Contante & Sonante - Highlights and Rarities

“Highlights and Rarities” is Contante & Sonante's long-awaited comeback release after the critically acclaimed triumph of 2009's “Fly Away: The Songs of David Foster”, which definitely marked a turning point for the indie label. “Highlights and Rarities” is a special compilation of songs from the label, comprised of the previously mentioned David Foster tribute, Steve Dorff's magical release of “Original Demos” and two releases by Swiss music-maker Urs Wiesendanger, “Somebody New” and “A Christmas Eve in LA”. But this isn't your typical compilation album. The real treat comes with the eight unreleased songs such as the enchanting ballad "My Angel's Voice” by Steve Dorff, beautifully performed by the late Warren Wiebe; the previously unreleased gems by Urs Wiesendanger, "Luckiest Man", a smooth, sultry R&B number featuring great vocals courtesy of the talented Skyler Jett and "When I Think of You" featuring great Swiss singer Rey Thomas. Additionally you’ll find three previously unreleased numbers from the same Fly Away sessions, which remained uncompleted at the time and have been produced and re-arranged by the very talented Tomi Malm for this special compilation. Among these new songs, the haunting cover of "Forever" (a ballad originally sung by Kenny Loggins, who co-wrote it with David Foster for Loggins’ Vox Humana album, featuring a fantastic new name from Korea, SunHo Lim; a stunning rendition of The Tubes' rocking classic "She's a Beauty" with amazing vocals by Bjarne Langhoff and last but not least is a new outstanding bossa nova flavoured version of the David Foster and Boz Scaggs’ hit "Look What You've Done To Me" with wonderful vocals by singer Cecily Gardner. What is amazing about this release is that just as “Fly Away: The Songs of David Foster”, the real beauty of this album rests in the fact that these are great beautiful songs brought to life by a cast of superior musicians and singers and the appeal of these covers and originals is undeniably attractive and you cannot help but to feel the labor of love minced into this release, which compels you to continue listening to this wonderful production again and again.

Track Listing:

1. A Little Thing Called Life
2. Kindred Spirits
3. Somewhere In Time
4. My Angel's Voice*
5. The Final Reason Why
6. If Only For A Day
7. Luckiest Man*
8. When I Think Of You*
9. The Christmas Song
10. This Christmas
11. Silent Night*
12. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas*
13. In The Stone
14. Jojo
15. Through The Fire
16. Forever*
17. She's A Beauty*
18. Look What You've Done To Me* (sampled above)

Tracks 4, 7,8,11,12,16,17 & 18 Previously Unreleased
Tracks 1, 2 & 3 from Steve Dorff “Original Demos”
Tracks 5 & 6 from Urs “Somebody New”
Tracks 9 & 10 from “A Christmas Eve in L.A.”
Tracks 13, 14 & 15 from “Fly Away: The Songs of David Foster”

