Adult Contemporary Music in Japan

Joseph Williams,Toto's third lead vocalist (1986-1989) was born in Los Angels on September 1, 1960. He is known as a son of very famous movie music composer, John Williams.

 

He had released his solo album titled "Joseph Williams" in 1982 from Great Records before he joined Toto. You can easily find his name as a performer of "Save The Night" on the movie soundtrack "Goonies" (1985). Furthermore some of crazy AOR lovers found out his name on the album for work-out titled "Body by Jake / Don't Quit" (1984). After he left Toto in 1989, his lead vocal tracks could be listened on some compilation albums etc.

• JOSEPH WILLIAMS

• Label : Cool Sound Inc. (COOL-007) / Cool Sound Japan (COOL-092) / WHD Entertainment , Japan (IECP10156) <Original Release: The Great Record and distributed by MCA, USA (MCA 5316)>
• Reissue CD Release Date: June 25, 1998 / 2nd Reisse: October 10, 2002 / 3rd Reisue: November 19, 2008 (Original Release: 1982)
• Producer: Jay Gruska
• Musicians:
  • Bass: Dean Cortez
  • Moog Bass: Jay Gruska
  • Keyboards (& Piano): Robbie Buchanan, David Garfield, Michael Omartian
  • Guitar: Steve Lukather, Michael Landau
  • Drums: Mark T. Williams
  • Percussion: Lenny Castro
  • Sax: Steve Tavaglione
  • Horns: Jerry Hey, Chuck Findley, Larry Williams, Jim Horn
  • Background Vocals: Richard Page, Steve George, Tommy Funderburk

• Tracks:
  1. What Is She Hiding
  2. That First Night
  3. Takin' It
  4. One More Chance
  5. I Didn't Do It
  6. This Girl
  7. Something Special
  8. Nothing's Lost
  9. Make Some Time
  10. Takin' It <Demo Version> (Bonus Track for Reissued CD)
  11. Make Some Time <Alternative Version> (Bonus Track for Reissued CD)
• Tracks (2nd Reissue CD / 3rd Reissue CD):
1. What Is She Hiding
2. That First Night
3. Takin' It
4. One More Chance
5. I Didn't Do It
6. This Girl
7. Something Special
8. Nothing's Lost
9. Make Some Time
10. Anything You Say(Bonus Track)
11. You Forever (Bonus Track)
12. I Didn't Do It <Alternative Take> (Bonus Track)

• I AM ALIVE

• Label : Kitty Enterprise, Inc. Japan (KTCR-1803) / Intercord Record Service, Germany (IRS 993.173)
• Release Date: March 6, 1996 (Japan) / March 1997 (Germany)
• Producers: Joey Carbone, Jay Gruska and himself
• Musicians:
  • Drums: Jeff Porcaro
  • Bass: Jason Scheff, Mike Porcaro
  • Guitars: Jay Graydon, James Harrah, Michael Landau, Mark Goldenberg, Michael Thompson
  • Keyboards: Joey Carbone, Steve Porcaro, Jay Gruska
  • Percussion: Lenny Castro
  • Background Vocals: Amye Williams, Bobby Kimball, Bill Champlin, Jason Scheff, Jay Gruska, Danny Peck, Paul Gordon, Katy Segal

• Tracks:
  1. Perfectly Clear
  2. Heroes
  3. Cool Night
  4. I Am Alive
  5. Babylon
  6. Dirty Little War
  7. Unarm Your Heart
  8. Out Of Harms Way
  9. I Believe In You
  10. I'd Rather Dance By Myself
  11. Never Let You Go
  12. Afterlife

• EARLY YEARS

"Early Years" CD Limited 200 copies edition were released secretly on "Not for Sale" basis only for Japanese fan club <A.O.R. CLUB> members as a special gift project in December 1998. (Now you can see the original CD jacket on the left side.) Joseph himself and Joey Carbone, the producer of Joseph's 2nd/3rd Solo albums and the coordinator of this special project decided to release this "Early Years" CD on commercial basis with the same tracklisting as the A.O.R. CLUB version but the artworks has been a little improved. This is a collection of Joseph's unreleased demo recorded between 1981 to 1990.

