Donny Osmond - Eyes Don't Lie (1990)

“Eyes Don't Lie” is a full-length album by Donny Osmond, issued in 1990 on Capitol Records. 

One of the 80's most unlikely comebacks was that of Donny Osmond, who must have been really annoyed to hear the same kind of pop he and his brothers pioneered in the 70's being re-popularized by the likes of George Michael and the New Kids On The Block.
This album might not be one of his best or what fans remember from his childhood career, but it is worth a listen. 

His voice doesn't fail. After fading away through most of the '80s, Osmond reappeared in 1989. 

He soon began touring and recording again. “Eyes Don't Lie” did land him a Top 40 hit with the song "My Love Is a Fire." It was a tiny foretelling of what was still to come for the childhood music star who had grown up. 

Two years later he won the starring role in the Broadway show Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. 

A soundtrack he did for the musical went quadruple-platinum, proving that Donny Osmond hadn't been forgotten nor had he lost his talents, and that some things didn't change with the passing of time.  

While "Eyes Don't Lie" also sounds very much of its time, it is certainly no embarrassment. 

The first single, "My Love is a Fire," has a Princely-pulse and dance-floor chants, giving those new kids a show of how to do it. Even more impressive was how Donny got to control a great deal of this album, as he co-wrote eight of the ten songs here. 

Of these, the ballad "Love Will Survive" is the song that most deserved to become a hit. The peppy "Take Another Try," which cheekily samples "One Bad Apple" was also a lost shot at a hot. 

Sadly, once the comeback novelty has become old news, radio went back to treating Donny's new songs as old news. 

The thing is, this album has held up as well as many albums from the period. Donny's voice is still supple and rich, belying his three decades of music making. 

The album featured three singles: "My Love Is A Fire, "Sure Lookin' and "Love Will Survive".

Track listing

1. "My Love Is a Fire" (Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers) – 4:28
2. "Eyes Don't Lie" (Donny Osmond, Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers) – 4:24
3. "Love Will Survive" (Donny Osmond, Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers) – 5:27
4. "Sure Lookin'" (Donny Osmond, David Gamson, Tony LeMans) – 4:22
5. "Private Affair" (Diane Warren) – 3:49
6. "Take Another Try (At Love)" (Donny Osmond, David Gamson, Tony LeMans) – 4:27
7. "Make It Last Forever" (Donny Osmond, Mark Holding, Mark Mancina) – 5:25
8. "Never Too Late For Love" (Donny Osmond, Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers) – 5:26
9. "Just Between You and Me" (Donny Osmond, Duane Hitchings, Alan Hewitt) – 3:46
10. "Before It's Too Late" (Donny Osmond, Oliver Leiber, David Gamson) – 5:18

Production and personnel

• Tracks 1–3 and 8 produced by Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers. Track 1 engineered by Al Hemburger and Matt Noble; Tracks 2, 3 and 8 engineered by Al Hemburger, Matt Noble and Acar Key. Engineering assistance on all tracks by Ed Murphy. Mixed by Steve Peck of Electric Lady Studios.
  • All instruments on tracks 1 and 8 by Carl Sturken.
  • Musicians on tracks 2 and 3: Carl Sturken: guitars, keyboards; John "Noodle" Nevin: bass; Dave Koz: saxophone on track 3
• Tracks 4, 6, 7 and 10 produced by David Gamson. Tracks 4 and 6 engineered by Stephen Shelton, Ryan Dorn and Ray Bardani. Tracks 7 and 10 engineered by Ryan Dorn and Ray Bardani. Mixed by Ray Bardani and Ryan Dorn.
  • David Gamson: keyboards and drum programming; Paul Jackson, Jr.: Guitars (tracks 7 and 10); Paulinho da Costa: percussion (track 10); Cornelius Mims: bass (track 6); Oliver Leiber: additional drum programming (track 10); Michael Brecker: saxophone (track 6); DJ Aladdin: scratching (track 6)
• Track 5 produced by Ric Wake; arranged by Ric Wake and Rich Tancredi. Engineered and mixed by Bob Cadway, with assistance from Dan Hetzel and Tom Yezzi.
  • Rich Tancredi: Keyboards; Joe Franco: Drums, Percussion; Billy T. Scott, Jamillah Muhammed and Shelly Peiken: Vocal Backing
• Track 9 arranged and produced by Ric Wake and Donny Osmond. Engineered and mixed by Bob Cadway and Ryan Dorn.
  • Joe Franco: drums, percussion; Rich Tancredi: keyboards; Al Pitrelli: rhythm guitar; Rory James Collen: lead guitar
• Strings on track 10 arranged and conducted by Jeremy Lubbock; contracted by Jules Chalkin.
  • Violin: Bruce Dukov, Debra Price, Arnold Belnick, Isabelle Daskoff, Joel Derouin, Henry Ferber, Reg Hill, Brian Leonard, Gordon Marron, Don Palmer, Haim Shtrum, Bob Sushel, Mari Tsumura, Shari Zippert
  • Viola: Sam Boghossian, Ken Burward-Hoy, Myra Kestenbaum, Dan Neufeld
  • Cello: Fred Seykora, Ron Cooper, Larry Corbett, Ernie Ehrhradt, Dennis Karmazyn, Suzie Katayama
• Album mastered by Stephen Marcussen at Precision Lacquer, Los Angeles

