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Mark Spiro / The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of
Mark Spiro fourth solo album and the second album for MTM Music following 1997 Devotion was released in March, 1999. Basically the album was finished solely by Mark Spiro except three acclaimed guitarists contribution; ie Dann Huff, Tim Pierce, Michael Thompson. In terms of songwriting, Thompson co-wrote four, Huff and Pierce co-wrote one each, and all through the album Spiro rocks. Release : March, 1999 Label: MTM Music, Germany distributed by Intercord, Germany (INT 955580) Tracks: 1. I'll Be There 2. Love In A Western World 3. Can You Hear The Night 4. Fire & Walter 5. Halflight 6. The Rhythm Of Your Soul 7. Rain In Her Heart 8. Vendetta 9. Back To The Promised Land 10. Can't Take That Away 11. I Made It So 12. Pray For Rain Producer: Mark Spiro Mark Spiro: Vocals, Keyboards, Programming - Musicians - Guitars: Dann Huff, Tim Pierce, Michael Thompson #MarkSpiro
Intercord Record Service, Germany Melodic Rock MTM Music, Germany CDTakeito
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RTZ / Lost
I guess you may be dissapointed when you listen to new tracks on the album "Boston - Greatest Hits" (1997). Why? The answer was simple! The expectation to Boston was the chemical reaction between Tom Scholtz’s perfectionism and the spacey high tone vocals of the late original vocalist Brad Delp’s. On the 1994 Boston’s fiourth album "Walk On", Tom Scholtz managed to keep the Boston's sound with the help of Fran Cosomo and the greatest vocalist Tommy Funderburk due to Brad Delp’s absence. On the contrary everyone could reconfirm how Brad Delp was the voice of Boston. Around 1989, Delp was on hiatus from Boston and looking to get active in writing again, thus contacted Barry Goudreau, another original Boston’s guitarist, about a possible collaboration. Thus, Delp embarked on then new journey with Goudreau, under the name of , RTZ- the album “Return To Zero" was released in 1991. The difference of the sound between Boston and RTZ was, I thought, that of RTZ was more straight & solid rock without delayed echoes which made the sound of Boston spacy. The melodies of RTZ are really excellet comparing with good old Boston's. There wore enough leftover tracks from the 1991 RTZ sessions, the second album “Lost” surfaced in 1998. Release: September, 1998 (Germany) / 21 May, 1999 (Japan) Label : MTM Music, Germany (196663 / IRS CD 995.556) / Avalon - Marquee Inc., Japan (MICY-1112) Producers Barry Goudreau Tracks: 1. When Yoy Love Someone 2. Tum This Love Around 3. Someday 4.,Violent Days 5. Change For Change 6. One In A Million 7. Given Ypu Up For Dead 8. Don't Wait 9. Talk To Me 10. Don't Lead Me On 11. Dangerous * * Bonus track for Japanese edition RTZ: Brad Delp: Vocals Barry Goudreau: Guitars Brian Maes: Keyboards Dave Stefanelli: Drums Tim Archibald: Bass #RTZ #BradDelp #BarryGoudreau
1 Intercord Record Service, Germany AOR Melodic RockTakeito
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Banging Rush / Holiday In Eden
Tony Sciuto, coming from Baltimore Maryland, USA released one of the legendary albums "Island Night" on Portrait Reckrds, a sister label of Epic Records, USA, that was one of the most popular albums of the year 1980 in Japan, when he was 28 years old. Despite that he was expected to release next solo album sometime in 1980’s, we only know that he wrote a song “Last Sound Love Makes” on Don Johnson’s “Heartbeat album in 1986. The next move we saw Tony Sciuto was that he joined Little River Band in 1990 and performed live stages until 1997. It meant that we could find out his name as a songwriter sometime on several albums but could not listen to his excellent vocals for a long time. At last he was back with the band "Banging Rush" with his brother Michael Sciuto. The sound of the Banging Rush is little bit rough and straight rock'n roll, comparing with that of Tony's solo album in general. The group fell apart before too long and Tony Sciuto returned to solo career. Release Date : November 1997 Label: Psychoactive, a Division of MTM Music, Germany (199631) Tracks: 1. Welcome To The Show 2. Last Weekend 3. Under A New Sky 4. If Hell Had Windows 5. Black Rain 6. Mickey Mantle 7. Breal The Fall 8. All Over Again 9. Sabrina 10. Who? 11. Can't Stop The River 12. Light My Fire Producer : Tony Sciuto Executive Producer: Arnold Geher Banging Rush: Tony Sciuto : Lead Vocals, Lead guitars, Keyboards & Programming Michael Sciuto : Bass, Bo-Axe, Backing Vocals Mitchell Allan : Guitar, Vocals Eric Di Nenna : Drums, Percussion - Musicians - Drums: Taso Kostos, John Coale, Rob Lasky, John Tracey Organ: Paul Soroka, Frank Grande Percussion: Dan Garvin Background Vocals: Brandon Sciuto #TonySciuto