Buy it at Contante & Sonante or at CD Baby

Fly Away - The Songs Of David Foster

Once in a while comes along one of those tribute albums, which catches your ear. “Fly Away” is certainly one of those. It celebrates the songwriting art of one of the most talented musicians/writers/producers ever to appear on the music scene, David Foster. But while a lot of people think that Mr. Foster had everything to do with this album, the fact remains that the man behind this tribute is Tomi Malm, from Finland, who as an arranger and producer has reinvented a number of classics from Foster’s amazing songbook. Furthermore, Malm’s inventive and original covers are brought to life by a cast of superior musicians and singers, some of whom have collaborated with Foster in the past in one way or another. Mr. Foster himself collaborates on a few tracks playing piano. But the real beauty of this album is the fact that even for someone who doesn’t know who David Foster is or who these musicians are, it doesn’t matter. These are great songs and great performances and the appeal of these covers is undeniably attractive. To say that these renditions sound better than the originals by Earth, Wind & Fire, Peter Cetera, Boz Scaggs, Kenny Loggins, Peter Allen, Chaka Khan, James Ingram and Chicago would be sacrilege, but even if you are familiar with the originals you cannot help but to feel compelled to continue listening to this wonderful production and end up loving it. Mr. Malm has achieved a true tribute album, which sounds fresh, inventive and gives new meaning to “The Songs of David Foster”, or should we say David Foster, Maurice White, Bill LaBounty, Boz Scaggs, Kenny Loggings, Michael McDonald, Carole Bayer Sager, Peter Allen, Cynthia Weil, Richard Marx, Jeremy Lubbock, Jay Graydon, Robert Lamm, just to name a few. After all, none of the songs in this tribute (and throughout most of his career) were written by Foster alone but in collaboration with some of the best writers in the music business. Mr. Foster just has a star-like persona and is a better businessman. His all around talent as a writer, producer, musician and entrepreneur propels him into stardom. The album closes with an extraordinary contribution directly from Foster’s vaults, the unreleased song “Live Each Day”, which features a vocal performance by the late Warren Wiebe, which has never been heard before. Musicians are: Vocals by Bill Champlin, Bill LaBounty, Arnold McCuller, Frank Adahl, Jeff Pescetto, Robbie Dupree, Cecily Gardner, Ole Borud, Lisa Lovbrand, Bill Cantos and Warren Wiebe, Tomi Malm as producer, arranger on keyboards, bass and guitars, Jeremy Lubbock, Lenni-Kalle Taipale, Aidan Zammit on Rhodes, David Foster on piano, John Robinson and Jarmo Valmari on drums, Nathan East, Rick Chudacoff, Neil Stubenhaus, Alberto Hernandez and Abraham Laboriel on bass, Ramon Stagnaro on nylon guitar, Brandon Fields and Fabrizio Mandolini on sax, Paul Jackson Jr., Janne Lehikoinen, Peter Friestedt, Dan Warner, Michael Landau, Soren Reiff, Jay Graydon, Porty, Jyrki Manninen, Jaakko Pesola and Juan Carlos Jimenez on electric guitar, Michito Sanchez on percussion, Tollak Ollestad on harmonica, Frank Adahl, Bill Champlin, Lisa Lavie, Tomi Malm, Gabriel Raya, Rafa Hernandez, Eli Hernandez, Arnold McCuller, Bill Cantos, Joaquin Gonzalez, Jeff Pescetto, Bjarne Langhoff, Bjarne Langhoff, Aidan Zammit and Joe Pizzulo on background vocals, Horns arranged by Tomi Malm, Jan Glaesel and performed by the Danish All Star Horns, Jan Glaesel on flugelhorn solo, string arrangement by Tomi Malm and Jeremy Lubbock, strings conducted by Dan Bornemark and performed by the Värmland Opera Sinfonietta.

Track Listing: (Composers)

1. Prelude (Tomi Malm)

Featuring David Foster on piano

2. In the Stone (David Foster, Maurice White & Allee Willis)

Performed by Bill Champlin

3. No Explanation (David Foster, Linda Thompson, Bill LaBaounty & Beckie Foster)

Performed by Bill LaBounty

4. Jojo (David Foster, David Lasley & Boz Scaggs)

Performed by Arnold McCuller

5. The Colour of My Love (David Foster & Arthur Janov)

Performed by Frank Adahl

6. Heart to Heart (David Foster, Kenny Loggings & Michael McDonald)

Performed by Jeff Pescetto

7. Fly Away (David Foster, Peter Allen & Carole Bayer Sager)

Performed by Robbie Dupree

8. Look What You've Done to Me (David Foster & Boz Scaggs)

Performed by Cecily Gardner

9. Through the Fire (David Foster, Tom Keane & Cynthia Weil)

Performed by Ole Borud

10. The Best of Me (David Foster, Jeremy Lubbock & Richard Marx)

Performed by Lisa Lovbrand

11. Nothin' You Can Do About It (David Foster, Jay Graydon & Steve Kipner)

Performed by Frank Adahl

12. Whatever We Imagine (David Foster, Jeremy Lubbock & Paul Gordon)

Performed by Bill Cantos

13. When Will the World Be Like Lovers (David Foster, Tom Keane & Robert Lamm)

Performed by Jeff Pescetto, Robbie Dupree, Frank Adahl, Bill Cantos, Arnold McCuller and Joe Pizzulo

