Rachelle Ferrell - Rachelle Ferrell (1992)

Rachelle Ferrell is an American Vocalist and Musician.  

Although she has had some success in the mainstream R&B, pop, gospel, and classical music scene, she is noted for her talents as a contemporary jazz singer.

Rachelle Ferrell began singing as sang backup for Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Williams, and George Duke.

Produced mostly by George Duke, this self-titled album is an example of her R&B/pop side. With this smooth, classy effort, Manhattan/Capitol was obviously intent on appealing to the more adult-oriented tastes in the urban contemporary market. While artists like Mary J. Blige, Bell Biv DeVoe, Babyface, and Janet Jackson were making R&B relevant to hip-hoppers, Ferrell opted for maximum quiet storm appeal with this album. If you were buying a lot of Baker, Luther Vandross, and Freddie Jackson albums in the early '90s (along with some Grover Washington, Jr. and Joe Sample, perhaps), you were exactly the type of listener Manhattan/Capitol had in mind with sophisticated numbers like "It Only Took a Minute," (she describes her highest notes in this song as "Minnie Riperton-like wailing".), "'Til You Come Back to Me," and "Sentimental." Most of the songs are appropriate vehicles for the Philadelphian's big, rich voice, but while this collection of mood music isn't bad, it isn't the gem that Ferrell had the ability to deliver. As pleasant and likable as much of the material is, one got the impression that she was capable of a lot more.

Track listing

01. I'm Special (Ferrell) - 6:11    

02. Welcome to My Love  )Robinson, Duke, Ferrell) - 5:39    

03. Waiting  (J.Powell, Ferrell, Fails) - 6:02    

04. It Only Took a Minute  (Sembello, Spencer, Sharron) - 4:42    

05. With Open Arms (Robinson, Ferrell) - 6:23    

06. 'Til You Come Back to Me (White, Harvey, Davis) - 6:15    

07. You Can't Get (Until You Learn to Start Giving) (Ferrell) - 3:46    

08. Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This (feat. Will Downing) (Ferrell) - 6:25    

09. I Know You Love Me (Ferrell) - 3:56    

10. Sentimental (Ferrel, Clark) - 3:39    

11. Could've Fooled Me (Foster, Lambert) - 4:38    

12. Too Late (Ferrell) - 4:11    

13. Peace on Earth (Ferrell) - 4:19

 

Release:  1992

Label:  Capitol Records

Genre:  Soul, Jazz, Funk

Length:  65:32

Producer:  Barry Eastmond, George Duke, Rachelle Ferrell

Personnel

Rachelle Ferrell - Vocals, Background Vocals

Will Downing - Guest Vocals

Freddie Washington - Bass

Al Turner - Bass

Larry Kimpel - Bass

Anthony Jackson - Bass

Ricky Lawson - Drums

Buddy Williams - Drums

Paul Jackson Jr. - Guitar

George Duke - Keyboards, Piano

Kevin Eubanks, Mike Campbell - Guitar

Doug Nally - Drums, Cymbal

Michael J. Powell - Guitar, Tambourine, Percussion

Vernon Fails - Keyboards

Brian Simpson - Keyboards

Steve Thornton - Percussion

Barry J. Eastmond - Piano

Paulinho Da Costa - Congas

Kirk Whalum - Saxophone

George Bohannon - Trombone

Oscar Brashear - Trumpet

Backing Vocals – George Duke, Jim Gilstrap, Lori Perry, Lynn Fiddmont, Alex Brown, Josie James

Diana Ross - The Force Behind The Power (1991)

"The Force Behind The Power" is a 1991 album, released by Diana Ross on the Motown label. Featuring production from the likes of James Anthony Carmichael who used to work with The Commodores and Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Peter Asher, the album saw Ross solidifying her executive producing skills that she has honed since first leaving Motown in 1981. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" became a Top 10 hit across many international territories, and was prominently featured in Don Bluth's 1988 animated adventure film "The Land Before Time".

The international edition of The Force Behind the Power has two additional tracks, "No Matter What You Do," which is a duet with Al B. Sure!, and "You And I". Peter Asher finds a happy medium on only three tracks (the lovely Stevie Wonder-penned "Blame it on the Sun," the Diane Warren chestnut "Heart Don't Change My Mind," and the absolutely enchanting "If We Hold on Together"), but it's a case of too little, too late.

