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 "Music Boulevard"/ "CD Now" and "Amazon.com" as "Noteworthy Discs of The Month" .

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

• Recommended Discs of July, 1999
  • New Releases
    1. Michael Franks / Barefoot On The Beach
    2. Ricky Peterson / Souvenir
    3. Genai / Heaven On Earth
    4. Hamish Stuart / Sooner Or Later
    5. Mark McMillen / It's About Time
    6. Latin On The Flipside / Latin On The Flipside
  • Reissues
    1. Bugatti & Musker / The Dukes
    2. Crackin' / Makings Of A Dream
    3. Le Blanc & Carr / Midnight Light
    4. Brian Elliot / Brian Elliot
    5. Donny Gerrard / Donny Gerrard

   

• Noteworthy Discs of July, 1999

• Adult Contemporary

  Larry Stewart / Learning To Breathe (Listen Before You Buy ! ) <ACM Rating: >

• Fusion / Smooth Jazz

  Dave Weckl Band / Synergy (Listen Before You Buy ! ) (Remarks: 1 Bonus Track "Isolated Incident" is added to Japanese Version.) <ACM Rating: >

• MICHAEL FRANKS / BAREFOOT ON THE BEACH <ACM Rating: >

 

Michael Franks has just delivered us an unchanged but excellent works under Windham Hill Jazz which Michael chose as his new partner, after saying good-bye to his long partner Warner Bros Records. To be honest, the former original album "Abandoned Garden" (1995) tribute to the late Antonio Carlos Jobim was basically the bosa-nova album due to the album concept, which could not satisfy my expectation to Michael Franks as one of the excellent Adult Contemporary Music singers. As regards "Dragonfly Summer", I was not so impressed with the album due to high expectation to Michael. Now, I am very satisfied with this sophisticated but passionate album. From the opening track "Barefoot On The Beach" to the ending track "Like Moon Behind A Cloud", Michael does fully show his talent as a singer and a songwriter on this album. If you like mid-80's Michael Franks albums, you are aware that Michael self-covers his own tune "Double Talk" on this album. This is another debut album of new Michael Franks towards Y2K under Windham Hill Jazz.

 

• Label: Windham Hill Jazz, USA (01934-11443-2)
• Release Date : May, 1999
• Producer: Chuck Loab and Jimmy Haslip
• Musicians:
  • Bass: Will Lee, Jimmy Haslip, John Patitucci
  • Drums: Shawn Pelton, Brian Dunne, Steve Gadd, Wolfgang Haffner
  • Guitars: Jeff Mironow, Chuck Loeb, Steve Khan
  • Piano: Bob James
  • Keyboards: Charles Blenzig, Jimmy Haslip, Chris Palmaro, Mike Ricchiuti
  • Sax: Jay Azzolina, Andy Snitzer, Bob Mintzer, Michael Brecker
  • Flugel Horn: Jim Hynes
  • Trombone: Brich Johnson
  • Trumpet: Larry Lunetta, Randy Brecker
  • Flute: David Mann
  • Vibraphone: Dave Sammuels
  • Strings: Jim Beard
  • Percussion: David Charles, Wolfgang Haffner, Bashiri Johnson
  • Duet Vocals on "Now Love Has No End": Valerie Simpson
  • Background Vocals: Carmen Cuesta, Chuck Loeb, Lani Groves, Will Lee, Tawatha Agee
• Tracklisting:
  1. Barefoot On The Beach
  2. Heart Like An Open Book
  3. Now Love Has No End
  4. The Fountain Of Youth
  5. When You Smiled At Me
  6. Double Talk
  7. Every Time She Whispers
  8. Why Spring Ain't Here
  9. A Walk In The Rain
  10. Mr. Smooth
  11. Like Moon Behind A Cloud

• RICKY PETERSON / SOUVENIR <ACM Rating:>

 

Ricky Peterson, the keyboard player and musical director of David Sanborn Band has released his 4th solo album after 4 years of silence since 1995. As many of you has already know, Ricky is not only one of the excellent keyboard player but also one of the man with good voice. On his former 3 solo albums, he shown his talent as a lead vocalist by singing Bill LaBounty's tunes such as "Livin' It Up" and Bobby Caldwell's tune "What You Won't Do For Love". On this album, Peter does sing "All I Ask Of You" written by Chris Eaton, the good Contemporary Christian Music singer-song writer and "Let Me Down Easy" written and originally performed by Richard Page on his solo album. This is the "Souvenir" from Ricky to us as the album title....