Strings

Leader – Jeremy Lubbock (Tracks 7, 10)

Cello – Fred Seykora, Ron Cooper, Larry Corbett, Ernie Ehrhardt, Dennis Karmazyn, Suzie Katayama (Tracks 7, 10)

Viola – Sam Boghossian, Ken Burward-Hoy, Myra Kestenbaum, Dan Neufeld (Tracks 7, 10)

Violin – Bruce Dukov, Debra Price, Arnold Belnick, Isabelle Daskoff, Joel DeRovin, Henry Ferber, Reg Hill, Brian Leonard, Gordon Marron, Don Palmer, Haim Shtrum, Bob Sushel, Mari Tsumura, Shari Zippert (Tracks 7, 10)

Liner Notes

Producer – Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 8)

Producer – David Gamson (Tracks 4, 6, 7, 10)

Producer – Rick Wake (Tracks 5, 9)

Producer – Donny Osmond (Track 9)

Producer (Executive) – Donny Osmond

Arranged By – Rick Wake, Rich Tancredi (Tracks 5, 9)

Arranged By (Strings) – Jeremy Lubbock (Tracks 7, 10)

Engineer – Ray Bardani, Ryan Dorn (Track 7)

Engineer (Assistant) – Dan Hetzel, Tom Yezzi (Track 5)

Engineer (Assistant) – Ed Murphy (Tracks 7, 8)

Mastered By – Stephen Marcussen

Mixed By – Steve Peck (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 8)

Mixed By – Ray Bardani (Tracks 4, 5, 6, 7, 10)

Mixed By – Ryan Dorn (Tracks 4, 6, 7, 9, 10)

Mixed By – Bob Cadway (Tracks 5, 9)

Mixed By (Assistant) – Ryan Dorn

Recorded By – Al Hemberger, Matt Noble (Tracks 1, 2, 3)

Recorded By – Acar Key (Tracks 2, 3)

Recorded By – Ray Bardani (Tracks 4, 6, 8, 10)

Recorded By – Stephen Shelton (Tracks 4, 6, 8)

Recorded By – Ryan Dorn (Tracks 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 )

Recorded By – Bob Cadway (Tracks 5, 9)

Art Direction – Jeffery Fey, Tommy Steele

Design – Jeffery Fey

Photography – Wayne Maser

Mixed At Summa Music Group Studios, LA

Mixed At The Music Palace, Long Island, NY

Mixed At The Music Palace, Long Island, NY

Mixed At Aire LA Studios, LA

Recorded At The Loft Recording Studio, Bronxville, NY

Recorded At Minot Sound, White Plains, NY

Recorded At Mad Hatter Studio, LA

Recorded At Cove City Sound Studios, Long Island, NY

Recorded At Aire LA Studios, LA

Recorded At Monit, White Plains, NY

Recorded At Ocean Way Recording, LA

Phonographic Copyright Capitol Records Inc

Copyright Capitol Records Inc

Notes

Release: 1990
Genre:  Pop, Soft Rock, Funk
Length:  46:53

Producer: Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers, David Gamson, Ric Wake, Donny Osmond 
Label:  Capitol Records

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Baltimora - Tarzan Boy The World Of Baltimora (2010)

Baltimora was an Italian music project from Milan, active from 1984 to 1987. 

