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" .


Contents

 


RECOMMENDED DISCS OF MARCH, 1999

NEW RELEASES

 

Good Old TOTO is returning with the brand-new studio recording album "Mind Fields" featuring the original vocalist Bobby Kimball. I believe that many TOTO fans feels high frustration towards the recent TOTO's studio recording albums except "TOTO XX" after Joseph Williams had left the band. With respect to the album "King Of Desire" and "Tambu", Old TOTO fans were not satisfied with the album quality because most of the tunes did lose their good old sound harmonies and true vocals by the real professional vocalist. I admit Steve Lukather is a talented guitarist and very good composer but his 90's guitar play style were totally different from his good old guitar play in 80's. However, Luke sings very well on this album because he need not sing mid and up-tempo tunes and hard-driven tunes by Bobby's return to the band. On the track titled "Better World", you can feel TOTO' s progressive aspects which could be listened on "Hydra" album. "Melanie" (written by Steve Lukather, David Paich and Randy Goodrum) is very good Luke's ballad type song like "I'll Be Over You". "Mad About You" is typical good old TOTO type song, on which Luke plays like 80's good old Luke. "One Road" is my favorite on this album. This tune reminds me "Hydra" or "TOTO IV". Yes, TOTO is really back. "Mad About You" is another remarkable tune written by David Paich and Joseph Williams. For your information, Japanese version includes a bonus track titled "Spanish Steps Of Rome".
 

 

 

International Order

Georg Siegl, Landshuter Str. 11 84051 ALTHEIM, Germany
Phone / Fax +49 8703 8517
Website: http://www.aorheaven.com
International Order

115 North 10th Street, #3A, Fort Smith, AR 72901, USA
Tel: 1-800-435-6185
Website: http://www.thoughtscape.com

 

Another TOTO related artist is now back. Fergie Frederiksen, the second lead vocalist has completed his solo album. All the tunes are not so heavy and not hard. And you may be surprised to see the songwriter's name listed with each track. Steve Kipner, Bobby Caldwell, Richard Page, Steve George, John Lind, Martin Page and Brock Walsh dedicated their tunes to Fergie. However, you never expect the pure pop Westcoast sound from their name. Actually the basic sound of this album is produced and created by Ricky Phillips and also basic music tracks are made by Ron Wikso, Bruce Gowdy with Phillips, which means that the basic style is like mid 80's American Hard Rock. Comparing with Frederikesen-Phillips album, this album is pop one. I love "Mata Hari" which reminds me TOTO's 5th album "Isolation" featuring Fergie as the lead vocalist.

 

 
 

International Order

Georg Siegl, Landshuter Str. 11 84051 ALTHEIM, Germany
Phone / Fax +49 8703 8517
Website: http://www.aorheaven.com
International Order

115 North 10th Street, #3A, Fort Smith, AR 72901, USA
Tel: 1-800-435-6185
Website: http://www.thoughtscape.com

 

 

This is unreleased album of Tony Sciuto known for his masterpiece album "Island Nights". "Be My Radio" was recorded during 1980 - 1982 produced by Steve Dorff, the producer of "Island Nights" and himself. And Steve Lukather, Mike Porcaro, Bill Cuomo and Tom Scott are featuring. Furthermore, unreleased different version of 3 songs on "Island Nights" are included on this album.

 Tony Scuito / Be My Radio

 

International Order

Georg Siegl, Landshuter Str. 11 84051 ALTHEIM, Germany
Phone / Fax +49 8703 8517
Website: http://www.aorheaven.com
International Order

115 North 10th Street, #3A, Fort Smith, AR 72901, USA
Tel: 1-800-435-6185
Website: http://www.thoughtscape.com

 

 
Lara Fabian, the most successful French-Canadian female singer in European popular music industry has just released the live album full of her single hits taken from her second album "CARPE DIEM"(originally released in autumn 1994 in Canada) and her 3rd album "Pure"(originally released in autumn 1996 in Canada). I believe someone remember "Surrender To Me" duet with Richard Marx on Richard Marx's 5th album "Flesh And Bone" UK/European/French/Canadian version. When you listen to this live album, you must reconfirm how excellent Lara Fabian is. She sings all the songs on this live album in French because this album is targeted for French music world. As Celine Dion did, it is said that Lara is now preparing her worldwide debut English vocal album. When the English vocal album will appear in front of us, I am confident that Lara will be the super star more than Celine Dion.