James Anthony Carmichael fares little better, with "Heavy Weather" and "Change of Heart" given glossy, unremarkable jazz-lite treatments. "You're Gonna Love It" is another attempt at cracking the urban market, and isn't particularly memorable (the subsequent club remixes were a marked improvement), but "Waiting in the Wings" is a definite standout--though more for Ross' beautifully layered performance and the sinuous melody line than for the still-timid production.

Stevie Wonder takes over production for the title track, and the results are decidedly fuller and funkier; unfortunately, the song itself has a distractingly clunky melody and arrangement. Repeated listening makes the whole affair much more listenable, but it takes a while to grow on you.

Track listing

01.  Change of Heart  (Britten, Lyle)  - 4:03

02.  When You Tell Me That You Love Me  (Bettis, Hammond)  - 4:13

03.  Battlefield  (Carrack, Lowe)  - 3:35

04.  Blame It on the Sun  (Wonder, Wright)  - 3:55

05.  You're Gonna Love It  (Davis, Tolbert)  - 5:11

06.  Heavy Weather  (Sembello)  - 4:59

07.  The Force Behind the Power  (Wonder)  - 4:42

08.  Heart (Don't Change My Mind)  (Buchanan, Warren)  - 4:19

09.  Waiting in the Wings  (Hill, Sinfield)  - 4:52

10.  You and I  (Dormer, Goldo, Vigil)  - 4:09

11.  One Shining Moment  (Thomas)  - 4:48

12.  If We Hold on Together  (James Horner, Will Jennings)  - 4:13

13.  No Matter What You Do (duet with Al B. Sure!)  (Brown, West)  - 5:09

Released:  September 1991

Label:  Motown

Genre:  R&B, soul

Length:  56:51

Producer:  Stevie Wonder, Al B. Sure, James Anthony Carmichael, Peter Asher

Personnel

Diana Ross - Vocals

Freddie Washington - Bass

Carlos Vega - Drums

Carlos Rios - Guitar

Michael Landau - Guitar

Robbie Buchanan - Keyboards

Warren Ham - Harmonica

James Anthony Carmichael - Keyboards

The Andraé Crouch Choir - Choir

John Helliwell - Saxophone

Larry Klein - Bass

Nathaniel Kunkel - Percussion

Lee Sklar - Bass

Russ Kunkel - Drums

Waddy Wachtel - Guitar

Guy Moon - Keyboards

Randy Kerber - Keyboards

Backing Vocals – Arnold McCuller, Deborah Thomas, Fred White, Kate Markowitz, Marva King, Valerie Carter

Jon Bon Jovi - Blaze Of Glory (Soundtrack Young Guns II (1990)

"Blaze Of Glory" is Jon Bon Jovi's first solo album, released in 1990. It includes songs from and inspired by the movie Young Guns II. Emilio Estevez asked for Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" as the theme song for his upcoming Billy the Kid sequel, but Jon Bon Jovi ended up composing an all new theme song for the film's soundtrack instead.

Abandoning his rough-and-ready rock & roll band, Jon Bon Jovi took a stab at respectability with this non-soundtrack to the film Young Guns II. Given his cowboy songs on Bon Jovi albums, it made sense that he'd be "inspired" by the Western, and he filled these songs (written without the help of bandmate Richie Sambora or hired hack Desmond Child) with references to shoot-'em-ups. Mainstream rock producer Danny Kortchmar put together the studio band, along with guest stars Jeff Beck, Elton John, and Little Richard, and the sound had more space and less drive than the lite-metal of Bon Jovi. Unfortunately, that kind of approach put the spotlight squarely on the singer/songwriter, and Jon Bon Jovi wasn't quite up to the scrutiny, writing dumb lines like "Tell my guns I'm coming home" and "I been broke and hungry/I think they're both my middle name" in a context in which you could actually make them out without the lyric sheet. The New Jersey cowboy tried to howl his way through, and his still faithful fans dutifully bought the record, but Jon Bon Jovi wasn't really ready to carry off a starring role without his usual supporting cast.

