
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" .
Past CD review index
by Artist Name
Contents
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Bobby Caldwell, one of the kings of AOR has just restarted his AOR journey with 2 great new tunes "Everytime You Say My Name" and "Rain", both of which are included on his U.S. Second anthology album "Time & Again" released in June 2001. We now have another Caldwell's compilation album "Songmaster" here in Japan. This CD includes 15 tracks which other artists covered all over the world plus the new tune "Everytime You Say My Name". |
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- Contemporary Jazz New Release (DVD-Audio)
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As already reviewed, David Diggs' new Contemporary Jazz album "E-Klek-Trik" CD-R version is available only through David's official website. I am pleased to inform that full high bandwidth 5.1 surround sound DVD release <all region 0 formats with still pix, DTS Dolby-Digital> is now available by 5.1 Entertainment Group / Silverline Records, USA. |
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- AOR / Adult Contemporary Reissue
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RECOMMENDED DISCS OF SEPTEMBER, 2001
NEW RELEASES
<ACM Rating: Lara Fabian, the best of
the best female singers in the current popular music world, now presents
you her 4th French language solo album. Comparing with her English
debut album, this album is much more well cordinated and uniformed
in terms of uniformity because Rick Allison, her longtime good musical
partner, fully organized this album without any noise. This album
is opened by "Adagio" type ballads tune "J'y Crois
Encore", the advanced-released single tune and the hidden over-16-minutes
piano instrumental track "Piano Nocturne". For Westcoast
Music lovers, "Scene Abler" must be a killer tune, on which
Bruce Gatisch plays marvelous
guitar. Another attractive tune should be mid-tempo beautiful tune
"Rio". "Bambina" is really really very beautiful
great gentle ballad-type tune written by Janey
Clewer and Lara rules!
LARA
FABIAN / NUE
>
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<ACM Rating:
CHRISTOPHER
CROSS / THE DEFINITIVE CHRISTOPHER CROSS
>
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This is really the definitive collection album of Christopher
Cross, which includes every hit tunes from the green one with a
flamingo, his debut album to after-Warner albums with several rare materials.
You can listen to "A Chance For Heaven", wrote and performed
for 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics album as Swimming Theme, which
was released also on CD format but almost impossible to find due to
very small number of copies. Another rare material is "Loving Strangers"
from 1986 Tom Hanks motion picture"Nothing In Common" sound
tracks. And we also listen 3 new remix; "I Will (Take You Forever)",
"Swept Away" and "Back On My Mind".
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Special Edition, which includes "All
Right" and "Ride Like The Wind" alternative
remix versions called as "Pumpin' Dolls Radio
Edit" instead of "Is There Something" and "Open
Up My Window", are also available. CD serial #
is 8122-73570-2. Its front artwork is also a
little different as shown in the left.
<ACM Rating: Hollywood born singer/songwriter Mark Winkler released his first
album "Jazz Life" in 1982 under U.S. Minor label "Music
Is Medicine". Since then, Mark started to collaborate with many
well-known contemporary jazz musicians such as David Benoit and Joe
Sample. Thus, his 2nd album "Ebony Rain" was completed and
released in 1987 by PAUSA. In 1989, "Hottest Night Of The Year"
featuring David Benoit, Russ Freeman, Dan Siegel, Diane Reeves and
Tom Scott, followed. Mark constantly released his albums in 1990's;
"Color Of Love" (1991), "Tales From Hollywood"
(1995) and "City Lights" (1998), all of which are very sophisticated
contemporary Jazz vocal albums. As regards "Tales From Hollywood",
Dan Siegel and Joe Pasquale (ex. Boys Club), producers of this album
added their pop touch and you can enjoy wonderful backing musicians
performances by John Robinson, Bruce
Gaitsch, Boney James and others. In 2000, Mark released Jazz album,
not contemporary but straight jazz one, "Easy The Hard Way"
full of 4 beat vocal tunes. And now, Cool Sound proudly presents you Mark Winkler's Best and
Rare Collections 2 CD. Disc 1 - Best Collection - includes Mark's
contemporary tunes from his original albums, 2 tunes from "Jazz
Life"(1982), 3 from "Ebony Rain" (1987), 3 from "Hottest
Nights Of The Year"(1989), 2 from "Color Of Love" (1991),
3 from "Tales From Hollywood" (1995) and 4 from "City
Nights" Disc 2 - Rare Collection" includes unreleased materials
and different versions including demos since 1988. All of unreleased
materials are really awesome. International
Order Melody
Blvd.