They are best known for their 1985 single "Tarzan Boy" and are often considered a one-hit wonder in the United Kingdom and the United States. 

In other European countries, including their native Italy, Baltimora scored a follow-up hit "Woody Boogie" the same year.

In early 1984, Maurizio Bassi, a music producer and musician from Milan, met Jimmy McShane, a native of Derry, Northern Ireland. 

They decided to form an act fronted by McShane, a trained singer, dancer and actor, who had previously tried to break into the West End theatre scene and toured with Dee D. Jackson. 

McShane and Bassi chose the name Baltimora when, one evening together, McShane took a map of the United States, closed his eyes and happened to place his finger on Baltimore. 

They changed the final letter to an 'a' to make the name more in keeping with the act's Italian roots.

Bassi recruited prominent Italian sessionmen to record their first album, including Giorgio Cocilovo on guitar and Gabriele "Lele" Melotti on drums. 

Fellow Italo disco producer Tom Hooker has claimed that Baltimora's lead vocals were performed by Maurizio Bassi, as he'd done with Carrara, with McShane sometimes providing the backing vocals. 

The bulk of Baltimora's song writing fell on Bassi and American lyricist Naimy Hackett, though McShane wrote the lyrics to their track "Survivor in Love".

Baltimora's first single, "Tarzan Boy", was released in April 1985, and became a huge European success, peaking at No. 6 on the Italian single chart and entering the top 5 in numerous European countries. 

"Tarzan Boy" was released in Canada in October 1985 and peaked on the Canadian charts at No. 5 by the end of the year. However, it took a while for the single to enter the Hot 100 single chart in the United States (where it was released on EMI). 

When it did, it remained on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six months, peaking at No. 13 in February 1986. 

Baltimora performed on the American TV show Solid Gold, which helped further their success in America. 

The second single, "Woody Boogie", which also gained notable success, entered the top 20 in West Germany, Switzerland and Sweden.

Baltimora's first album, Living in the Background, was released in Europe at the end of 1985 and in United States in 1986. Despite the success of "Tarzan Boy", Living in the Background only charted moderately, entering the top 20 album charts only in a few countries in Europe, including Sweden, reaching the no. 49 spot on the US charts.

When Baltimora's second album, Survivor in Love (1987) and the single "Key Key Karimba" failed to match the success of previous releases, Baltimora lost label support and Bassi decided to disband.

Track listing

1.  Tarzan Boy (Single Version) - 3:50

2.  Woody Boogie - 5:50

3.  Juke Box Boy (Maxi) - 5:53

4.  Key Key Karimba - 6:02

5.  Living In The Background - 6:06

6.  Global Love  (Featuring – Linda Wesley) - 4:40

7.  Running For Your Love - 5:50

8.  Call Me In The Heart Of The Night - 4:55

9.  Chinese Restaurant - 5:14

10.  Set Me Free - 4:45

11.  Pull The Wires - 4:46

12.  Come On Strike - 4:47

13.  Jimmy's Guitar - 3:57

14.  Survivor In Love - 5:02

15.  Tarzan Boy (Summer Version) - 6:45

Companies, etc.

• Marketed By – EMI
• Distributed By – EMI
• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – EMI Music Italy S.r.l.
• Copyright © – EMI Music Italy S.r.l.
• Remastered At – IMS Group
• Glass Mastered At – ims Manufacturing
• Pressed By – ims Manufacturing

Credits

• Artwork [Progetto Grafico] – Michele Peretti
• Remastered By [Digital] – Gianluca Lazzarin
• Written-By – James McShane (tracks: 14), Maurizio Bassi, Naimy Hackett (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 13, 15)

Notes

Released:  Nov 26, 2010

Genre:  Italo-Disco, Synth-pop

Runtime: 1:18:22

Label:  EMI 

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Yusuf - Roadsinger (2009)

Yusuf Islam's (formerly Cat Stevens) previous recording, 2006's An Other Cup was a mostly enjoyable lighter weight -- and yes, sometimes preachy -- extension of the latter albums in his previous incarnation. 