Track listing

01.  Billy Get Your Guns  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 4:49

02.  Miracle  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 5:09

03.  Blaze of Glory  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 5:40

04.  Blood Money  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 2:34

05.  Santa Fe  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 5:41

06.  Justice in the Barrel  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 6:49

07.  Never Say Die  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 4:54

08.  You Really Got Me Now  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 2:24

09.  Bang a Drum  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 4:36

10.  Dyin' Ain't Much of a Livin'  (Jon Bon Jovi)  - 4:46

11.  Guano City  (Alan Silvestri)  - 1:00

Released:  July 1990

Label:  Mercury Records

Genre:  Rock

Length:  48:43

Producer:  Jon Bon Jovi, Danny Kortchmar

Personnel

Jon Bon Jovi – Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Harmonica

Lou Diamond Phillips – Vocals

Kenny Aronoff – Drums, Percussion

Jeff Beck – Electric Guitar

Robbin Crosby – Guitar

Bob Glaub – Bass

Randy Jackson – Bass

Ron Jacobs – Engineer

Elton John – Piano, Backing Vocals

Danny Kortchmar – Guitar

Dale Lavi - Hand Claps

Myrna Matthews – Backing Vocals

Aldo Nova – Guitars, Keyboards, Piano, Tambourine

Phil Parlapiano – Accordion

The Runners – Hand Claps

Little Richard – Piano, Vocals

Benmont Tench – Organ, Piano

Julia Waters – Vocals, Backing Vocals

Maxine Waters – Backing Vocals

Waddy Wachtel - Guitar, Slide Guitar

Kid Frost - Hispanic Causing Panic (1990)

"Hispanic Causing Panic" is the debut album by rapper, Kid Frost (Arturo Molina Jr.),  a Mexican American hip hop artist.

The album was released in 1990 for Virgin Records and is considered to be one of the first Latin rap albums, setting the stage for later releases by groups like Cypress Hill. The album featured the hit single, "La Raza"  This album is classic, and honestly even though it's not representative of most Chicano rap that you hear nowadays, you can see how Frost set the stage with a couple of tracks, especially "La Raza". "La Raza" is immortal  the first of its kind when it comes to Chicano rap. The whole album definitely has a very old-school feel to it, with the voice clips starting many of the tracks. As another reviewer mentioned, he seems to borrow from earlier black rappers. Some of the tracks his flow sounds a little like LL Cool J, because he has a hard and direct delivery, but then again many rappers had a somewhat similar sound at this time. Best Tracks on the album are, "Ya Estuvo", this one is really cool and pioneering for the time. Kid Frost delivers a rap line by line, first in Spanish then in English. "Homicide Frost" shows off his "storytelling" skills in this. He begins, "This is a dramatization.... Homicide, on the murder scene/ another frustrated gang-related senseless slaying/ victim, a young product of the projects/ system, the sad fact is that nobody's gonna miss him" "Hispanic Causing Panic". Even though the word Hispanic is like fingernails on a chalkboard to The Sisters Garcia, we recognize that the track was made a time with the word was new and Frost was just trying it out, so we forgive him. This track has a great flavor.

Frost is way ahead of his time. His lyrics and observations are much more astute than the Chicano rap losers that are popular today like "Mr. Capone-E" and "Lil Cuete", but unfortunately the same can be said for most rap in general. If you'd like to take a trip back to the golden age and see how it all got started.

Track listing

01.  La Raza  - 3:29  

02.  Hold Your Own  - 3:40  

03.  Straight To The Bank  - 3:51  

04.  Come Together  - 5:07  

05.  Smoke  - 4:02  

06.  Ya Estuvo  - 4:05  

07.  Homicide  - 3:52  

08.  Hispanic Causing Panic  - 3:29  

09.  In The City  - 4:47  

10.  La Raza (Cantina Mix)  - 4:42  

Release:  1990

Recorded & Mixed at:  Wildcat Studios

Label:  Virgin Records

Genre:  Hip Hop

Length:  41:04

Producer:  Tony G, The Baker Boyz, Will Roc, Julio G

Personnel

Kid Frost - Rap

Mitch Rafel - Saxophone

Bob Dog - Guitar

Professor Baldwin - Percussion

Tommy D. - Harmonica

Nick Vidal - Scratches

D.J. Battlecat - Scratches

Soundtrack - Salsa (1988)

"Salsa" is a 1988 romance film about a lower-class Puerto Rican dancer who decides to improve his lot in life by entering a salsa dancing contest. The film was directed by Boaz Davidson, and stars Robi Rosa, Rodney Harvey, and Angela Alvarado. It earned a Razzie Award nomination for Rosa as Worst New Star.

