Many Adult Contemporary Music CD's are still being released everywhere in the world. So, I would hereby let you know Adult Contemporary Music New Releases and Reissues information as "Quaterly Recommended Discs" (Sorry, most updated info now on the ACMJ International Blog) . I would highly recommend you to buy several albums by reading my personal reviews. This page might not be so much often updated as before. Instead, please check my ACMJ International Blog for the most updated infromation.

Joe Chemay / Unformattable

<ACM Rating: >

Joe Chemay, acclaimed bass player and singer is well known for his recording session and touring with big names including The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd ("The Wall" tour) to name a few. Among AOR/Westcoast music lovers, Joe is one of the legendary solo artists known for his 1981's release "Joe Chemay Band / The Riper The Finer" for Unicorn Records, distributed by MCA. Otherwise, you should know that Joe has been touring with Peter Cetera these years. In 2008, Joe Chemay released his solo venture entitled "Unformattable" on digital download only at Amazon.com and/or i-Tunes Store. I am very pleased to inform that this brilliant album has just been released on physical CDs finally here in Japan!

Joe expalins the reason why this album is entitled "Unfomattable" as follows;  "This collection of songs wasn't targeted for any specific genre. I couldn't see how it would fit into one "Format" (Pop, Jazz, Country, etc.) as specific as radio is today. So, I titled it 'Unformattable' ".  He contnued,  "I'm not one who's drawn to the spotlight, so I haven't been out there selling myself all these years. Because of that I have lost contact with many friends and fans, but have not forgotten your love and support. This album was a way for me to offer a reconnection point. Thanks." Enjoy long-awaited Joe Chemay's album!

• Label: Vivid Sound Corp. Japan  (VSCD-3338)
• Release Date: January 20, 2010 (Original digital download release: Jan. 2008)
  
• Producers: himself
• Joe Chemay: All instruments
  

International Order

• Tracks
  1. Look At Us Now
     
  2. Dream On
  3. Words
  4. Room Full Of Blues
  5. The Lost And Formal
  6. Easy To Love
  7. Rockin' The Boat
  8. It's Hot Down Here
  9. One Man's Meat
  10. A Changed Man
      

Blanc Faces / Falling From The Moon

<ACM Rating: >

We are now having one of the greatest AOR/Melodic albums over the dacades in 2009. It is Blanc Faces's new album entitled “Falling from The Moon” in November 6th in Europe and November 26th in the USA. Japanese release followed in January 2010.  In July of 2005,  Blanc Faces, headed by the brothers duo, Robbie and Brian La Blanc world-wide major debuted with their self titled album showing the world that the time for big harmonies was not over. Following the huge responses, Blanc brothers started putting together musical material for their second album which they completed in the summer of 2009.  This is an astonishing album that restores the faith in Classic AOR / Melodic Rock music. If you are a fan of Journey, Foreigner and Survivor, you will love this recording!
Many AOR/Melodic Rock lovers know the fact that the brothers recorded and relelased an album as "Fury" in 1985, produced by renowned lead singer, Felix Cavaliere from the group "Young Rascals", which was so amazing. In addition to this, before world-wide first album release as Blanc Faces in 2005, they released an album entitled "When The World Comes Down" as Blanc Faces in 1999, which was also with full of excellent harmonies.

• Label: Frontiers Records, Italy (FRCD431), King Records, Japan (KICP-4155)
• Release Date: November 6,  2009 (EU), Novermber 26, 2009 (USA), January 27, 2010 (Japan)
  
• Producer: Brian & Robbie LeBlanc
  
• Blanc Faces is:
  • Robbie LeBlanc: Lead Vocals, Guitars
    
  • Brian LeBlanc: Bass
    
• Musciains:
  • Drums: Kyle Woodring
  • Guitars: Butch Taylor, Michael Patzig
  • Keyboards: Jeff Batter
    

International Order

• Tracks:
  1. I Come Alive
  2.  Falling From The Moon
  3. I Swear To You
  4. Everything
  5. It's All About The Love
  6. Goodbye Summer Goodbye
  7. Deep In The Heart
  8. Don't Take It Away
  9. Like A Believer
  10. Light Of The World
  11.  I Will
  12. Fly
  13. Deep In The Heart (Acousic Verision) (bonus track only for Japan)