An Other Cup captured the more stretched melodic frames of albums such as Foreigner, Buddha and the Chocolate Box, and even Back to Earth. 

The compositional sense here, on the far more satisfying Roadsinger, is much more direct, laid-back, earthy, and yet elegant. 

And while it definitely points forward, Roadsinger looks back to excellent recordings such as Catch Bull at Four and Teaser and the Firecat: on the intro to "Be What You Must" he even quotes "Sitting"! 

The voice here is immediately recognizable as that of the man who gave us so many beautiful, direct songs about living, searching, observing, and waiting. 

It has been deepened a bit by age, but somehow that adds to its quality. 

Certainly most, if not quite all, of these songs deal with spiritual themes, and yes, they discuss how one can be happy and whole by embracing a spiritual way of life, but the manner in which they do so is gentle, more attraction that promotion, and the compositions themselves stand up to the past while furthering a musical vision that is at the heart of who this artist always was. 

The songs are low intensity, mostly hummable, and always rooted in the strumming or fingerpicking of an acoustic guitar even as strings, electric guitars, wispy percussion, and sometimes horns wind their way in without digging as deeply into the pop-conscious productions of An Other Cup. 

The set was co-produced with Martin Terefe, who has also worked with Martha Wainwright and James Morrison.

The album fits like a glove onto Stevens' former identity, with some songs as gloriously rich and beautiful as anything he's ever written. 

With its lithe string arrangement and guitar work by Yogi Lonich, the title track asks a central question: "...Where do you go/When the world turns dark/And the light of the truth is blown out/And all the roads are blocked..." "Dream On" is a gauzy, small wonder of a track with a gorgeous saxophone part that stands as an accompaniment to the repetitive vocal. "All Kinds of Roses" is a hymn to tolerance despite one's own beliefs; its metaphors are artfully layered. 

The opener, "Welcome Home," feels like Stevens never exited the stage -- though we all know he did for nearly three decades -- with its strummed acoustic and that opening baritone offering ever so gently the lines "On the path, all seekers this way...carried down to the marketplace/No one knew my face/Then a stranger sang, with a voice like the wind/Then the hills began to sing, 'welcome in.'" 

"Shamsia," the disc closer, is a haunting piano and string instrumental dedicated to a young Afghan girl who defied the Taliban and attended school even though she was blinded as punishment. 

Even the cover, with its peace sign-bearing VW microbus standing in a square with Islam playing and singing under a street lamp, signifies that this is a return, and that the two paths he kept separate for so long, that of a pilgrim and that of an artist and traveling musician, have merged on one all-embracing road. 

Roadsinger is an utterly solid catalog entry under either his adopted spiritual name or his former one. 

Longtime fans will not be disappointed, and the rest of us should take note, too, because this kind of songcraft is seldom come by anymore. 

Track listing

1. "Welcome Home" – 4:23
2. "Thinking 'Bout You" – 2:31
3. "Everytime I Dream" – 3:09
4. "The Rain" – 3:26
5. "World o' Darkness" – 2:23
6. "Be What You Must" – 3:25
7. "This Glass World" – 2:02
8. "Roadsinger" – 4:09
9. "All Kinds of Roses" – 2:38
10. "Dream On (Until...)" – 1:56
11. "Shamsia" – 1:29
12. "Boots and Sand" (iTunes bonus track, featuring Paul McCartney and Dolly Parton)
13. "Peace Train Blues" (iTunes bonus track)

All songs are written by Yusuf.

Companies, etc.