A cool and fresh soundtrack for a cool and fresh movie.  The different beats of all the songs, make you want to get up and dance. On the soundtrack there are so many great songs.  Songs such as "Margarita", "Cali Pachanguero", "Your Love", "Good Lovin'", "I Know", "Puerto Rico" and "Under My Skin" by Robby Rosa .  The beats are just awsome.  It's a great salsa soundtrack. Recommend this soundtrack (and the movie) to anyone that loves salsa music.

Track listing

01.  Wilkins - Margarita  - 5:34  

02.  Mavis Vegas Davis - Chicos Y Chicas  - 5:00  

03.  Grupo Niche - Cali Pachanguero  - 4:04  

04.  Laura Branigan - Your Love  - 4:12  

05.  Kenny Ortega, Chain Reaction, The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Good Lovin'  - 4:18  

06.  Robby Rosa - Under My Skin  - 4:46  

07.  Tito Puente - Oye Como Va (Give It All You've Got)  - 3:56  

08.  Marisela With The Edwin Hawkins Singers - I Know  - 3:45  

09.  Ben E. King - Spanish Harlem  - 2:57  

10.  Bobby Caldwell, Marisela, Michael Sembello, Wilkins With Mongo Santamaria, Charlie Palmieri, The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Puerto Rico  - 5:12

Released:  1988

Label:  MCA Records

Genre:  Salsa, Latin

Length:  44:10

Producer:  Michael Sembello, Bob Esty, Randy Waldman, David Kershenbaum, Jack Fishman, Michael Linn, Bill Cuomo, Enrique Elizondo

Bruce Willis - The Return Of Bruno (1987)

"The Return Of Bruno" is the debut album by actor Bruce Willis. Released by Motown in 1987, this album is an eclectic gatheringof R&B music sung by Willis, with backing musicians including Booker T. Jones, Ruth Pointer and The Temptations.

At the height of Moonlighting mania and after the Seagram's wine cooler commercials showcased his vocal skills, Motown asked Bruce Willis to record a full album of blues, R&B, and soul hence, "The Return Of Bruno". Willis has more vocal talent than, say, Cybill Shepherd, but he doesn't quite have the conviction or skill of the Blues Brothers. Often, it's difficult to hear him strain for notes on familiar items like "Under the Boardwalk," "Young Blood," and "Respect Yourself," but that same limited talent makes the ready-made originals "Jackpot," "Down in Hollywood," and "Flirting with Disaster" appealing kitsch. And, really, "The Return of Bruno" isn't anything more than a kitsch artifact Willis may deeply believe he has vocal talent, but the album stands more as a testament to the excesses of Reagan-era celebrity and baby-boomer nostalgia than as a piece of music.

Track listing

01.  Comin' Right Up  (Brock Walsh)  - 3:30

02.  Respect Yourself  (Luther Ingram, Mack Rice)  - 3:53

03.  Down in Hollywood  (Ry Cooder, Tim Drummond)  - 5:20

04.  Young Blood  (Jerry Lieber, Doc Pomus, Mike Stoller)  - 4:08

05.  Under the Boardwalk  (Kenny Young, Arthur Resnick)  - 3:03

06.  Secret Agent Man / James Bond Is Back  (Steve Barri, P.F. Sloan, John Barry)  - 4:48

07.  Jackpot (Bruno's Bop)  (Robert Kraft, Bruce Willis)  - 4:12

08.  Fun Time  (Allen Toussaint)  - 3:38

09.  Lose Myself  (Larry John McNally, Jon Lind)  - 3:56

10.  Flirting with Disaster  (Brock Walsh, Jeff Lorber)  - 4:33

Released:  January 20, 1987 

Genre:  R&B, Pop

Length:  40:34

Label:  Motown Records

Producer:  Robert Kraft

Personnel

Bruce Willis - vocals

Booker "T" Jones - Hammond B-3 organ

Greg Philinganes - keyboards

Jeff Lorber - keyboards, programming

Backgroud Vocals - Siedah Garrett, Alexis England, Shari Dub, Lynn Davis, Jon Lind, Philip Ingram, Darryl Phinnessee, Robert Craft, The Temptations

Jill Jones - Jill Jones (1987)

Jill Jones is the self-titled debut solo album from the artist of the same name; Jill Jones. The album was released in 1987 on Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records. It was produced by Jones and Prince. In 1983, Jones moved to Minneapolis to begin work on her solo album. Prince spent three years working with his "protégé". Prince wrote and performed much of the music on the album, while Jones supplied the lyrics. David Z. did a large portion of the audio engineering and music production (without Prince) at Electric Lady Studios in New York.