 

• Label: Windham Hill Jazz, USA (01934 11442-2)
• Release Date: June 15, 1999
• Producer: Himself
• Musicians:
  • Vocals: Lalah Hathaway
  • Additional Keyboards: Billy Peterson
  • Percussion: Don Allias, Lenny Castro
  • Drums: Michael Bland, Vinnie Colaiuta, Rocky Bryant
  • Bass: Paul Peterson, Billy Peterson, Tony Axtell
  • Guitars: Paul Peterson, Sonny Thompson, Robben Ford, Jim Behringer, Hiram Bullock, Paul Jackson Jr., Dean Brown,
  • Trumpet: Dave Jensen, Brad Shermock, Steven Strand
  • Sax: Kathy Jensen, Dale Mendenhall, Dick Oatts, Jason Peterson Delaire, Brandon Fields, David Sanborn
  • Trombone: Michael B. Nelson
  • Flute and Piccolo: Dave Karr
  • Background Vocals: Tony Axtell, Jason Peterson Delaire, Patty Peterson
• Tracklisting
  1. Drop Shot
  2. Do That Again
  3. Can We Still Be Friends
  4. Placid Paul
  5. May
  6. All I Ask Of You
  7. Ignorance Is Bliss
  8. Soft Touch
  9. Song For Lou
  10. Let Me Down Easy
  11. It's Alright
  12. Souvenir

• GENAI / HEAVEN ON EARTH <ACM Rating: >

   

"GENAI" is the duo unit comprising Ginai K. Johnston, a female singer, and Oliver Wendel, a multi-instrumetnal player. Based on the biography, Oliver Wendell, this Chicago-born guy started to work in Chicago music industry in 1979 and arrange and produce 3 musicals such as "Dream Girls" (1982), "Guys and Dolls" (1983) and "Tribute To Hollywood" (1983). He moved to Valencia California to study music theories and composition, video production from 1984 to 1986. Then, He made many sessions in Los Angeles with George Duke, Ray Parker Jr, and Ruth Pointer and you might see him on TV as the keyboard player appeared on the popular TV drama "Fame". Ginai K. Johnston, also born in Chicago and grown up in Hawaii has been performing many gigs in Hawaii and they met each other in 1996. And in 1999, this two talented musicians has completed their debut album "Heaven On Earth", Hawaii-flovered Jazzy Soul & AC album. You can easily find 6 cover tunes of fine Adult Contemporary Music such as "Africa" (TOTO), "Biggest Part Of Me" (Ambrosia), "It's Too Late" (Carol King) and "Human Nature" (Michael Jackson). Needless to say, they are really good, but more than those, GENAI's original tunes are excellent.

• Label: Videoarts Music, Japan (VACM-1141)
• Release Date: June 23, 1999
• Producer: Oliver Wendell
• Executive Producer: Yukihiro Hattori
• Associate Producer: Hiro Yamashita
• GENAI is:
  • Oliver Wendell: Guitars, Keyboards, Bass, Percussion,, Drum Programming
  • Ginai K. Johnston: Vocals
• Supporting Musicians:
  • Piano: Brian Simpson
  • Sax: David Choy
  • Trombone: Kenny Ebo
  • Sax: Everett Harp
• Tracks:
  1. Heaven On Earth
  2. Africa
  3. Temperamental Winds
  4. Runaway
  5. Brazil
  6. The Biggest Part Of Me
  7. Someday Out There
  8. It's Too Late
  9. Wouldn't You
  10. Human Nature
  11. Pretend

• HAMISH STUART / SOONER OR LATER <ACM Rating: >

 

HAMISH STUART known as ex-member of Average White Band and the supporting works with Paul McCartney just released his solo album "Sooner Or Later" which includes 14 new tracks, from romantic ballads to sophisticated slices of urban funk music. You can reconfirm the reason why Paul McCartney collaborated with Hamish only if you will listen to this album. Now is the time to check Hamish's own webpages at http://1212.com/a/stuart/hamish.html where you can listen to the sound clips and order this album.

