Michael Thompson / The World According To M.T.

One of the first-call Los Angeles session guitarists for acclaimed artists must be, this guy, New York born Berklee College of Music alumni Michael Thompson. Over decades, Thompson has been called by Andy Fraser, Cher, Stephen Bishop, Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole, Brenda Russell, Michael Bolton, Céline Dion, Christopher Cross, Babyface, Mariah Carey, Richard Marx, Michael Jackson, Michael McDonald, Al Jarreau and many others. In 1989, we had his own first record “How Long” as Michael Thompson Band, featuring lead vocals by Moon Calhoun.

In 1996 Thompson finished this first solo album “The World According to M.T.”, which includes a collaboration with Jeff Paris, who had guested on Michael Thompson Band “How Long” album, also with Mark Spiro. The album was opened by “Intro”, about which I wrote “ You may feel "What? Jeff Beck's solo album?” in 1997 on my old “Adult Contemporary Music In Japan” website.The impression is the same when I started to listen to the album to write this updated review in 2021. Funny but consistent I think. The album also includes a cover of a Sam Cooke song, "A Change is Gonna Come", featuring Bobby Womack on vocals,

FYI, the below was what I wrote in July 1997 when I got the CD;
(Quote)
You may feel "What? Jeff Beck's solo album? Or, heavy Blues album such as the one of Steve Lukather?" when you start to listen to 1st track "Intro".. Don't worry! No, this album sounds A.O.R taste and Fusion taste with some good vocal featured numbers. Very good album not only for AOR fan but also for Fusion Fan. I believe the sound variety on the album really reflects "Various aspects of The World of Michael Thompson".
(Unquote)

Speaking of the release date, my understanding (or recognition as at 1997) was that the CD became widely available to the public in around July 1997, whilst its production and copyright year printed on the CD jacket is 1996. The CD was distributed by OFB in USA (http://www.onlineva.com/ofbmag2 ; not working anymore) and Intercord Record Service in Germany, Austria and Switzerland then.

Release: July, 1997 (copyright and Production: 1996)
Label: Cocoa-Butt Music, USA (serial number: none) / Intercord Record Service, Germany (IRS 992.035)

Tracks:
1. Intro
2. Sajabelle
3. A Change Is Gonna Come
4. Chocolate-White
5. Diamonds
6. Goodnight Moon
7. Miracles
8. Dark
9. Zoobie-Dee
10. Midwestern Sky
11. Hey M.T.
12. The Real Book


Producer: Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson: Guitar, Bass

- Musicians -
Lead Vocals: Bobby Womack (Track 3), Jennelle Sadler (Track 7), Mark Spiro (Track 10)
Bass: Neil Stubenhaus, Jimmy Earl, Stan Sargeant, Stanley Clarke
Drums: Gregg Bissonette, Gary Fergusson, Kevin Cloud, Walfredo Reyes Jr.
Keyboards: John Andrew Schreiner, Jim Lang
Trumpet: Gary Grant
Sax: Dave Boruff
Percussion: Luis Conte, Walfredo Reyes Jr, Stanley Benders

#MichaelThompson