The debut set from Jill Jones was three years in the making and went through many different track listings, but in the end the final version was well worth the wait. The album is produced entirely by the multi-talented Prince and is highly regarded among his fans, even though it was not well received at the time. Highlights include lead single "Mia Bocca," "All Day, All Night," and "For Love," on which Prince can be heard on the backing vocals and the Revolution can be heard on all instruments. The closing track, "Baby, You're a Trip," was originally a Prince demo in the vein of "Purple Rain," and his backing track survives on this version. Jones' vocals are distinctive and passionate, and the influence of her mentor, Teena Marie, is evident throughout.

Track listing

01.  Intro (Baby You're A Trip)  (Jill Jones)  - 1:25

02.  Mia Bocca  (Jill Jones, Prince)  - 5:56

03.  G-Spot  (Jill Jones, Prince)  - 4:30

04.  Violet Blue  (w/ Darlene Koldenhoven) (Jill Jones)  - 4:24

05.  With You  (w/ Steve Stevens) (Prince)  - 4:00

06.  All Day, All Night  (w/ The Revolution)  - 5:41

07.  For Love  (Jill JOnes, Prince)  - 4:27

08.  My Man  (Jill Jones)  - 3:15

09.  Baby, You're A Trip  (Jill Jones)  - 5:23

Released:  26 May 1987

Recorded:  Paisley Park, Sunset Sound, Electric Lady Studios

Label:  Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records

Genre:  R&B, Pop

Length:  39:06

Producer:  Prince, David Z., Jill Jones

Daryl Hall - Three Hearts In The Happy Ending Machine (1986)

"Three Hearts In The Happy Ending Machine" is a 1986 solo album by Daryl Hall.  Arriving just at the end of Hall & Oates' phenomenal streak of success in the early '80s, "Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine", Daryl Hall's second solo album, was viewed as the first overture in a solo career but, in retrospect, its kinship with his first solo effort, 1980's "Sacred Songs", is apparent. There is some indication that Hall had to make, or wanted to make, some concessions to bring it onto the charts how could he not, he was one of the most popular musicians of his era but that's not particularly evident on the tremendous lead single, "Dreamtime," a swirling slice of arty new wave psychedelia sound. And this is a result of an artist who is given the freedom to make close to the record that he wants, with a few commercial concessions, plus a desire to make a modern record. That does mean 3 Hearts is a bit tied to the time, particularly in its production with its clean synths and cavernous drum machines, but that's not necessarily a bad thing since it's primarily of interest as a portrait of where Hall was in 1986. He's not as insistently melodic as he is with Oates, nor is he as experimental as he was on Sacred Songs, and that does mean that 3 Hearts falls in a middle ground that's a bit neither here nor there. And that means it's not particularly cohesive, but it does have its moments, the brightest of which is "Dreamtime," one of his greatest achievements.

Track listing

01.  Dreamtime  (Daryl Hall, John Beeby)  - 4:45

02.  Only a Vision  (Hall)  - 4:34

03.  I Wasn't Born Yesterday  (Hall, David A. Stewart, Sara Allen)  - 4:24

04.  Someone Like You  (Hall)  - 5:33

05.  Next Step  (Hall, Stewart, T-Bone Wolk, Arthur Baker)  - 4:48

06.  For You  (Hall, Stewart, Wolk)  - 5:49

07.  Foolish Pride  (Hall)  - 3:57

08.  Right as Rain  (Hall)  - 4:23

09.  Let It Out  (Hall, Stewart)  - 3:51

10.  What's Gonna Happen To Us  (Hall)  - 5:39

Released:  August 1986

Genre:  Rock, Pop

Length:  47:38

Label:  RCA Records

Producer:  Daryl Hall, David A. Stewart, Tom "T-Bone" Wolk

Personnel

Daryl Hall - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Mandolin, Drum Programming