Mastedon / 3

<ACM Rating: >

Mastedon is the Hard Rock band put together by ex KANSAS singer John Elefante, together with his brother Dino in the late 80’s. The band's name was a pachyderm-inspired reference to the brothers' last name. Although John was an accomplished vocalist and performer, the first two Mastedon albums featured multiple lead singers and performances by other artists, creating an eclectic sound anchored by John’s songwriting. His brother Dino played a prominent role, contributing songwriting and handling most of the guitar work. In 1996, John Elefante started a solo career that brought him to release three successful albums more in the Adult Contemporary - Pop Rock vein. After a few years of hiatus, John decided to go back to his roots sound with a brand new Mastedon album that - contrary to the predecessors – would only feature his amazing lead vocals. Musically, the new album, simply entitled “3” harkens back to the best of Mastedon and to his work with Kansas. None other than main Kansas songwriter Kerry Livgren appears on lead guitar on this new release, collaborating on a 11 minute piece of music that any Kansas fan will surely love! Rich melodic harmonies and melodies are the keys to a Mastedon record and “3” is clearly an instant winner in all its moments and will remain as an hallmark in John Elefante's career for many years to come.

• Label: Frontiers Records, Italy (FRCD432), King Records, Japan (KICP-1452)
• Release Date: November 6,  2009 (EU), Novermber 26, 2009 (USA), January 27, 2010 (Japan)
  
• Producer: John Elefante
  
• Musicians:
  • Drums and Percussions: Dan Needham
  • Bass: Anthony Sallee, Tim Smith
  • Keyboards: John Elefante
    
  • Guitars: John Elefante, J.R. McNeely, Dave Amato, Kerry Livgren, Dino Elefante
  • String Arrangements:  Daniel Dee John, John Elefante
    
  • Backing Vocals: John Elefante, Dave Amato, Dino Elefante, Samantha Nicole
    

International Order

• Tracks
  1. Revolution Of Mind
  2. Slay Your Demons
  3. Nowhere Without Your Love
  4. One Day Down By The Lake (See You Real Soon)
  5. Water Into Wine (Fassa Rokka)
  6. Questions (It's About Time)
  7. You Can't Take Anything
  8. Lying
  9. Western World
  10. That's What You Do
  11. Dust In The Wind (bonus track)
  12. Questions  (Acoustic Remix) (bonus track only for Japan)

Peter Mayer / Goodbye Hello

<ACM Rating: >

Guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Peter Mayer's latest long-await album is Beatles covers entitled "Goodbye Hello". Peter Mayer, along with very special musical guests including 2 original PM members Jim Mayer and Roger Guth performs their spectacular versions of "The Beatles' classic tunes".

• Label: LittleFlock Music, USA (LFM-1011)
• Release Date: November 4, 2009
• Producer: himself
• Peter Mayer: Lead & Background Vocals, Guitars
  
• Musicians:
  • Drums: Roger Guth
  • Bass: Jim Mayer
  • Guitars:  Mac McAnally, Dan Rublight
  • Mandolin: Mac McAnally
    
  • Keyboards: Mike Utley, Chris Walters
  • Accordion: Jeff Taylor
  • Tabla: Jim Feist
  • Flute, Bamboo Flute: Mark Holland
  • Trumpet: John Lovell
    
  • Percussion: Robert Greenridge, R. Scott Brian
    
  • Violin: Amy Oshiro, Angie Smart Magie Estes, Juliana Walter
    
  • Viola: Morris Jacob, Linda Davis
    
  • Cello: Melissa Brooks, David Vanderkool
  • Lead Vocals, Guitar on track12: Jimmy Buffett
    
  • Background Vocals: Tim Gullickson, R. Scott Brian, India Mayer
    

• Tracks:
  1. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
  2. Come Together
  3. Here Comes The Sun
  4. Penny Lane
     
  5. Michelle
  6. I Feel Fine
  7. Fixing a Hole
  8. Norwegian Wood
  9. Strawberry Fields Forever
  10. Fool on the Hill
  11. We Can Work It Out
  12. Rocky Raccoon
  13. Blackbird
  14. Hello Goodbye
  15. Something

Alessi Brothers / All Our Life + Pure Alessi

<ACM Rating: >

Alessi Brothers would proudly present you their collectors edition live DVD, "All Our Life" Performing all the Classic Alessi Songs with their new studio recording brand new CD, "Pure Alessi". The DVD captures Alessi Brothes hot live performances recorded at Brasserie/Jazzcafé Wakker in Eemnes Netherlands in April 2009, featuring their well-known 21 tracks including the "All For A Reason", "Seabird", "Avalon" and "Oh Lori".