• Copyright © – Eder Music BV
• Licensed To – Universal Music Enterprises
• Record Company – UMG Recordings, Inc.
• Mastered At – Gateway Mastering
• Recorded At – Kensaltown Recording Studios
• Recorded At – House Of Blues, Los Angeles
• Recorded At – Jamal Studios, Dubai
• Recorded At – East Iris Studios
• Recorded At – Home Attic Studio, London
• Recorded At – Little Big Sound
• Recorded At – Islamia School, London

Credits

• A&R – David Spero
• Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Martin Terefe (tracks: 2, 6, 7)
• Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Guitar [Bottleneck] – Yogi Lonich (tracks: 1, 3, 8, 9)
• Arranged By [Strings] – David Davidson
• Artwork [Cover] – Mark James, Vartan, Yoriyos
• Artwork [Van] – Onit Designs
• Backing Vocals – Gunnar Nelson (tracks: 1, 6, 7), Holly Williams (tracks: 1, 6, 7), James Morrison (2) (tracks: 2, 10), Michelle Branch (tracks: 1, 6, 7), Terry Sylvester (tracks: 1, 6, 7)
• Bass – Kenny Passarelli (tracks: 1, 3, 8, 9), Martin Terefe (tracks: 2, 7, 10)
• Drums – Kristoffer Sonne (tracks: 2, 6, 7, 10), Mark Clark (tracks: 1, 3, 8)
• Engineer – Bobby Shin, Dyre Gormsen, Iain Hill, John Hanlon, Ramzi Ammouri
• Engineer [Assistant] – Bob Engel, Daniel Taemin Choi, Doug Tyo, Heather Sturm, Thomas Juth, Will Hensley
• Illustration – Dogan Ur
• Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
• Mixed By – Bill Szymczyk (tracks: 3, 8, 9), Martin Terefe (tracks: 4), Michael H. Brauer (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 12), Thomas Juth (tracks: 11)
• Organ [Wurlitzer] – Pete Adams (tracks: 2)
• Photography – Aminah Islam, David Spero, Ewen Spencer, Jesse Dylan
• Piano – Martin Terefe (tracks: 4), Pete Adams (tracks: 2, 6, 7)
• Producer – Martin Terefe (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7, 10)
• Producer, Written-By, Acoustic Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Guitar [Spanish], Electric Guitar, Piano, Synth [Bass], Percussion, Synth, Organ, Artwork [Cover], Photography – Yusuf
• Tambourine – Kristoffer Sonne (tracks: 2)
• Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Bowland (tracks: 10)

Notes

Released:  1 May 2009

Recorded:  2008

Genre:  Folk rock

Length: 31:37

Producer: Yusuf, Martin Terefe

Label: Ya/Island 

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Ram Jam - Thank You Mam (1995)

 

Tracklist

1.  Ram Jam Thank You Mam - 3:03

2.  Do The Nasty - 3:43

3.  Roxy Roller - 3:05

4.  Lonely Days - 3:20

5.  Sex Love And Dynamite - 3:28

6.  Turn Me On - 3:04

7.  Come And Get It - 3:13

8.  Help Me - 3:30

9.  Lock Me Up - 3:21

10.  Don't Turn Me On - 3:07

11.  Break It Down - 2:47

12.  Down And Dirty - 4:03

13.  Get It On - 4:10

14.  Hanging On - 2:56

15.  Black Betty '95 - 3:08

16.  Rock Hard - 3:23

 Companies, etc.

• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Super K. Records, Inc
• Copyright © – Kiosk
• Licensed From – Super K. Records, Inc
• Distributed By – Kiosk Audio Video Cassetten GmbH
• Glass Mastered At – Sonopress – M-4467

Credits

• Design – Bert Hülpüsch
• Artwork – FKGB
• Producer – Adam Katz (tracks: 3 to 7, 9 to 14), Don Chaffin (tracks: 2, 8, 16), Jeff Katz (tracks: 1, 3 to 15), Jerry Kasenetz (tracks: 1, 8, 15), Mitch Moses (tracks: 1)

Notes

Released:  1995

Format:  CD, Album, Reissue

Genre:  Rock

Style:  Classic Rock, Hard Rock

Runtime: 

Label:  Bud Music

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Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince - Greatest Hits (1998)