 

Disc 1
  1. Ouverture Tout
  2. Alleuia
  3. Les amoureux de l'an deux mille
  4. Leila
  5. La difference
  6. Perdere l'amore
  7. J'ai zappe
  8. Si tu m'aimes
  9. Evidemment
  10. Tout
Disc 2
  1. Humana
  2. Urgent desir
  3. Ici
  4. Dites-moi pourquoi je l'aime
  5. Reveille-toi brother
  6. Je suis malade
  7. Je t'aime
  8. Je t'appartiens
  9. Requiem pour un fou <Duet with Johnny Hallyday>  

 

 

Kimberly Frank, a female singer coming from Atlanta, released her 1st solo album "1000 miles" in 1994, which includes the Beatles tune "If I Feel" duet with Joseph Williams. Kimberly has just released her 2nd album "Kimberly Frank", which impression is a little different from her 1st album. My honest impression for her 1st album is "just soft and mellow, but nothing else" and "having good classical touch, but need more pop tastes" "not bad, but something is missing" . But, when I listened to this album, it was "Is this Kimberly Frank's album?" On this album she sings more pop and having more mid 80's West Coast touch. She is now entering into our music world at last.

Kimberly Frank

 

Marco Mendoza 

 

International Order

115 North 10th Street, #3A, Fort Smith, AR 72901, USA
Tel: 1-800-435-6185
Website: http://www.thoughtscape.com

 

 

It is said among Adult Contemporary Music / Quiet Storm fleaks that Nobody but Peabo Bryson can sing better than Peabo Bryson. This is Peabo Bryson's long-waited new album. Everybody would agree that Peabo Bryson is one of the most successful duet singer. "Celebration" duet with Roberta Flack (1983), "Beauty And The Beast" duet with Celine Dion (for the Disney animated movie "Beauty And The Beast" and "A Whole New World" duet with Regina Belle (for the Disney animated movie "Aladdin" 1992) are very popular all over the world. On this new album, 2 duet tunes are featuring. His praters of this time are Debbie Gibson and Roberta Flack. Relax and enjoy another Peabo's world.

Peabo Bryson

International Order

115 North 10th Street, #3A, Fort Smith, AR 72901, USA
Tel: 1-800-435-6185
Website: http://www.thoughtscape.com
 
 

 

REISSUE

 

Frank & The Knockouts had released 2 albums Millennium Entertainment (distributed by RCA) and 1 album MCA. The original members were Franke Previte (Lead Vocals), Bill Elworthy (Guitars), Blake Levinsohn (Keyboards), Leigh Foxx (bass) and Claude LeHenaff (drums) in 1981 when their first album titled "Frank & The Knockouts".This is the debut album which contains debut hit single, "Sweetheart". I cannot help being reminded of Toto's first hit song "Hold The Line". As I reviewed, the rest of 2 albums of the group has been reissued in 1998, thus all the albums are now available on CD at last. And please note that you can listen the unreleased Franke's version of Oscar winning tune "Time Of My Life" featured in the movie "Dirty Dancing" (duet with Rochele Cappelli) as the Bonus Track.

Franke And The Knockouts

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

  Another Franke and The Knockout's CD has been released. This is the collection album from all 3 "Franke & The Knockouts" albums with 2 Bonus tracks already appeared as Bonus Tracks on the reissued CDs. If you do not want to buy all the 3 albums but at the same time want to listen to their best works, this is for you. It is very easy to buy this CD because of U,S. release.

Sweetheart Collection

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
 

Listen Before You Buy !

 

Listen Before You Buy !

 

 

 

Many visitors asks me where these recommended CDs can be bought via internet. So, I would give you the the several retailers links from this page also as bellow.

A.O.R. Specialized CD/LP Mailorder Retailers Page

 

Waiting for your Email to: takeito@cap.bekkoame.ne.jp

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