• Label: Nubieboyz Records (NB42951) <distributed by Intercord (Germany), Cargo (UK) , Thoughtscape (USA)>, Tricycle Entertainemnt (Japan) (TNCP-6) (Reissue: WHD Entertainment, Japan (IECP-10157)
• Release Date: July , 1999 (Japan: December 22, 1999) (Reissue: November 19, 2008)
• Producer: Joseph Williams
• Executive Producer: Joey Carbone
• Musicians:
  • Keyboards: Joseph Williams and Jay Gruska
  • Guitars: Michael Landau
  • Bass: Mark Brown
  • Drums: Mark T. Williams
  • Sax: George England
  • Backing Vocals: Jay Gruska, Deena

• Tracks:
  1. Running On A Deadline
  2. Never Be The Same
  3. Pump Jockys
  4. Fire Power
  5. I'm Holding On To You Forever
  6. Pretty Face
  7. Running In The Dark
  8. Reckless Heart
  9. Hold Me Down
  10. Times Have Changed

• VERTIGO

Quite simply the follow up album that the TOTO fans have never been able to hear since "The Seventh One". If you like these TOTO songs:- "We Can Make It Tonight" and "Can't Stand It Any Longer" from the 1986 album "Fahrenheit", "Stay Away", "Only The Children" from the 1988 album "Seventh One", this album will be one of your favorite one.Vertigo disc kicks off with "Not Enough Hours In The Night", a catchy pop tune by Jim Peterik (Survivor) and Matt Thomfon, that reminds me a little of "Goin' Home" from Joseph's 3rd solo album "3" (also on the album "TOTO XX" sung by B. Kimball). Joey Carbone / Dennis Belfield penned songs "Straight To Your Heart" and "More Than Enough" follows. Joey Carbone also dedicates another song called "Love Is Blind". These 3 songs make the album well-balanced one. On the hard-driven but melodic tune "I Want To Be Wanted", Alex De Rosso plays the lead guitar like Neal Schon rather than Steve Lukather. The best track of the album must be "China Sky", another catchy but sophisticated pop tune featuring Alex De Rosso's spacious lead guitars and also with brilliant harmony vocals. I can say that "China Sky" is one of the best Joseph's performance over the years including TOTO days! There is no slow ballads on this album, but you will never be tired of listening from the first track to the last one.

• Label: Frontiers Records, Italy (FR CD 167) (Japan: King Records, Japan <KICP-956>)
• Release Date: September 26, 2003 (Japan) / October 20, 2003 (Europe)
• Producers: Fabrizio V. Zee Grossi
• Executive Producers: Serafino Perugino and Joey Carbone
• The Band:
  • Joseph Williams: Lead and Background Vocals
  • Francis Beitez: Background vocals
  • Fabrizio V. Zee Grossi: Bass, Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards, Samples, Loop and Drums Programming
  • Alex De Rosso: Lead Guitars
  • Biggs Brice: Live and Roland Drums
  • Jim Scattolin: Additional Guitars

• Tracks:
  1. Not Enough Hours In The Night
  2. Straight To Your Heart
  3. More Than Enough
  4. Never Let You Go
  5. I Don't Want To Go
  6. I Want To Be Wanted
  7. China Sky
  8. Love Is Blind
  9. When It Doesn't Matter
  10. Sarah
  11. Vertigo
• Bonus Track (Track 12)
  • Europe: Not Enough Hours In The Night (Acoustic Version)
  • Japan: I Don't Want To Go (Remix)

• Two Of Us

This is the suspended release known as "Beautiful Music edition 1 organized by TBC" originally scheduled to be released in October 2002. This is Romantic Love Songs collection album featuring Joseph's tender voices basically With only a piano as backing music. Joseph beautifully covers great tunes such as Boz Scaggs' "We Are All Alone", Richard Marx's "Now and Forever", Vanessa Williams's "Save The Best For Last", Bryan Adams's "?iEverything I Do?jI Do It For You", and Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me". Basically, this album must be produced as the follow-up to West Coast All Stars, A Capella project featuring Joseph with Bobby Kimball, Jason Scheff and Bill Champlin (or Tommy Funderburk). Very simple production, but very rich vocal of Joseph makes this project alive. Just enjoy Joe's world.