Dave Stewart - Guitars (lead on "Dreamtime"), Drum Programming

Backing Vocals - Kate St. John & June Montana (on "Dreamtime"), Bob Geldof (on "Next Step" & "Only A Vision") and Joni Mitchell (on "Right As Rain")

Soundtrack - Cobra (1986)

Soundtracks of the 80's always jammed when it came to cool lyrics, hot rhythms, and songls that were only developed and recorded for the films they represented. "Cobra" is no different. Its cool streamlined, synthesizer riffs, to the solid vocals of its artists, make this one cool album to jam or drive to.

Track listing

01.  John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band - Voice of America's Sons  (John Cafferty)  - 4:34

02.  Jean Beauvoir - Feel the Heat  (Jean Beauvoir)  - 4:01

03.  Brian Short - Loving on Borrowed Time  (Short, Hamilton)  - 3:59

04.  Sylvester Levay - Skyline  (Sylvester Levay)  - 3:24

05.  Gary Wright - Hold on to Your Vision  (Howard, Carter)  - 3:46 

06.  Miami Sound Machine - Suave  (Garcia, Estefan)  - 3:03

07.  Sylvester Levay - Cobra  (Sylvester Levay)  - 3:09

08.  Robert Tepper - Angel of the City  (Tepper)  - 4:29

09.  Sylvester Levay - Chase  (Sylvester Levay)  - 3:31

10.  Bill Medley & Carmen Twillie - Two into One  (Bettis)  - 4:00

Released:  1986

Genre:  Pop, Rock

Label:  Scotti Bros. Records

Length:  37:56

Producer:  Robin Garb

Soundtrack - Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

"Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the movie of the same name, starring Mel Gibson and Tina Turner. The album was originally released in 1985 on the Capitol Records.

In addition to 26 minutes of the original orchestral score composed by Maurice Jarre and performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the album includes Tina Turner's single"We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)", which played over the end titles of the film.

The second Tina Turner track on the album, "One of the Living" , was the film's opening titles song, produced by Mike Chapman and composed by Holly Knight.

Track listing

1.  Tina Turner - We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)  (Terry Britten, Graham Lyle)  - 6:07

2.  Tina Turner - One of the Living  (Holly Knight)  - 5:48

3.  We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (Instrumental)  (Britten, Lyle)  - 6:30

4.  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Bartertown  (Maurice Jarre)  - 8:28

5.  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - The Children  (Jarre)  - 2:11

6.  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Coming Home  (Jarre)  - 15:10

Released:  1985 

Genre:  Pop

Length:  44:27

Label:  Capitol

Producer:  Terry Britten, Mike Chapman, Maurice Jarre

Personnel

Tina Turner - lead vocals

The Kings House School Choir - choir

Charlie Morgan - drums

Nick Glennie-Smith - keyboards

Graham Broad - percussion

Tim Cappello - saxophone, saxophone

Terry Britten - guitar, bass guitar

Gene Black - backing vocals, guitar

Holly Knight - keyboards, programming, backing vocals

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - orchestra

Maurice Jarre - orchestral conductor

Michael Mcdonald - No Lookin´ Back (1985)

"No Lookin' Back" is the second full-length solo album from former Doobie Brothers singer/songwriter Michael McDonald, released in 1985. For the first time, he co-produced, as well as wrote or co-wrote all the songs.

No Lookin' Back was re-released in 1986 with different album artwork, along with the inclusion of the hit single "Sweet Freedom" from the soundtrack of the Gregory Hines/Billy Crystal movie Running Scared.

Track listing

01.  No Lookin' Back  (McDonald, Loggins, Sanford)  - 3:55

02.  Bad Times  (McDonald)  - 4:21

03.  (I'll Be Your) Angel  (McDonald, Chuck Sabatino)  - 3:57

04.  By Heart  (McDonald, Sabatino, David Pack)  - 4:35

05.  Any Foolish Thing  (McDonald, Sabatino)  - 4:23

06.  Our Love  (McDonald, Pack)  - 4:32

07.  (I Hang) On Your Every Word  (McDonald, Amy Holland)  - 3:37

08.  Lost in the Parade  (McDonald, Grady Walker)  - 3:48

09.  Don't Let Me Down  (McDonald)  - 4:01

Released:  August 1985

Genre:  Pop, Blue-Eyed Soul

Length:  37:09

Label:  Warner Bros. Records

Producer:  Michael McDonald, George Perilli, Ted Templeman

Personnel
Michael McDonald - Vocals
 Jeff Porcaro - Drums, Percussion
Ted Templeman - Drums, Percussion
Nathan East - Bass Guitar
Robben Ford - Guitar
David Pack - Guitar
Joe Walsh - Guitar