MARK WINKLER
/ WORLD OF MARK WINKLER -
BEST AND RARE COLLECTIONS
>
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Cruisin'
Music at
GEMM
<ACM Rating:
MACKEY FEARY
/ FOREVER & ONE DAY
>
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When Mackey was 17, Hawaii-born Mackey Feary started his
music career with Malani Bilyeu in 1972. One year later, Mackey and
Malani formed the legendary group "Karapana" with Kirk Thompson
and DJ Pratt. In 1975, Karapana released their first album and quickly
topped charts in Hawaii. Mackey suddenly left Karapana after releasing
their 2nd album "Karapana 2" in 1976 and started his solo career with
"Mackey Feary Band" (1978), and followed by "From The Heart" (1979).
Mackey released "Mackey Feary & Nite Life" in 1983 and
"Touch Sensitive" in 1984. It was February 1999 to hear very
sad news Mackey was gone and thought that we could never listen to Mackey
Feary's new recording materials which put aside as it had become too
emotional a project to work on. However, Kirk Thompson completed Mackey's
last recordings materials at last as a memorable experience.
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<ACM Rating: Player, well-known for their sensational debut single #1 hit "Baby
Come Back", was formed in Los Angeles in 1977 by Peter
Beckett (formerly of the UK group Skyband), Ronn Moss and J.C.
Crowley. After John joined, they got a deal with RSO label and released
the aforesaid "Baby Come Back. And then, their self-titled debut LP
followed. International
Order
PLAYER
/ PLAYER + DANGER ZONE
>
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<ACM Rating: International
Order Melody
Blvd.
GREG
PHILLINGANES / SIGNIFICANT GAINS
>
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Greg Phillinganes became well-known when Greg performed with
Stevie Wonder as the keyboards player of "Wonder Love", Stevie
Wonder's backing band in late 70's and early 80's. And Greg established
his status as a sound creator gradually around then. You can find his
name as the arranger on Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" album.
Greg also released 2 leader albums in early 80's. One is "Significant
Gains" (1981) and the other is "Pulse" (1984).
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Cruisin'
Music at
GEMM
<ACM Rating: International
Order Melody
Blvd.
EVIE
SANDS / SUSPENDED ANIMATION
>
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It was 1965 that Brooklyn-born Evie teamed up with songwriter
Chip Taylor and guitarist Al Gorgoni to record for Blue Cat Label. "Take
Me For A Little While".In 1968, A&M Records signed Evie and
she sold over 500,000 copies of "Any Way That You Want Me"
which Rolling Stone called one of the best singles of the year. And
Evie released her own album "Any Way That You Want Me" in
1969.
In the mid-seventies, Evie had two top 30 hits for Capitol Records and
released 2nd album "Estate Of Mind". In 1979, Evie released
"Suspended Animation" for RCA. Getting TOTO members and other
good L.A. top session musicians, Evie performed well.
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Cruisin'
Music at
GEMM
<ACM Rating: International
Order Melody
Blvd.
JOHN
VALENTI / I WON'T CHANGE
>
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Chicago-born John LiVigni (aka John Valenti) started to play
drums and sings with Larry Klimas at clubs in Chicago and Detroit as
"The Outfit", when he was a teen-ager. They scudded to be
signed with Motown and released 2 albums under the name of "Puzzle"
in early 70's. In 1976, John Valenti released his first solo album "Anything
You Want" featuring Jay Graydon,
Dean Parks and Ed Greene under Ariola Records. On this album, John penned
7 songs out of 11, which were really good mellow-blue-eyed-soul tunes.
In 1980, John embarked his second solo album for R with October 1980
USA release schedule. However, after all this second album "I Won't
Change" never released in the States but released only in Japan
in November 1981. As regards "I Won't Change", you must feel
typical early 80's Westcoast Pop atmosphere than blue-eyed flavor.
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Cruisin'
Music at
GEMM
<ACM Rating: International
Order Melody
Blvd.