Tracklist: International edition

1. "Boom! Shake the Room" (Album Version) – 3:48
2. "Summertime" (Album Version) – 4:31
3. "Men in Black" (Album Version) – 3:45
4. "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" (1988 Extended Remix) – 4:48
5. "Twinkle, Twinkle (I'm Not a Star)" (UK Flavour Radio Edit) – 4:10
6. "The Things That U Do" (Hula Radio Remix) – 4:09
7. "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson" (Album Version) – 4:48
8. "Just Cruisin'" (Album Version) – 3:59
9. "Ring My Bell" (Mr. Lee's Radio Mix) – 4:04
10. "I Wanna Rock" (Radio Edit) – 4:18
11. "Parents Just Don't Understand" (Single Edit) – 5:13
12. "I'm Looking for the One (To Be with Me)" (Video Version) – 3:40
13. "A Nightmare on My Street" (Single Version) – 4:53
14. "Can't Wait to Be with You" (Brixton Flavour Radio Mix) – 3:51
15. "Brand New Funk" (Album Version) – 4:04
16. "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Theme)" – 2:56

Bonus tracks (previously unreleased)

17. "Lovely Daze" (Candyhill Mix) – 4:13
18. "Megamix" (Clean Radio Edit) – 3:42

Companies, etc.

• Copyright © – Zomba Recording Corporation
• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Zomba Recording Corporation
• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Zomba Productions Ltd.
• Glass Mastered At – DADC Austria – A0100243058-0101

Credits

• Art Direction – Nick Gamma
• Co-producer – Mad Mike Smith (tracks: 2, 9), Wayne Williams (tracks: 2, 9)
• Design [Graphic Design] – Jason Claiborne
• Engineer – Bryan "Chuck" New (tracks: 11, 13, 15), Chris Trevett (tracks: 2, 9), Jazzy Jeff (tracks: 7), George Mayers (tracks: 12), Jeff Townes (tracks: 5), Joe "The Butcher" (tracks: 4), John Hanes (tracks: 12), John Shriver (tracks: 8), Ken "Duro" Ifill (tracks: 8), Nigel Green (tracks: 7), Stephen George (tracks: 2, 9)
• Engineer [Assistant] – Sprague Williams (tracks: 12)
• Engineer [Mix] – Chris Trevett (tracks: 1), Commissioner Gordon (tracks: 3), Geoff Hunt (tracks: 6), Tony Maserati (tracks: 3)
• Engineer [Recording] – Chris Trevett (tracks: 14), D-Wiz (tracks: 17), Eric Gould (tracks: 17), Geoff Hunt (tracks: 6), Jay Lean (tracks: 14), John Shriver (tracks: 3), Martin Stebbing (tracks: 1, 17), Stephen George (tracks: 1, 17)
• Engineer [Remix] – James Young (tracks: 5)
• Mixed By – Bryan "Chuck" New (tracks: 11, 13, 15), Chris Trevett (tracks: 14), Jazzy Jeff (tracks: 7, 10), Jeff Townes (tracks: 5), Junior (tracks: 17), The Master Vic (tracks: 10), Nigel Green (tracks: 7), Tony Maserati (tracks: 8)
• Photography By – Michael Miller (13)
• Producer – Bryan "Chuck" New (tracks: 11, 13, 15, 18), Jazzy Jeff (tracks: 11, 16), DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (tracks: 13), Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince (tracks: 4, 7, 15, 18), D. Goodman (tracks: 18), Hula & Fingers (tracks: 2, 18), Hula & K. Fingers (tracks: 6, 17), Jeff Townes (tracks: 5, 10), Markell Riley (tracks: 12), Mr. Lee (tracks: 1, 9, 18), Nigel Green (tracks: 7), Pete Q. Harris (tracks: 7, 11, 13, 15, 18), Poke And Tone (tracks: 3, 8), Teddy Riley (tracks: 12), Will Smith (tracks: 14, 18)
• Producer [Additional] – Blacksmith (tracks: 14), Candyhill (tracks: 17), Tosh (tracks: 5)
• Recorded By – Jazzy Jeff (tracks: 10), The Master Vic (tracks: 10)
• Written-By – B. Withers (tracks: 17), C. King (tracks: 6), D. Gluckstein (tracks: 18), F. Washington (tracks: 3), F. Knight-Smith (tracks: 18), F. Knight (tracks: 9), Hula (tracks: 2, 18), J.S. Harris III (tracks: 12), J. Townes (tracks: 4 to 7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18), K. Fingers (tracks: 2, 18), K. Mayberry (tracks: 1, 18), K. Stover (tracks: 8), L. Haggard (tracks: 1, 18), M. Smith (tracks: 12), N. Jones (tracks: 8), P. Rushen (tracks: 3), P. Harris (tracks: 7, 11, 13, 18), R. Easter (tracks: 18), T. Riley (tracks: 12), T. McFadden (tracks: 3), T.S. Lewis (tracks: 12), W. Williams (tracks: 1, 18), W. Smith (tracks: 1 to 8, 10 to 16, 18)