Frank Sinatra with Quincy Jones And Orchestra - L.A. Is My Lady (1984)

"L.A. Is My Lady" is a 1984 studio album by Frank Sinatra, featuring arrangements by Quincy Jones. It was the last solo album that Sinatra recorded, though Sinatra recorded three further songs, which were unreleased until The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings. Frank Sinatra's final studio album of the '80s arguably the last true original album Sinatra recorded was an uneven but surprisingly enjoyable set that tried to adapt the singer's style to contemporary pop standards. Under the direction of arranger/producer Quincy Jones, the album incorporated more synthesizers and slick production techniques than any previous Sinatra album, but the result usually doesn't sound forced, especially on the hit title song. When the album does fail, it is because Jones' overly ambitious and commercial production -- such as the insistent dance beat of "How Do You Keep the Music Playing" prevents the song from taking root. Nevertheless, everyone involved, from Sinatra and Jones to the band themselves, sounds like they're having fun, and that sense of joy effortlessly translates to the listener.  The sessions were filmed, with a small audience, and released as Frank Sinatra: Portrait of an Album (1985). The documentary shows Sinatra meeting Michael Jackson for the first time, with Jones affectionately calling Jackson "Smelly". Eddie Van Halen, Donna Summer and David Lee Roth make cameo appearances in the video for "L.A. Is My Lady", which in turn made moderate rotation on the fledgling MTV Network.

Track listing

01.  L.A. Is My Lady  (Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Quincy Jones, Peggy Lipton Jones)  - 3:12

02.  The Best of Everything  (Fred Ebb, John Kander)  - 2:45

03.  How Do You Keep the Music Playing?  (A. Bergman, M. Bergman, Michel Legrand)  - 3:49

04.  Teach Me Tonight  (Sammy Cahn, Gene de Paul)  - 3:44

05.  It's All Right With Me  (Cole Porter)  - 2:39

06.  Mack the Knife  (Marc Blitzstein, Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill)  - 4:50

07.  Until the Real Thing Comes Along  (M- Holiner, A. Nichols, Cahn, S. Chaplin, L.E. Freeman)  - 3:03

08.  Stormy Weather  (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler)  - 3:38

09.  If I Should Lose You  (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin)  - 2:36

10.  A Hundred Years from Today  (Joe Young, Ned Washington, Victor Young)  - 3:04

11.  After You've Gone  (Henry Creamer, Turner Layton)  - 3:15

Released:  August, 1984

Recorded at:  New York City, Los Angeles, California

Genre:  Classic Pop, Vocal Jazz

Length:  36:35

Label:  Qwest/Warner Bros. Records

Producer:  Quincy Jones

Personnel

Frank Sinatra - Vocals

Quincy Jones - Conductor

George Benson - Guitar
Lee Ritenour - Guitar
Tony Mottola - Guitar
Lionel Hampton - Vibraphone

Bob Crenshaw, Marcus Miller - Bass

Ralph MacDonald - Percussion

Sergio Mendes - Sergio Mendes (1983)

"Sergio Mendes" is the self-titled studio album by Sergio Mendes. It featured the song "Never Gonna Let You Go", a tune written by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil.

In 1983, Sergio Mendes returned to the label A&M where he made his most memorable music. Of course, A&M had changed mightily by then, becoming a polyglot rock-oriented outfit instead of the cottage Latin pop industry it had been in the '60s. But so had Sergio and so, backed by an army of L.A. studio folk, Mendes tried to recapture the old sales magic on the market's own terms. Amazingly, he did, scoring a huge hit with a saccharine ballad, "Never Gonna Let You Go," where Joe Pizzulo and Leza Miller sing their banalities while Sergio strums and comps on synthesizers. To say that anyone could have made this record may be overstating the case, but the fact is that there is no way of knowing that this is a Sergio Mendes record without looking at the jacket. And that goes for most of the rest of the mediocre, electronically upholstered dance and ballad material on the LP. "Carnaval" has some rowdy samba fever at times, but it is so slickly produced that one can't abandon oneself to the spirit.