• Label: Home Of Jazz, Netherlands (HOJ-1006, 1007)
• Release Date: October , 2009
• Producers;
• Alessi Brothers:
  • Bobby Alessi: Lead & Background Vocals, Guitars
    
  • Billy Alessi: Lead & Background Vocals, Keyboards
    
• Musicians (CD "Pure Alessi")
  • Drums: Danny Sahupala, Mike Ricciardella, Gino van Ligten
    
  • Bass: Lene te Voortwis
  • Guitars: Ervin van Ligten, Mike Barberich, Peppy Castro
    
  • Keyboards: Mike Ricciardella
  • Piano: Julia Bamm
    
  • Sax: Joel Scannell
    
  • Lead Vocals: Ervin van Ligten, Julya Lo'ko
    
  • Background Vocals: Julya Lo'ko, Ervin van Ligten, Mike Campi, Jon Hicks, Mike Martino, Steve Alkermis
    

• Tracks (DVD "All Our Life")
1. Do You Feel It
2. You Can Have It Back
3. Joanna
4. Sad Songs
5. Oh Lori
6. Medley Don't Hold Back/Big Deal
7. Seabird
8. Avalon
9. Rainbows Go On Forever
   
10. I'll Remember
11. Livin' With A Broken Heart
12. Sunrise
13. Forever
14. Soulmates
15. Blue Skies
16. What A Way To Go
17. All For A Reason
18. Quarter Of A Man
19. Little One
20. Just Like That
21. Oh Lori (extra)
    
22. 
    
• Tracks (CD "Pure Alessi")
  
  1. Love Won't Let Go
  2. I Believe
  3. I Try
  4. I'll Remember
  5. If I Could
  6. Jackie Paper
  7. Keep On Lovin' Me
  8. A Place In Time
  9. One Again
     
  10. Wait Till Morning
  11. Little One
  12. One Heartbeat At A Time
  13. Darla Moon
  14. Livin' With A Broken Heart (bonus track)

Lava / Symphonic Journey

<ACM Rating: >

In their 30th anniversary, The leading Scandinavian AOR/Wesrcoast band LAVA their first live album  "Symphonic Journey", 30 years after the debut. LAVA was started in Årdal in Sogn in 1977 by Svein Dag Hauge (guitars) and Per Hillestad (drums), and was at first an instrumental jazz / rock band. The debut album "LAVA" was released in 1980. Their 2nd album "Cruisin" came out in 1981with Rolf Graf (bass), Per Kolstad (keyboards), and both are now remaining original members, in addition to Egil Eldøen (vocals). Eldøen joined the band in 1982 when guitarist Marius Müller withdrew in favor of his solo career. In addition, the band with the keyboardist Stein Austrud and saxophonist Kåre Kolve as associate members. On stage you will se the normal line up extended with trumpet player Marius Haltli.
As the album title indicates, the album is the live recordings with The Norwegian Radio Orchestra (KORK), which was recorded at Rockefeller Music Hall, Oslo, March 16, 2007.  The title "Symphonic Journey" indicates that the album has an orchestral and symphonic twist to it. Thus, you can fully enjoy the different aspects of the band playing songs taken from all of the band's 7 studio albums.  The album comes with a bonus DVD which is a complete concert where LAVA performs at Oslo Jazz Festival at Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo on August 15, 2005.  The DVD is region free but PAL format only. Therefore, in case your DVD player can play NTSC format only, you cannot see this DVD.

• Label: Tyden & Co AS, Norway (GTACD8462)
• Release Date: November 16, 2009
• Producers:  Svein Dag Hauge and Rolf Graf
  
• Lava is:
• Egil Eldøen : Lead Vocals
• Rolf Graf : Bass, Background Vocals
  
• Svein Dag Hauge : Guitars, Background Vocals
  
• Per Hillested : Drums, Percussion
  
• Per Kolstad: Keyboards
• Associate members:
• Stein Austrud: Keyboards
• Kaare Kolve: Sax
• Musicians (CD)
  • Backing Vocals - Mariann Lisland, Per Øystein Sørensen
    
  • Norwegian Radio Orchestra
    
  • Conductor - Paul Bateman
• Musicians (Bonus DVD)
  • Trumpet - Marius Haltli
    
    

 

International Order

(EU only)

• Tracks (CD):
  
1. Empty Shadows
2. Closet
3. The Rhythm Of Love
4. Cover Me
5. I Guess You Broke My Heart
6. Shine A Little Light
7. Aquilo Blow
   
8. Breaking Away
9. Hard Times
10. Take Your Time
11. Losing You
12. Journey
13. Transition Man
14. You
    

• Tracks (Bonus DVD):
  1. Aquilo Blow
  2. Fly Like An Arrow
  3. Another Yesterday
  4. The Woman I Want
  5. Closet
  6. Cover me
  7. Tears are not enough
  8. Alibi   
     