 

• Label: Sulphuric Records, UK (SUCCD001)
• Release Date : June, 1999
• Musicians:
  • Drums: Ian Thomas
  • Bass: Steve Pearce
  • Percussion: Jody Linscott
  • Keyboards: Andy Wallace
  • Guitars: Adam Phillips
  • Sax, Flute: Chris Davis
• Tracklisting:
  1. Sooner
  2. Makin' It Up
  3. It Is What It Is
  4. Care For You
  5. I Don't Wanna Be A Rock
  6. La La Land
  7. Or
  8. Reach You
  9. New Kind Of Fool
  10. Same Old Moon
  11. Once There Was Love
  12. Midnight Rush
  13. Later
  14. She Is My Lady

 

 

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• Mark McMillen / It's About Time <ACM Rating: >

 

I guess you would like to ask me "Who is Mark McMillen?" Here is my answer: Mark McMillen is the last newly-appeared Adult Contemporary Singer / Songwriter in front of us before Year 2000. Otherwise you might already be aware of his name on your huge Adult Contemporary Music CD collection. Yes, he is touring with Bobby Caldwell as the keyboard player for the last 6 years. He also toured with Randy Crawford in Europe and U.S. And you might also find that Mark wrote "So Not To Worry" recorded by Chaka Khan, "I Give In" (on the album "Soul Survivor" 1995) recorded by Bobby Caldwell and "Sense Of Humor" (on the album "City Lights" 1998) recorded by Mark Winkler. As a producer, Mark McMillen produced Mark Winkler's album "City Lights" in 1998. As you guess, music style of this album is very similar with Bobby Caldwell's good AOR. If you would like to listen to good-old Bobby Caldwell, not traditional Jazzy Bobby Caldwell, this album is highly recommendable.

• Label: - (MGM1952)
• Release Date: Spring, 1999
• Producer: Himself
• Supporting Musicians:
  • Guitar: Holger Fath
  • Sax: Michael Lington
  • Background Vocals: Anjani Thomas
• Tracks:
  1. Talk Me Down
  2. Bring It On
  3. So Much More
  4. Love Had It's Day
  5. Soul Mates
  6. You're Everywhere
  7. Sleepwalkin'
  8. I Give In
  9. Living On Love
  10. Saving Grace
  11. Sense Of Humor
  12. The Last To Know

•  Latin on the Flip Side / Latin on the Flip Side <ACM Rating: >

   

"Latin On The Flip Side" is the Cool Latin-flovered Smooth Jazz unit by Leon Bisquera and Alfred Rubalcava, both of whom are L.A. based session musicians. Leon Bisquera is touring with Randy Crowford since 1993 and performing on the album of the Sax player Boney James'. As regards Alfred Rubalcava, you can find his name on Michael Sembello's album "Backwards In Time". This is one of the recommendable cool smooth Jazz CD for 1999 summer, if you like Latin-funk Jazz.

• Label: Highways Records, Japan (SKCY-1001)
• Release Date: June 21, 1999
• Producers: Leon Bisquera and Alfred Rubalcava
• Latin On The Flip Side is:
  • Leon Bisquera: Keyboards
  • Alfred Rubalcava: Bass, Vocals
• Supporting Musicians:
  • Guitars: James Harrah, Michael Sembello
  • Drums: Curt Bisquera
  • Sax: Boney James
  • Vocals: Libby
• Tracks:
  1. Rhumaba Japon
  2. Mambo A La Cha
  3. Sembello Blue
  4. Buggin' The Buddah
  5. Geisha Boogaloo
  6. Spanish Fly
  7. Bata Latin Funk
  8. Plum Jam
  9. Loopy Lu (Flip-A-Latin)

• Bugatti & Musker / The Dukes <ACM Rating: >

 

Bugatti & Musker are known as the UK songwriter team for their smash hit such as "Modern Girl" performed by Sheena Easton. "Every Woman In The World" performed by Air Supply was ranked # 5 on US Single Chart in 1980. Patti Austin performed "Every Home Should Have One" in 1981 as the title track of her album. In 1981, Chaka Kahn performed "Fate" which was included on Bugatti & Musker's own album afterwards. This is the only one commercial release album of this melody-maker team, one of the eternal masterpiece album.