TOBY
BEAU / IF YOU BELIEVE
>
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In the summer of 1978, the band Toby Beau released their debut
album "Toby Beau" featuring a smash hit single "My Angel
Baby". In 1979, Toby Beau completed their 2nd album " More
Than A Love Song" under the pressure how they should have another
smash hit. However, the band members except Balde Silva left the band
without doing any tour for the album. Thus, Balde Silva decided to record
third album by himself as Toby Beau. In this way, this album "If
You Believe" had been completed and released in 1980. Due to his
songwriting partner absence, Jerry Fuller, the producer of this album
gathered great tunes over the America, which made Toby Beau's sound
from country-flavored rock into Westcoast Pop / AOR.
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Cruisin'
Music at
GEMM
<ACM Rating: International
Order Melody
Blvd.
ROBERT
KRAFT / RETRO ACTIVE
>
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Robert Kraft was born in Princeton, NJ on February 4, 1951
and started to establish his music career as a composer in NY after
graduation from Harvard University. Robert formed his Jazz band "Ivory
Coast" and started to perform in NY clubs. In 1979, RSO Records
signed with them and released their album "Mood Swing" produced
by Phil Goldston.In 1980, Robert recorded his first solo album "Ready
To Bounce" but unfortunately this album was not released in the
States due to bankruptcy of RSO Records.(For your information, "Ready
To Bounce" was released only in Japan in 1985.) In spite of this
accident, Robert got a deal with RCA Records and thus "Retroactive"
was released in 1982. This album is said to be one of the AOR treasures
because of its perfect music quality. In 1989, Robert released another
album "Quake City" as an artist but he succeeded more as a
producer / songwriter in Los Angels music scene in early 90's.
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Cruisin'
Music at
GEMM
<ACM Rating: Melody
Blvd.
TOMMY
COOMES / LOVE IS THE KEY
>
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Tommy was born in Long Beach, California on May 9, 1946 and
grew up in nearby Lakewood. Tommy then quit college and entered the
Army. Discharged in the fall of 1969. Tommy moved to Orange County,
California. In 1971, Tommy started the CCM band "Love Song"
and released their debut album "Love Song" in 1971. Continuing
the band activity, Tommy started to produce praise albums for Maranatha!
label around 1974. In 1980, Tommy Coomes released his own solo album
"Love Is The Key" with his mellow voice and sophisticated
arrangement under Maranatha! label.


Cruisin'
Music at
GEMM
<ACM Rating: Mark Winkler started to reveal his songwriting ability in mid 70's.
The first well-known tune was "Tropical Nights" performed
by Liza Minnelli in 1977. On the other hand, Mark made demo recordings
in order to get an artist deal in those days. Mark signed a deal with
First America Records, Seattle and completed his first solo album
"Jazz Life" around 1980. And at last, "Jazz Life"
was released by Music Is Medicine, the subsidiary label of First American.
As the album title shows, Mark performs pop jazz tunes throughout
the album. And now, Cool Sound reissues this album with an unreleased
tune "Jazz Is Alive" originally recorded for this album
in 1982. Melody
Blvd.
MARK
WINKLER / JAZZ LIFE + 1
>
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Cruisin'
Music at
GEMM
<ACM Rating: Disc 1 Disc 2
MATHIESON,
LABORIEL, LANDAU & COLAIUTA / LIVE AT THE BAKED
POTATO 2000
>
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Greg Mathieson's 1982 "Baked Potato Super Live"
album is one of the best super fusion live performance recordings. Apart
from the fact that Greg Mathieson is a great sound creator / producer
/ songwriter, his 1989 solo album "For My Friends" released
under Headfirst Records was really thrilling excellent fusion album.
And now Greg Mathieson released those materials as live performance
recordings as "Mathieson, Laboriel, Landau, Colaiuta / Live At
The Baked Potato 2000" recorded on June 9, 10 and July 15, 2000.
We can listen to live performance recordings for 6 tracks out of 9 from
"For My Friends" now. Great live!

<ACM Rating:
TIN
DRUM / SMALL PARADE
>
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Burleigh Drummond, the founding and current drummer of Ambrosia,
formed Tin Drum with Mary Harris, in order to keep Burleigh creatively
satisfied. In 1995, Tin Drum released their first album " Real
World" after almost 6 months recording sessions.
The name Tin Drum comes from Gunter Grass' novel, "The Tin Drum",
which is the story about a boy who decides that staying young is preferable
to growing up. Burleigh says that the name is especially appropriate
because the music of Tin Drum is, at times, incredibly playful, young
and refreshing-especially the up-tempo percussion, crisp vocals and
intoxicating harmonies. In 2001, Tin Drum released their second effort
as the album"Small Parade".

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