  9. 2.12
  10. Transition Man
  11. Boogie Down
  12. The Rhythm Of Love
  13. Sophie
  14. The Ratter
  15. You

Venice / Electric Live And Amplified

<ACM Rating: >

Venice, one of  the best active Westcoast bands, established their firm status in Netherlands in ealry 2000's. Since then, they regularlily performs live there. This is the result; "Electric - Live and Amplified" CD recorded in the Netherlands Spring 2009. Electric – Live and Amplified" offers the hard proof that Venice can still turn the amps up and rock out with the best of them.  The CD features 15 songs nearly 80 minutes, which opens with four quality vintage materials in a row and followed by "Pushed Her Too Far" from their 1990 self-titled major debut album for Atlantic Records. The second last song of the CD is "All My Life" again taken from their 1990 debut album.

• Label: Lennon Records, USA (LR-1002)
• Release Date: November, 2009
• Producer: Michael Lennon
  
• Venice is:
  • Kipp Lennon: Lead & Background Vocals
  • Mark Lennon: Lead & Background Vocals
  • Michael Lennon: Lead & Background Vocals, Guitars
  • Pat Lennon: Lead & Background Vocals, Guitars
    
• Additional Musicians:
  • Mark Harris: Bass
  • Nick Bult: Keyboards
  • Jamie Wollam: Drums
    

• Tracks:
  
1. The Water
2. Bleeding
3. Circus In Town
4. My Town
5. Pushed Her Too Far
6. Evolve
7. Things You Are
8. Baby′s Calling
9. High So High
10. Very Real
11. My Own House
12. One Quiet Day
13. Think Again
14. Au My Life
15. If I Were You
    

David Pomeranz / A Personal Touch

<ACM Rating: >

David Pomeranz’s new 12-song CD compilation of his most beloved Romantic hits including, “On This Day”, “Born For You”, “The Old Songs” and special intimate versions of his classic compositions, “Tryin’ To Get The Feeling Again” and “If You Walked Away”. David expains about this album as follows; "This is a compilation album of love songs containing previously released material (though some with alternate vocal takes and mixes), along with some new and surprising versions that I thought you might enjoy."

• Label: Upward Spiral Records, USA (USR-1004)
• Release Date: October, 2009
• Producers:  Jim Peterick, Lorrie Illistre, Kurt Howell and himself
  

 

International Order

• Tracks:
  
1. On This Day (alternative mix)
2. Tangled And Tied
3. A Personal Touch
   
4. I Learned It All From You (alternate vocal)
5. Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again
6. Old Home Town
7. I Still Believe In You
8. The Smile U Save 4 Me
9. Born For You (alternate vocal)
   
10. If You Walked Away
11. The Old Songs
12. My Romance
    

Lionel's Dad / You Got That Movie

<ACM Rating: >

Mark T Williams released his 8th album under Lionel's Dad titled "You Got That Movie". The album contains 14 songs  including intersting old material such as  "I've Made Lovin' You A Habit" (best known as a demo with his brother Joseph Williams for the unreleased Bond project) and/or "That Girls Heart" featuring Joseph Williams  on lead vocal. It also features  2 cover songs, "Forget me not" originally performed by Pratrice Rushen and Elton John's "Blue eyes".

• Label: Andromeda Discs, USA (LD088)
• Release Date: October 10, 2009
• Producer: Mark Towner Williams
  
• Mark Towner Williams: Lead & Background Vocals, Guitars
  
• Musicians:
  • Guitars: Eric Sopanan, Terrance Hansen, Bruce Gowdy, Mike Reilly
  • Keyboards: Joseph Williams, James Newton Howard
  • Lead Vocals (track 10): Joseph Williams
  • Steel Drum: Eric Rodig
    
  • Background Vocals: Jeanette Clinger, Robert Battaglia, Barry Conley, Jed Moss, Eric Rodig
    

• Tracks:
  1. You're the One
  2. Forget Me Nots
     
  3. Need A Miracle
  4. Black Eyes, Blue Tears
  5. I Was Runnin' Away From You 
     
  6. Now I Know
  7. Still My Girl
  8. You Got That Movie
  9. When I Fell In Love With You
     
  10. That Girls Heart (tk 1)
      
  11. Turn Away
  12. I've Made Lovin' You A Habit
      
  13. The Truth (tk 1)
      
  14. Blue Eyes