However her 3rd album "When Stars Collide" are not still on sale in the United States and Europe. Therefore, you can listen to her excellent tunes on this CD at the reasonable price, comparing with the Japanese pressing CD titles. If you have not listen to Janey Clewer's beautiful melodies and warm vocals as yet, you should buy this CD now without hesitation!!

• Label : Angelynn Music, USA (ANG-001)
• Official Release Date: February 23, 1999
• Producer: Randy Waldman and herself
• Additional Musicians:
  • Lead Vocal: Bill Champlin, Eric Carmen
  • Piano: Randy Waldman
  • Guitar: Bruce Gaitsch, Jay Graydon
  • Bass: George Hawkins Jr., John Patitucci
  • Drums; Billy Ward
  • Percussion: Michael Fisher
  • Background Vocals: Peter Cetera, Richard Marx, Kathy Chiavola
  • Sax: David Boruff, Marc Russo
  • Celli: John Catchings and Bob Mason
  • Cello solo: Robert Mason & The Vaughn's Gap Strings
  • Giggles: Samantha Taylor Gaitsch
• Tracks:
  1. Tell Me It's Not Over
  2. Call Me Romantic
  3. God's Perfect Plan
  4. Without You I'd Be Lost
  5. Catch And Kiss The Sun
  6. Kiss By Kiss
  7. Forever Valentines
  8. Feel Like The 2nd Tims Around
  9. Can't Let You Go With My Heart
  10. Only Time Will Tell
  11. Kiss His Heart Goodbye

• SNEAKER / LOOSE IN THE WORLD

   

Sneaker, known for their Billboard Top 40 Hit "More Than Just The Two Of Us" from their 1st album "Sneaker" (1981) is one of the unforgettable Westcoast group in early 80's. We felt their music were influenced by Steely Dan, Eagles and Doobie Brothers. It is the well-known fact that he group name "Sneaker" is taken from the Steely Dan's tune "Bad Sneaker",that their 1st album was produced by Jeffrey Baxter (ex Steely Dan and ex Doobie Brothers) and the opening cut of the 1st album is the cover version of Steely Dan's "Don't Let Me In". The 1st album "Sneaker" is nothing but one of the masterpiece album in early 80's. After the big success of their debut album, they released their 2nd album " Loose In The World" which is also produced again by Jeffrey Baxter in 1982. This is it. Unfortunately, Handshake Records who released both of their albums were obliged to be closed while they did Japanese tour with this brand-new album "Loose In The World" in the autumn of 1982. Thus, this album was not well-promoted and as the result, did sell well as their 1st album. And then, Sneaker had disbanded...

 

Generally speaking, "Loose In The World" is said to be the uncompleted album comparing with the masterpiece album "Sneaker", because some tunes such as "The Fight" (interlude tune for "Voices") and the instrumental tune titled "Pour It Out" seemed to be included on the album. Many people says that "Believe Me Tonight" , the hard-driven tune was not needed, but I like this tune. It was interesting that there were tracklisting difference between US original release LP and Japanese LP. The track order were different from each other and "I Can't Imagine" was included on the Japanese LP instead of "Someone To Blame It On". When the album "Loose In The World" is reissued on CD, both "Someone To Blame It On" and "I Can't Imagine" are included and furthermore 3 other bonus tracks including the album titled-tune "Loose In The World" which was not strangely included on the original release. "Never Get Over You" is a killer song and "Where You Gonna Run" is really good tune influenced by Steely Dan. "Loose In The World", one of the bonus tracks is worth listening and I cannot understand why this tune had not been on the original release.

 

For your information, Michael Carey Schneider, the lead singer of Sneaker is now doing gig with his country-rock band named "Spaghetti Western" in Los Angeles area now.

 

 

• Label: Cool Sound Inc., Japan (Original label: Handshake Records, USA)
• Release Date: December 15, 1998 (Original Release: Autumn,1982)
• Producer: Jeffrey Baxter
• Sneaker:
  • Tim Torrance: Guitars
  • Mitch Crane: Vocals, Guitars
  • Michael Carey Schneider :Vocals, Keyboards
  • Mike Hughes: Drums, Vocals, Piano
  • Michael Cottage: Bass
  • Jim King: Synthesizers, Piano, Acoustic Bass
• Additional Musicians
  • Guitars: Jeffrey Baxter
  • Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
• Tracks:
  1. Believe Me Tonight
  2. Quit Crying
  3. Before You
  4. The Fight ~ Voices
  5. Never Get Over You
  6. Where You Gonna Run
  7. Pour It Out
  8. Someone To Blame It On
  9. Did You Order One
  10. Nothing From You
  11. I Can't Imagine (Bonus Track previously released only on Japanese LP Record)
  12. All Or None (Bonus Track previously unreleased)
  13. Loose In The World (Bonus Track previously unreleased)
  14. Then It Came (Bonus Track previously unreleased - Sneaker Demo 1980)

International Order
115 North 10th Street, #3A, Fort Smith, AR 72901, USA Tel: 1-800-435-6185 Website: http://www.thoughtscape.com Georg Siegl, Landshuter Str. 11 84051 ALTHEIM, Germany Phone / Fax +49 8703 8517 Website: http://www.aorheaven.com

---

• ROBY DUKE / NOT THE SAME

   

  Roby Duke was one of the most popular Contemporary Christian Music singer among Japanese who liked AOR music in early 80's. His voice was so soft and his melodies were very friendly to us. This album is his solo debut album originally released under the label named MCA / Songbird, USA, which was established as the Contemporary Christian Music label distributed by MCA. After closing Songbird label, Roby continued to release 4 albums("Come Let Us The Reason"(1984), "Blue Eyed Soul"(1986), "Down To Business"(1989) and "Bridge Divine"(1994) ) with Good News Records, USA. Among his albums, 1st album "Not The Same" (this album) and 2nd album "Come Let Us The Reason" (1984) featuring Richard Page, Steve George and other talented musicians are said to be masterpiece albums among AOR/Westcoast Pop Music freaks.

 

"Not The Same" had been reissued on CD once in the United States under Ocean Records in 1992 (out of print at present). However, the CD tracklisting was different from the original release. That is to say, the Good News Records reissued CD included "You Love Me" (duet with Kelly Willard" instead of "Feel It Comin'". This Vivid Sound Corp's version has the original tracklisting.

• Label : Vivid Sound Corporation, Japan (VSCD-733) <Universal Victor, Japan>
• Release Date: January 20, 1999 (Original Release MCA -Songbird: 1982)
• Producers: Jonathan David Brown
• Musicians:
  • Guitars: Hadley Hockensmith, Marty Walsh
  • Keyboards; Harian Rogers
  • Bass: John Patitucci
  • Drums: Keith Edwards
  • Percussion: Alex MacDougall
  • Synthesizers: Rob Watson
• Tracks:
  1. Love Is Here To Say
  2. Time To Stand
  3. Seasons Of Change
  4. Carpenter (Do What You Got To Do)
  5. Feel It Comin'
  6. O Magnify The Load
  7. Can't Stop Runnin'
  8. Rested In Your Love
  9. Not The Same
  10. Promised Land

International Order
115 North 10th Street, #3A, Fort Smith, AR 72901, USA Tel: 1-800-435-6185 Website: http://www.thoughtscape.com Georg Siegl, Landshuter Str. 11 84051 ALTHEIM, Germany Phone / Fax +49 8703 8517 Website: http://www.aorheaven.com

 

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