Intercord Record Service, Germany Alternative Rock MTM Music, Germany Psychoactive, GermanyTakeito
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Mark Spiro / Devotion
Seattle born Mark Spiro is one of the good AOR songwriter/vocalists known for his composition for Bad English, Cheap Trick, Giant, Julian Lennon and Stephen Bishop. Spiro’s career was started in Los Angeles in when he came across Jack White, an acclaimed German producer working with Laura Brannigan, Stevie Woods and to name a few. Spiro was asked by Harold Faltermeyer to write a song for the movie “Top Gun”, and thus Spiro wrote “Mighty Wings” recorded by Cheap Trick. Spiro recorded and released his first solo album "In Stereo" produced by Jack White in Germany on Ariola but not released in USA. Although Spiro was signed to Interscope Records, USA in 1989 as one of the first recording artists for the label, he left the label without releasing any. Thus, the follow up 1994 second solo album “Care Of My Soul” was again only released in Japan, Australia and Scandinavia. In 1997, Spiro released this fourth solo album “ Devotion”, following his 1996 third solo "Now Is Then, Then Is Now" on Westcoast Records, Sweden. On this album, Spiro got Michael Thompson, the good guitarist in AOR scene fully on the album by not only playing the guitar but also co-writing 6 songs with him on this album. Spiro remade one of his composition for Stephen Bishop "Kari" on Stephen's album "Bowling In Paris"; Spiro rewrote lyrics of the song and change the title of the song as "Better With A Broken Heart". Release : October, 1997 (Germany) / 21 February, 1998 (Japan) Label: MTM Music, Germany (199630) / MTM Music - Victor Entertainment, Japan (VICP60243) Tracks: 1. My Devotion 2. Rhythm Of You 3. The Rain Came Tumblin' Down 4. Time Keeps Ticking 5. Love Is War 6. Kiss The World Away 7. Sunset City 8.:Better With A Broken Heart 9. Campbell River Road 10. Valdez 11. Don't Leave Me In Love 12. Guardian Angel 13. Desert Bloom Producer: Mark Spiro Mark Spiro: Vocals, Keyboards, Programming - Musicians - Guitars: Dan Huff, Michael Thompson, Tim Pierce #MarkSpiro
Intercord Record Service, Germany Victor Entertainment, Japan AOR Melodic RockTakeito
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Larry Tagg / Rover
Larry Tagg is the bass player/ vocalist well known for his 80's project with Brent Bourgeois "Bourgeois Tagg" and also known as the elder brother of Eric Tagg. He released his second solo album in 1997. The tenth track "After This Love Is Gone" is Larry's self-cover version of "After This Day Is Gone" performed by Bryan Duncan on Duncan’s 1996 album "Blue Skies". Brent Bourgeois co-wrote two songs; “The Turnaround” and “Next Big Thing”. Release: November, 1997 Label: Psychoactive, a division of MTM Music (995.541) Tracks: 1. Come Back, Marie 2. Chain Letter 3. Hand In Hand 4. Drive Away 5. Don't Say You Want To Be My Friend 6. If You Make Your Train 7. The Turnaround 8. We Go Way Back 9. Next Big Thing 10. After This Love Is Gone 11. You Make Me Hate My Morning Coffee 12. What Will Survive Producer: Larry Tagg Larry Tagg: Vocals, Bass, Keyboards, Percussion, Cello, Programming - Musicians - Guitars: Chris Rodriguez, Lance Taber, Danny Wilde, Tom Phillips Drums: Bruce Spencer, Michael Urbano, Johnny Rabb Keyboards: Cory Fite Percussion: Rick Lotter, Carey Avery Programming: Brent Bourgeois Background Vocals: Chris Rodriguez, Danny Wilde, Bruce Spencer, Cory Fite #LarryTagg
Intercord Record Service, Germany AOR Psychoactive, Germany CDTakeito
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Think Out Loud / Shelf Life