Notes

Released:  May 19, 1998

Recorded: 1985–1997

Genre:  Hip-hop

Runtime:  1:17:37

Label:  Jive

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Soul II Soul - The Club Mix Hits (1998)

Tracklist

1.  A Dreams A Dream  (Club Dub) - 4:28

     Featuring – Victoria Wilson-James

2.  Fairplay  (Freestyle Horns) - 6:07

     Featuring – Rose Windross

3.  Get A Life  (Club Mix) - 4:32

4.  Jazzie's Groove  (New Version) - 5:04

     Featuring – Marcia Lewis

     Vocals – Jazzie 

5.  I Care (Soul II Soul)  (12" Master) - 5:40

     Featuring – Charlotte

6.  Joy  (Club Mix - 7" Edit) - 3:50

     Featuring – Richie Stephens

7.  Just Right (Club Mix) - 5:53

     Remix – Funki Dreds

8.  Love Enuff  (Todd Terry House Mix Edit) - 3:39

     Featuring – Penny Ford

     Remix – Todd Terry

9.  Move Me No Mountain  (Club Mix) - 4:24

     Featuring – Kofi

10.  Wish  (Juni Mix) - 4:26

       Featuring – Melissa Bell

11.  Missing You  (The Healer Mix) - 4:53

       Featuring – Kym Mazelle

12.  Feel Free  (12") - 5:03

       Featuring – Do'Reen

13.  Back To Life  (Accapella) - 3:46

       Featuring – Caron Wheeler

    

Companies, etc.

• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Disky Communications Europe B.V.
• Copyright © – Disky Communications Europe B.V.
• Marketed By – Disky Communications Europe B.V.
• Distributed By – Disky Communications Europe B.V.

                                   

Credits

• Cover [Re-design] – Artidee
• Remix [Uncredited] – Jazzie B (tracks: 1 to 6, 9 to 13), Nellee Hooper (tracks: 1 to 6, 9 to 13)

Notes

Released:  Oct 5, 1998

Genre:  Funk / Soul

Style:  House, Acid Jazz, Downtempo, Afrobeat

Runtime: 1:01:53

Label:  Virgin 

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Michel Berger - Ça Ne Tient Pas Debout (1990)

"Ça Ne Tient Pas Debout" is the 9th and final studio album by Michel Berger, released in May 1990. 

This album, which sold 182,000 copies, marked Berger’s return as a singer after a four-year absence (in 1986, his friends Daniel Balavoine and Coluche died tragically, five months apart), during which he devoted himself to writing songs for his wife France Gall.

Released in 1990, 'Ca Ne Tient Pas Debout' (50:07) has 9 often lengthy tracks, with 4 passing the 6 minute mark. 

It's modern sound is characterized by synthesizers, synthetic drums, and female backing vocals, sometimes augmented with a saxophone or acoustic guitar. 

The 'clean' production has an Autumnal feel. 

There are good vocal performances from Michel Berger, which are slower, more measured, and mature, than on earlier recordings.

'Le Paradis Blanc' may be the album's best known song outside the UK, which begins with the sound of whales. 

France Gall's recording of the song live at Bercy 1993 will have added to the songs popularity, along with her 1996 covers of 'Prive D'Amour' & 'A Quoi il Sert' from this album. The latter 2 songs here do 'go on a bit', with long running times (5:27 & 6:22).

My favourite titles are not the usual suspects; I would choose 'Les Enfants Chantent Toujours', which features the voices of children, and 'L'un Sans L'Autre', which has an acoustic guitar solo, and backing vocals.

The songs mostly have a serene, soothing sound, apart from the commercial opening song (the title track) with it's heavy synths & drums, and the uptempo 'Danser Sur La Glace'. 