• Label: Warner Music, Japan (WPCR-10435) (Original: Wea Recording)
• Release Date: June 23, 1999 (Original Release: 1982)
• Producer: Arif Mardin
• Musicians:
  • Drums: Ted McKenna, Jeff Porcaro, John Robinson
  • Bass: Will Lee, Abe Laboriel
  • Guitars: Steve Lukather, David Williams, Paul Jackson, Carlos Rios
  • Keyboards: Robbie Buchanan, Richard Tee, Bob Christian, Pete Cannarozzi
  • Horns: Larry Williams, Lew Soloff, Randy Brecker, Rober Mintzer, Roger Rosenberg, Keith O'quinn, Earl Gardner, Lawrence Feldman
  • Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa, Steve Foreman
  • Backing Vocals: Hamish Stuart, Mark Stevens, Will Lee, Marc Levy, Robin Beck, Mary Gaglia
• Tracks:
  1. Mystery Girl
  2. Survivor
  3. Thank You For The Party
  4. Memories
  5. Excitement Of The New
  6. Love Dance
  7. Soul Mates
  8. So Much In Love
  9. Fate
  10. Nite Music

• Crackin' / Makings Of A Dream <ACM Rating: >

  

Crackin' is also a legendary group of Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff featuring Leslie Smith. Their 1st album "Crackin'" was released in 1975 without Peter Bunetta. Therefore, this 2nd album "Makings Of A Dream" was the steppingstone album Peter Bunetta joined. If you have a chance to listen to their 3rd album "Special Touch" reissued CD, you may find the difference of their music style. That is to say, this 2nd album music style is to be said as San Francisco Bay Area Music, on the other hand, their 3rd and 4th album produced by Michael Omartian which made their sound Los Angeles' one.

• Label: Warner Music, Japan (WPCR-10355) (Original: Warner Bros. USA)
• Release Date: May 26, 1999 (Original Release: 1977)
• Producer: Russ Titleman
• Crackin' is:
  • Leslie Smith: Vocals
  • Arno Lucas: Vocals and Congas
  • Lester Abrams: Vocals, Fender Rhodes, Acoustic Piano, Clavinet
  • G.T. Clinton: Organ, Synthesizer, Fender Rhodes
  • Rick Chudacoff: Bass
  • Peter Bunetta: Drums
  • Bobby Bordy: Guitar
• Additional Musicians :
  • Percussion: Victor Feldman, Milt Holland
  • Horns: David Sanborn, Gene Dinwiddie
• Tracks:
  1. Feel Alright
  2. Take Me To The Bridge
  3. Beautiful Day
  4. I Want To Sing It To You
  5. Well And Good
  6. Who You Want Me To Be
  7. What Goes Around Comes Around
  8. You're Winning
  9. (There's A) Better Way

• LeBlanc & Carr / Midnight Light <ACM Rating: >

Muscle Shoals, Albama (USA) is well-known among music lovers as the place produced the funky soul sound known as Muscle Shoals Sound. Pete Carr was one of the main guitarists of Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section. In 1973, Lenny LeBlanc moved to Muscle Shoals and started session works as a bass player and vocalist. In 1975, Pete Carr succeeded to deal with Big Tree Records and released his solo album. On the other hand, Lenny LeBlanc also signed with the same label and released 2 solo albums in 1976 and 1977. However those albums did not sell well. Lenny and Pete started LeBlanc-Carr Band and released this album in 1977. The first single "Something About You" ranked # 48 and then "Falling" ranked # 13 on the US single chart in 1978. On this album, you can enjoy various music style from Rock'n Roll like Dobbie Brothers to Melodious Ballads full of harmony vocals. Without saying, "Desperado" is the cover tune originally performed by Eagles.