Do you remember "Think Out Loud"? Yes, this was the special project of Peter Beckett, the lead vocalist of the group Player, and Steve Kipner, the key person of AOR / Westcoast Music scene known for his own masterpiece solo album "Knock The Walls Down" (1979) and hit tunes such as "Physical" performed by Olivia Newton John. In 1988, these two key persons released the album "Think Out Loud" supported by John Capek, Micahel Landau, Bob Marlette, Paulinho Da Costa, Randy Goodrum, Tris Imborden, Brandon Fields, Steve Lukather, Bobby Caldwell and many many more. They have never released any album as "Think Out Loud" since then before this album's sudden release almost ten years later. However, the relationship between Beckett and Kipner was to be back to early 1970’s. Beckett was asked to join the UK band Tin Tin by Kipner, when two of the band members quit. Beckett contributed to Tin Tin by writing and producing their last single in 1973. After Kipner moved to USA to persue another music project, Beckett also left England to move to Los Angeles. Kipner formed the band named “Friends” and Beckett co-wrote a song with Kipner for the band’s album. Soon after the album release, whilst other members left the band, Beckett joined and renamed the band to “Skyband” in 1974. Skyband released their one and only self-titled album in 1975. This album features the original version of "Invisible Man" performed by 98 Degrees, which ranked on # 12 Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart dated 22 September,1997. And two songs co-written with Paul Bliss; “ Castles On Quicksand” and “ From Where I Stand” are on it. The former one was featured on the “California Dreams”, an American teen sitcom television series that aired on NBC from September 12, 1992 to December 14, 1996 and also recorded / released by the cast and on its soundtrack CD in 1992. Paul Bliss also recorded this song on his solo album “The Edge Of Coincidence” released in 1997. This album is really one of the good AOR / WestCoast albums, which reminded me of the good golden 1980's. Release: September, 1997 Label: MTM Music, Germany (MTM 199629) Distributors: Germany & Switzerland: Intercord Records Servicel, Sweden: Edelpitch, Norway: ARCADE, Denmark: Zodiac, Finland: K-Tel, Italy: FRONTIERS, U.K: CARGO, Spain: OMNI Records, France: MEDIA, Austria: EMV Tracks: 1. Castles On Quicksand 2. Way Beyond My Reach 3. Don't Throw It Away 4. From Where I Stand 5. Answer To The Why 6. Moonlight On Water 7. Just Like That 8. Let's Talk About Love 9. I'll Find My Way Again 10. Calm Before The Storm 11. Dancing On A High Wire 12. Invisible Man 13. Invisible Man (Special Remix) Producer: No Credit Think Out Loud: Peter Beckett: Vocals, Guitar Steve Kipner: Vocals, Bass, Keyboards - Musicians - Keyboards: Paul Bliss, John Capek : Keyboards Drums: Andy Goldmark Background Vocals: Hamish Stuart #ThinkOutLoud #PeterBeckett #SteveKipner
Intercord Record Service, Germany AOR MTM Records, Germany CDTakeito
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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
Intercord Record Service, Germany AOR Fusion Cocoa-Butt Music, USATakeito
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Abraxas Pool
Whilst Neal Schon reunited with Steve Perry, Steve Smith and Ross Valory to record Journey’s tenth studio album “Trial by Fire” in early 1996, the "classic" line-up of Santana band; Gregg Rolie, Michael Carabello, Michael Shrieve and José "Chepito" Areas, with Neal Schon (joined Santana in 1971 when the Santana III was released) got together intending to reproduce the original sound of Santana 30 years later and the result was fabulous Abraxas Pool. That happened because Neal Schon was obliged to wait for Steve Perry whether he wanted to tour or not due to physical issues. Neal Schon released his solo album Electric World in 1997, late forming the Abraxas Pool with former Journey member Gregg Rolie, Since Neal Schon decided to have Steve Augeri with Journey, replacing semi-retired Steve Perry, Abraxas Pool was ended after this album release. Release: March, 1997 Label: Miramar Records, USA (23082) / H.A.P.C.O., Inc.- Intercord Record Service, Germany((IRS 993.172) / Victor Entertainment Inc., Japan (VICP 60438) Tracks: 1. Boom Ba Ya Ya 2. A Million Miles Away 3. Baila Mi Cha-Cha 4. Waiting For You 5. Going Home 6. Szabo 7. Guajirona 8. Cruzin' 9. Don't Give Up 10. Ya Liego 11. Jingo Producer: Abraxas Pool Abraxas Pool: Greg Rolie : Vocals, Keyboards Neal Schon: Guitar Michael Shrieve: Drums Jose "Chepito" Areas: Timbals Michael Carabello: Congas Alphonso Johnson: Bass - Musicians - Drums: Wole Alade, Ronald Marshall Vocals: Carlos E. Franco, Necia Dallas, Davona Bundy #AbraxasPool
Intercord Record Service, Germany AOR Classic Rock H.A.P.C.O., Inc., GermanyTakeito