14. Live Each Day (David Foster and Linda Thompson)

Performed by Warren Wiebe

Buy Fly Away at Amazon, CD Baby

Boz Scaggs - Fade Into The Light

Boz Scaggs enjoyed success in the 70s with his hit "Lowdown" from his now classic album “Silk Degrees”. Scaggs spent the 80s in retirement until he resurfaced totally energized in 1988. Since then he’s been releasing new material, including “Fade into Light” in 1999, which is a magnificent album even if you never heard or liked Scaggs. It features unplugged and redone performances of Scaggs' classics with a completely different feel as well as some new tunes. The remakes are so well done that you don’t even miss the originals. His sultry raspy voice has encountered a new depth of performance, phrasing and dimension that involves you. The musicians’ contributions are also superb. Musicians: Boz Scaggs on vocals, guitar, keyboards and vocals, Michael Omartian on keyboards, Jai Winding, Greg Phillinganes and Kevin Bents on piano, Randy Kerber on piano, keyboards, string arrangements and conductor, David Paich (of Toto), Michael Rodriguez and Aaron Zigman on keyboards, Dave Carpenter, Nathan East, Neil Stubenhaus, James "Hutch" Hutchinson and Roscoe Beck on bass, Robben Ford, Dean Parks, Ray Parker Jr. and Fred Tackett on guitar, Jim Keltner, Curt Bisquera and Ricky Fataar on drums and percussion, Lenny Castro on percussion, Booker T. Jones and William McLeish Smith on organ, Norbert Stachel and Tom Scott on saxophone and Kathy Merrick and Lisa Frazier background vocals. Produced by Scaggs, David Paich and Ricky Fataar. Beautifully recorded by Michael Rodriguez, Chris Tavarez, Terry Christian, Dan Garcia, Paul McKenna and mixed by Steve MacMillan. Mastered by Bernie Grundman. Released as a Dual Disc with the entire album on enhanced audio and some videos on the flip side.

Track Listing:

1. Lowdown

2. Some Things Happen

3. Just Go

4. Love T.K.O.

5. Fade into Light

6. Harbor Lights

7. Lost It

8. Time

9. Sierra(sampled above)

10. We're All Alone

11. Simone

12. I'll Be the One

Buy Fade into Light [Dual Disc] on Amazon or

Pages - Pages (3)

Pages released their third and last album simply entitled “Pages” in 1981. Richard Page and Steve George dig even deeper into the pop-rock territory but this time the influence of their work with producer and guitarist Jay Graydon is even stronger. On this release the beautifully crafted songs have reached maturity and this amazing work has established Pages as one of the most prominent exponents of the so called “West Coast” sound. The rhythm arrangements and the instrumental performances are stronger than ever making this production the pinnacle of the group. Personnel are: Richard Page on vocals and keyboards, Steve George on keyboards and backing vocals, Steve Khan, Charles "Icarus" Johnson and Jay Graydon on guitars, Neil Stubenhaus and Abraham Laboriel on bass, Jeff Porcaro, Ralph Humphrey, Vince Colaiuta and Mike Baird on drums, Paulinho Da Costa on percussion, Tom Scott on saxophone and Al Jarreau on vocal effects. Produced by Jay Graydon and Bobby Colomby.

 

Track Listing:

1. You Need a Hero

2. Tell Me (sampled above)

3. O.C.O.E. (Official Cat of the Eighties)

4. Come on Home

5. Sesatia

6. Only a Dreamer

7. Automatic

8. Fearless

9. Midnight Angel

Buy it at Amazon, CD Japan or

Pages - Future Streets

Pages second album “Future Streets” was released in 1979. Richard Page and Steve George dig deeper into the pop-rock territory influenced by their experiences working alongside most of the famous musicians of the time such as Al Jarreau and Kenny Loggins. Once again the result consist of beautifully crafted songs enhanced by the amazing work of their studio musician counterparts. Although the so called “West Coast” pop-rock sound is brilliantly portrayed, the rhythm arrangements and the instrumental performances are upgraded a notch to complement these great compositions. Personnel are: Richard Page vocals, bass and keyboards, Steve George on keyboards and vocals, Charles "Icarus" Johnson, Tim May and Joey Trujillo on guitars, Russell Battelene and George Lawrence on drums, Jai Winding on keyboards, Jerry Manfredi on bass, Don Alias and Claudio Slon Percussion, Michael Brecker on saxophone plus the horn section of Jerry Hey (arranger), Chuck Fidley, Lew McCreary, Bill Reichenbach Jr., Larry Williams and background vocals by Kenny Loggins and George Hawkins. Produced by Bobby Colomby.

Track Listing:

1. I Do Believe in You

2. The Sailor's Song

3. Take My Heart Away

4. Future Street

5. Who's Right, Who's Wrong

6. Chemistry (sampled above)

7. Two People

8. Keep on Movin'

Buy it at Amazon, CD Japan or

Pages - Pages

Richard Page and childhood friend from Phoenix, Arizona, Steve George are mostly known as the driving force of Mr. Mister (along with guitarist Steve Farris and drummer Pat Mastelotto) and for their number one hits "Broken Wings" and "Kyrie". But what a lot of people don’t know is that before Mr. Mister there was Pages. George and Page were a team of backup vocalists and songwriters, along with the likes of Bill Champlin (from “Chicago” fame) who provided their services for many artists from Al Jarreau to Kenny Loggins. Pages recorded their first self-titled album in 1978. Pages incorporated one beautifully crafted pop-rock compositions paired with amazing vocals, great musicianship and superb production as one of the best exponents of the so-called "West Coast" genre. Personnel are: Richard Page vocals, bass and keyboards, Steve George on keyboards and vocals, Jeff Porcaro, Michael Baird, Vinnie Colaiuta, Russell Battelene and Ralph Humphrey on drums, Larry Carlton, Jay Graydon, Paul Jackson, Jr., Charles "Icarus" Johnson, Steve Khan and Peter Leinheiser on guitars, Neil Stubenhaus, Abraham Laboriel and Jerry Manfredi on bass, Tom Scott on saxophone, Paulinho Da Costa, Chuck Silverman, Francisco Aguabella, Steve Forman, Tim Downs and Claudio Slon on percussion, Victor Feldman on vibraphone and background vocals by Philip Bailey, Al Jarreau, Bobby Colomby, Donna Fien, Lani Groves, Mary Hylan and Linda Mallah. Produced by Bobby Colomby and Jay Graydon.

Track Listing:
1. Clearly Kim

2. This Is for the Girls

3. Let It Go

4. Listen for the Love

5. Love Dance

6. If I Saw You Again

7. Interlude

8. It's Alright

9. Room at the Top

10. I Get It from You

Buy it at Amazon, CD Japan or

Richard Page - Shelter Me

Richard Page is mostly know in the music circles as probably the most sought after background vocalist in the LA studio music scene, during the seventies and eighties due to his excellent vocal skills and a voice, smooth as silk, yet fierce and appealing. But in the consumer music world he is well know as the former member of Mr. Mister, Pages and 3rd Matinee. As a singer and muti-instrumentalist Richard Page teamed up with his childhood friend from Phoenix, Arizona, Steve George in forming their group Pages and later Mr. Mister and they scored two consecutive Hot 100 #1 singles, "Broken Wings" and "Kyrie" before breaking up on September 1990. In 1994 Page became the successor to Kevin Gilbert from the earlier group “Toy Matinee” and re-grouped with Patrick Leonard under the name “3rd Matinee” to release their only amazing album “Meanwhile”. Page is also well-known for his composition skills. His songwriting clients include Kenny Loggins, Madonna, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Dionne Warwick, The Pointer Sisters, Meat Loaf, Patti LaBelle, Hall & Oates, Bill Champlin, Al Jarreau and many others. “Shelter Me’ was released in 1996 but it remains a strong contemporary release. It finds Page in the solo-driving seat accompanied by great musicians. It’s a natural follow-up to his days with Pages and it offers an array of emotions embedded on beautifully crafted pop-rock compositions paired with amazing performances and superb production. This is real music with real musicians that grows on you with every listen. Personnel are: Richard Page vocals, guitar, keyboard and piano, James Harrah, Michael Thompson and Steve Farris on guitars, Jimmy Johnson and John Pierce on bass, Denny Fongheiser and Jerry Marotta on drums, Luis Conte and Pat Mastelotto on percussion, Kim Bullard on keyboards, Tollak Ollestad on harmonica, Keith Mc Cabe on mandolin, Suzanne Teng on flute, Rick Sailon on violin and background vocals by Steve George, Arnold Mc Culler, Louis Price, Carmen Carter, Cecilia Bullard and Lance Eaton. Mixed by famous recording engineer Elliot Scheiner. Richard Page's website.

Track Listing:

1. The Best Thing

2. My Oxygen

3. Even the Pain

4. Shelter Me (sampled above)

5. Let Me Down Easy

6. A Simple Life

7. Dependence

8. Just to Love You

9. If All Else Fails

10. Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away

Buy it at Amazon or

Robbie Dupree with David Sancious

This very intimate and rare production released in 2003 features a duo between Robbie Dupree on vocals and harmonica and David Sancious on acoustic piano. They perform a collection of some of Dupree’s most memorable songs minus the hit “Steal Away”, which surprisingly does not appear on this production. These are well crafted renditions of Mr. Dupree’s repertoire simplified in instruments but enriched with re-harmonization, beautifully performed by Mr. Dupree’s silk vocals and Mr. Sancious’ smooth yet fierce playing. The mood of the whole collection makes it a pleasure to listen to even if you’re not a fan of Robbie Dupree and even if you have never heard these songs before. The is an artist exclusive release.

Track Listing:

1. Carried Away

2. Month of Sundays

3. Walls Come Down

4. This is Life

5. Return to Her

6. Wings

7. Desperation

8. Real Life (sampled above)

9. Sunny Day

CD available at Robbie Dupree's website or