Track listing

01.  VooDoo  (Douglas Brayfield, Ronaldo Monteiro De Souza, Ivan Lins, Vitor Martins)  - 3:55

02.  Never Gonna Let You Go  (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil)  - 3:55

03.  My Summer Love  (Adrienne Anderson, Serge Gainsbourg, Alain Chamfort)  - 4:00

04.  Carnaval Festa Do Interior  (Mary Ekler, Moraes Moreira, Abel Silva)  - 3:50

05.  Rainbow's End  (Don Freeman, David Batteau)  - 4:03

06.  Love Is Waiting  (David & Jenny Batteau, Don Freeman)  - 3:47

07.  Dream Hunter  (Danny Sembello, Michael Sembello)  - 3:02

08.  Life In The Movies  (Michael Sembello, Dennis Matosky)  - 3:52

09.  Si Senor  (Juan Carlos Calderón)  - 3:46

Released:  1983

Recorded at:  Kendun Recorders, Redwing Studios

Genre:  Samba, Pop, Bossa Nova, Latin Pop

Label:  A&M

Producer:  Dave Grusin, Sergio Mendes, Jose Quintana

Personnel

Sergio Mendes - Keyboards, Acoustic Piano, Synthesizers, Percussion

Louis Johnson - Bass

Nathan East - Bass

Michael Sembello - Guitar

Bill Martin, Carol Rogers, Dan Sembello, Geoff Lieb, Gracinha Leporace, Joe Pizzulo, Leza Miller, Michael Sembello, Robert Martin, Suzanne Wallach, Carol Rogers - Backing Vocals

Debbie Harry - KooKoo (1981)

"KooKoo" is the debut solo album by American Rock singer Debbie Harry, released in 1981. The album was recorded while Harry and boyfriend Chris Stein were taking a year long break from the band Blondie. The album was produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the 70s disco group Chic, who had just had major success working with Diana Ross on her 1980 album "Diana".  "KooKoo" showcased the early fusion of funk, rock and dance music that would become the trademark of Rodgers and Edwards. Backing vocals were provided by Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale of Devo, credited as Spud and Pud Devo.

Harry's stern delivery over the funky backing winds up sounding forced, with lyrics that are clumsy and limited. "Inner City Spillover" starts off promising enough, but its metaphor of bricks in the city that fall on people's heads and end up paving serene suburban Maine roads hangs around four minutes too long. "KooKoo" has plenty of these clever and absurd moments that worked well when casually tossed about by Blondie, but they never based the whole song around them. "Backfired" is the most embarrassing, as it tries to recreate "Rapture"'s winning formula without the compelling groove, and "Under Arrest" is new wave funk-pop at its most generic and unsophisticated. The album's overall cynicism would be easier to take if Harry offered some answers or at least a viewpoint. Only the inspired funk of "The Jam Was Moving" deserves any attention, with Harry finally sounding comfortable.

Track listing

01.  Jump Jump  (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein)  - 4:04

02.  The Jam Was Moving  (Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers)  - 2:59 

03.  Chrome  (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein)  - 4:17 

04.  Surrender  (Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers)  - 3:37

05.  Inner City Spillover  (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein)  - 5:04

06.  Backfired  (Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers)  - 4:54 

07.  Now I Know You Know  (Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers)  - 5:39

08.  Under Arrest  (Bernard Edwards, Deborah Harry, Nile Rodgers, Chris Stein)  - 4:54

09.  Military Rap  (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein)  - 3:51

10.  Oasis  (Bernard Edwards, Deborah Harry, Nile Rodgers, Chris Stein)  - 4:59

Released:  July 27, 1981

Recorded and mixed at:  The Power Station, NYC

Genre:  Rock, Dance, Pop, Funk

Label:  Chrysalis

Producer:  Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards

Personnel

Debbie Harry - vocals

Nile Rodgers - guitar, vocals on "Backfired"

Bernard Edwards - bass guitar

Tony Thompson - drums

Fonzi Thornton - backing vocals