I don't recall who 'Man Ray' is, but 'Chanson Pour Man Ray' is a slow-paced, atmospheric song.

The 9 tracks have a consistent feel, on this, the final Michel Berger solo album (not counting the 1992 collaboration with France Gall; 'Double Jeu')

Tracklist

1.  Ça ne tient pas debout - 6:30

2.  À quoi il sert - 6:22

3.  Les enfants chantent toujours - 4:07

4.  Privé d'amour - 5:27

5.  Le Paradis blanc - 6:36

6.  Danser sur la glace - 6:05

7.  L'Un sans l'autre - 5:41

8.  Chanson pour Man Ray - 3:18

9.  L'Orange bleue - 5:50

The songs were written and composed by Michel Berger.

Musicians

1. Ça Ne Tient Pas Debout

    Bass - Jannick Top

    Drums (programming) - Jimmy Bralower

    Guitar  - Eddie Martinez

    Guitar  - Ira Siegel

    Keyboards - Jeff Bova

    Background Vocals - Marina Albert

    Background Vocals - Olivier Constantin

    Vocals - Michel Berger

2. À Quoi Il Sert

    Bass -Jannick Top

    Drums (programming) - Jimmy Bralower

    Guitar - Eddie Martinez

    Guitar - Ira Siegel

    Keyboards - Jeff Bova

    Background Vocals - Jean-Pierre Janiaud

    Background Vocals - Michel Berger

    Background Vocals - France Gall

    Vocals - Michel Berger

3. Les Enfants Chantent Toujours

    Bass - Jannick Top

    Drums (programming) - Jimmy Bralower

    Guitar - Ira Siegel

    Keyboards - Jeff Bova

    Vocals - Michel Berger

4. Privé D’amour

    Bass - Jannick Top

    Drums (programming) - Claude Salmieri

    Guitar - Michael Thompson

    Keyboards - Robbie Buchanan

    Keyboards - Serge Perathoner

    Background Vocals - Michel Berger

    Background Vocals - Tess

    Vocals - Michel Berger

5. Le Paradis Blanc

    Bass - Jannick Top

    Drums (programming) - Jimmy Bralower

    Keyboards - Jeff Bova

    EWI - Michael Brecker

    Vocals - Michel Berger

6. Danser Sur La Glace

    Bass - Jannick Top

    Drums (programming) - Jimmy Bralower

    Guitar - Ira Siegel

    Keyboards - Jeff Bova

    Sax - Michael Brecker

    Background Vocals - Tess

    Background Vocals - Jean-Pierre Janiaud

    Background Vocals - Michel Berger

    Vocals - Michel Berger

7. L’un Sans L’autre

    Bass - Jannick Top

    Drums (programming) - Jimmy Bralower

    Guitar - Ira Siegel

    Keyboards - Jeff Bova

    Vocals - Michel Berger

8. Chanson Pour Man Ray

    Bass - Jannick Top

    Drums (programming) - Jimmy Bralower

    Keyboards - Jeff Bova

    Vocals - Michel Berger

9. L’orange Bleue

    Bass - Jannick Top

    Drums (programming) - Claude Salmieri

    Guitar  - Christian Leroux

    Keyboards - Serge Perathoner

    Vocals - Michel Berger

Other Musicians

    Choir – Petits Écoliers Chantants De Bondy (Tracks 1, 3)

Liner Notes

Producer – Michel Berger

Engineer (Assistant) – Ben Fowler

Musical Director – Jannick Top

Mixed By – Jean-Pierre Janiaud

Mixed By (Assistant) – Frédéric Rall, Roy Hendrickson

Recorded By – Roy Hendrickson, Alex Haas, Peter Iversen, Jean-Pierre Janiaud

Photography – Youri Lenquette

Mastered At Translab

Recorded At Studio Gang, Paris

Recorded At Power Station, New York

Recorded At Puk Recording Studios, Denmark

Phonographic Copyright C.M.B.M.

Copyright C.M.B.M.

Notes

Released: 1990

Genre:  Franstalig Pop

Style:  Chanson

Length:  50:08

Label:  Apache 

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