 

• Label : East West Japan Inc. (AMCY-6015) (Original Label: Big Tree Records distributed by Atlantic Records, USA)
• Release Date: May 26, 1999 (Original Release: 1977)
• Producer: Pete Carr
• Supporting Musicians :
  • Drums: Roger Clark
  • Bass: Butch Leadford, Bob Wray
  • Keyboards: Randy McCormick, Tim Henson, Clayron Ivey
  • Guitars: Robert Byrne
• Tracks:
  1. Something About You
  2. Falling
  3. How Does It Feel (To Be In Love)
  4. Midnight Light
  5. Stronger Love
  6. Johnny Too Bad
  7. Desperado
  8. Coming And Going
  9. I Need To Know
  10. I Believe That We

• Brian Elliot / Brian Elliot <ACM Rating: >

 

This is the only one solo album of Brian Elliot, one of the singer / songwriter who has the soft & mellow and free-soul feeling. In late 70's, many soft & mellow city-pop style albums strongly influenced by Boz Scaggs' "Silk Degrees" were released. Brian's solo album deserves one of the masterpiece albums among them. If you like Kenny Lankin, try this album too. For your information, Brian wrote 1986 # 1 hit tune "Papa Don't Preach" performed by Madonna.

• Label : Warner Music, Japan (WPCR-10354) (Original: Wea International Inc.)
• Release Date: May 26, 1999 (Original Release: 1978)
• Producers: Erik Jacobsen and himself
• Musicians:
  • Guitar: Larry Carlton, Fred Tackett, Lee Ritenour, Jay Graydon, Steve Beckmeier
  • Bass: David Hungate, Wilton Felder, Bob Glaub
  • Drums: Jeff Porcaro, Mike Baird, James Gasdon, Gary Ferguson
  • Vibes: Victor Feldman
  • Marimba: Julious Wechter
  • Background Vocals: Sherry Fox, Sue Richmann, Valerie Carter, Dyanne Chandler, The Jones Sisters, The Waters
  • Horns: Anthony Terran, Julius Wechter, William B. Peterson, David Wells, Lew McCreary, William Perkins, Steve Madaio, Seawind Horns
  • Percussion: John Rhyss
• Tracks:
  1. Let's Just Live Together
  2. Summer Nights In Hollywood
  3. Queen Of Clowns (One For Lily T.)
  4. Room To Grow
  5. Tickets To Rio
  6. The First Time
  7. Seventeen Goin' On Twenty-One
  8. Old Nueva Laredo
  9. Las Vegas Wedding
  10. One Last Night Together

• Donny Gerrard / Donny Gerrard <ACM Rating: >

 

Donny Gerrard is known as the lead vocalist of the legendary group "Skylark" featuring David Foster. "Wild Flower" from the first album of Skylark ranked #9 on the US single chart. After Skylark disbanded, Danny started as a session singer and had a chance to release a single "(Baby) Don't Let It Mess Your Mind" under Rocket Records established by Elton John in 1975. In 1976, Danny released this first solo album under Greedy Records whose executive were Henry Marx, the producer of this album and now the president of Sin-Drome Records known for Bobby Caldwell's release. It should be stated for you that "Peace For Us All" on this album is the composition of Bobby Caldwell before his making solo debut album in 1978. And It might be remarkable that this album is the early year producing works of Robbie Buchanan known as the member of Maxus. Furthermore, you can enjoy Jay Graydon's super guitar play on this album too.

 

• Label : COOL SOUND Inc, Japan (COOL-026) (Original Label: Greedy Records, USA)
• Release Date: June 10, 1999 (Original Release: 1976)
• Producers : Henry Grumpo Marx and Robbie Buchanan
• Musicians :
  • Guitars: Jay Graydon
  • Bass: Wilton Felder
  • Drums: Mike Baird, Ed Greene
  • Keyboards: Robbie Buchanan
  • Background Vocals: Kathy Collier, Venetta Fields, Carmen Twille
  • Horns: Steve Madaio
• Tracks:
  1. He's Always Somewhere Around
  2. Stay Awhile With Me
  3. Words (Are Impossible)
  4. Stand Up (And Show Your Love)
  5. The Long And Winding Road
  6. Greedy For Your Love
  7. Peace For Us All
  8. You Must Believe Me
  9. As Far As We Can Go
  10. Darin' (Bonus Track)

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