• Label: Music Garden - HoriPro Inc. / WHD Entertainment Inc., Japan (IECP-10038)
• Release Date: May 24, 2006
• Executive Producer: Kaz Hori
• Producer: Joey Carbone
• Joseph Williams: Lead & Background Vocals
• Musicians:
  • Piano: Jim Cox

• Tracks:
  1. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
  2. Unchained Melody
  3. Because You Loved Me
  4. Now And Forever
  5. Your Song
  6. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
  7. Have I Told You Lately (Have I Told You Lately That I love You)
  8. Can't Fight This Feeling
  9. We're All Alone
  10. Can't Help Falling In Love
  11. Save The Best For Love

• Vertigo 2

Here is "Vertigo / 2", Joseph's melodic rock project's 2nd effort. The successful first album of this project was released in 2003 together with producer Fabrizio Grossi. The new album simply entitled ?g2?h is another threat for the melodic rock fans and a real must for all lovers of the sound of Toto and of course for all those who have enjoyed Vertigo?fs chapter 1. Once again songs have been supplied by long-time friend Joey Carbone and Joseph this time did also contribute to the songwriting with the mega-AOR uptempo "I Want To Live Forever". Some other songs were eventually selected through some of Joseph most contemporary influences and preferences. On Vertigo ?g2?h, Joseph and Fabrizio are joined by world class players such as Alex Masi on guitars, Virgil Donati (Soul Sirkus, Ring of Fire) on drums and Jason Scheff (Chicago, background vocals on ?gHold Me?h). The resulting record, is another threat for the melodic rock fans and a real must for all lovers of the sound of Toto and of course for all those who have enjoyed Vertigo's chapter 1. Compared to the first project, this album is well-organized by Joseph himself and Joey Carbone in terms of songs selection. Having said so, from the view of Westcoast/AOR (not Melodic Rock) lovers, sound production might not be satisfactory, music arrangement is not much sophisticated, too much hard-edge guitar sound with less keyboard sound but this was intentionally done by the producer Fabrizio V.Zee Grossi, which might be preferable in Europe but not welcomed here in Japan.

• Label: Frontiers Music, Italy (FR CD 290) (Japan: King Records <KICP1151>)
• Release Date: June 9, 2006 ( Japan: July 26, 2006)
• Executive Producer: Serafino Pergino and Joey Carbone
• Producer: Fabrizio V.Zee Grossi
• Joseph Williams: Lead & Background Vocals, Piano
• Musicians:
  • Drums: Virgil Donati, Masayoshi Yamasuka
  • Bass & Keyboards: Fabrizo V.Zee Grossi
  • Piano: David Harris
  • Guitars: Alex Masi
  • Background Vocals: Francis Benitez, Fabrizi V.Zee Grossi, Jason Scheff

• Tracks:
  1. In The Blink Of An Eye
  2. All For You
  3. Hold
  4. Part Of Me
  5. Holy
  6. I Wanna Live Forever
  7. Save It All For Me
  8. Picking Up The Pieces
  9. Together
  10. There's A Reason
  11. Save It All For Me (Alternate Mix) (bonus track only for Japan)

• Tears

"Tears" and "Smiles" are the simple vocal album with only a piano, those are very similar to "Two Of Us" in 2006. Just enjoy The album "Tears" features sadder tracks including "Against All Odds" originlly performed by Phil Collins, "Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton, " Eric Carmen's "All By Myself," James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely," and more.

• Label : WHD Entertainment Inc., Japan (IECP-10125)
• Release Date: November 21, 2007
• Executive Producer: Kaz Hori
• Producer: Joey Carbone
• Co-Producers: David Harris and himself
• Joseph Williams: Lead & Background Vocals
• Musicians:
  • Piano: David Harris
  • Additional Backing Vocals: Hannah Ruick Williams, Emmy Ray Williams, Amye Williams, Roxann Harris

• Smiles

"Smiles" features covers of more upbeat songs including The Eagles "Peaceful Easy Feeling," "Walk Between The Raindrops" by Donald Fagen and "More Than I Can Say" by Leo Sayer. In addition to those masterpieces, "Heaven In Your Eyes" written by Joseph with Joey Carbone is also included on this album, which is originally perfromed by "West Coast All Stars" featuring Joseph, Bill Champlin, Bobby Kimball and Jason Scheff in 1997. Joseph says "Joey and I really wanted to do another version. This 'Smile' project gave us the perfect venue for a re-do! It gave me a chance to sing the lead from a different perspective.. and this version shows David Harris' piano playing at it's very best."

• Label : WHD Entertainment Inc., Japan (IECP-10125)
• Release Date: November 21, 2007
• Executive Producer: Kaz Hori
• Producer: Joey Carbone
• Co-Producers: David Harris and himself
• Joseph Williams : Lead & Background Vocals
• Musicians:
  • Piano: David Harris
  • Additional Backing Vocals: Hannah Ruick Williams, Emmy Ray Williams, Amye Williams, Roxann Harris

• Tracks:
  1. Don't Worry Baby
  2. Walk Between The Raindrops
  3. Still Crazy After All These Years
  4. Wonderful Tonight
  5. For Your Love
  6. A Song For You
  7. Peaceful Easy Feeling
  8. More Than I Can Say
  9. Heaven In Your Eyes
  10. Maybe I'm Amazed
  11. Don't Know Why
  12. Somewhere Only We Know

• This Fall

The album features guest appearances and songs co-written with Bobby Kimball, Steve Lukather, David Paich( co-compose, piano, organ, lead vocal), Steve Porcaro. Also.... Richie Zito, Jay Gruska, Mark T. Williams and Rick Marotta. All of the songs are composed or co-composed by Joseph and the album is self-produced. Joey Carbone, the executive producer stated "Simply said, this album is BRILLIANT and will be a great fan pleaser. Joseph thinks that this is his best solo album to date."

• Label: WHD Entertainment, Inc. Japan <IECP-10155>
• Release Date: November 19, 2008
• Producers: Richie Zito, Setve Porcaro, Mark T. Williams and himself
• Executive Producers: Joey Carbone, Kaz Hori
• Joseph Williams: Lead & Background Vocals, Keyboards
• Musicians:
  • Guitars: Steve Lukather, Anthony Mazza, Richie Zito, S.N. Walsh, Mark T. Williams, Ewen Williams
  • Keyboards: David Paich, Chris Eaton, David Harris, Mark T. Williams, Steve Porcaro
  • Drums: Emmanuel "E-Man" Cervantes, Mark T. Williams, Rick Marotta
  • Bass: Joe Stanley, Sean Barrett, J. Willy, Bob Birch, Mark T. Williams, Steve Porcaro
  • Background Vocals: David Paich, Bobby Kimball, Hannah Ruick, Emma Ray Williams, Joey Carbone, Steve Porcaro

• Tracks:
  1. This Fall
  2. Do 'Ya
  3. It's A Far Cry
  4. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah (If I Seem To Wander)
  5. I Know What I Know
  6. She Walked
  7. Wonder At All
  8. You Don't Know What's Coming
  9. Hush
  10. Don't Pull The Plug
  11. Angelie
  12. Tell Me Something New
  13. Far Away
  14. I Luv U Goodbye