written by David Cohen & Leslie Ruchala

In the fall of 1979, R&B diva Cheryl Lynn released her sophomore record entitled “In Love.” For the new album, after the massive success of her giant hit “Got To Be Real” co-written with David Paich and David Foster, the gifted singer collaborated with UK singer/songwriter/producer Barry Blue. Together they selected the material for the record and prepared all the rhythm arrangements.

The debut single, “I’ve Got Faith In You” is a refined up-tempo number written by Bobby Caldwell who was red-hot at the time for his top hit “What You Won’t Do For Love.” The song, though lacking the memorable hook of “Got To Be Real,” is extremely well conceived to showcase Lynn’s impressive vocal pipes. “I’ve Got Faith In You” sports a tight groove and smoking horns, impeccably arranged by Jerry Hey, to complement the singer’s performance. The single was a minor entry on the R&B chart peaking at #41. Funky material and disco-flavoured arrangements make the bulk of “In Love” with producer Blue offering a very good up-tempo number entitled “Love Bomb” while Lynn penned an interesting mid-tempo called “Chances” with guest Michael Brecker on sax. The title track, a sweet and rarefied ballad gives Lynn the right setting to absolutely shine. The song also has the bonus of David Foster on keyboards who put his thumbprint on the final result that also benefits from more great strings and horns arranging by Jerry Hey.
The presence of both Foster and Hey give this elegant ballad a refined touch that brings it into EWF’s “I Am” territories. This second release wasn’t as successful as “Cheryl Lynn” even though, with its quality performances and well-dosed tracklist, ot helped consolidate the singer’s name among audiences as one of the most unique and talented R&B performers of the era.

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Lead & Backing Vocals: Cheryl Lynn
Keyboards: David Foster & Paul Griffin
Bass: David Shields
Drums: Andy Newmark

Strings & Horns Arranged by Jerry Hey
Arranged by Barry Blue & Cheryl Lynn
Produced by Barry Blue

Lyrics

No Lyrics

written by David Foster, Kenny Loggins & Eva Ein

High Adventure, released in September 1982, was Kenny Loggins’ fifth solo album.
This well balanced pop/rock endeavour spawned three hits on the charts and was eventually certified gold. Among the hits is the now-classic pop mid-tempo, “Heart To Heart,” co-written by the singer with Michael McDonald and David Foster and the rocking number, “Don’t Fight It” that matches Loggins’ voice with another legendary tenor singer, Steve Perry of Journey.

These two songs are clearly the most memorable and well-known moments on the albums but there are several other tracks on “High Adventure” that deserve a mention. McDonald, for example, co-wrote with Loggins also the haunting melody of  “Only A Miracle,”dedicated by Kenny to his first son, Crosby. This special tune is wonderfully sung by the singer with the bonus of a magnificent string arrangement courtesy of the late Marty Paich. Another sure winner is the second collaboration with Foster entitled “If It’s Not What You’re Looking For.” This one is an elegant rocker based on strong guitars and a powerful rhythm section to support another showcase of Loggins’ vocal talent. Foster’s touch can be especially heard on the catchy, keyboard-driven refrain that has echoes of Toto’s finest work. “If It’s Not What You’re Looking For” isn’t as famous as other Foster/Loggins hits like the aforementioned “Heart To Heart,” “Forever” or “The Real Thing” but nonetheless is another sheer proof of their collaborative magic.

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Lead Vocals: Kenny Loggins
Keyboards: Steve Wood & Neil Larsen
Guitars & Solos: Mike Hamilton
Drums: Tris Imboden
Bass: Nathan East
Backing Vocals: Steve Wood & Mike Hamilton

Produced by Bruce Botnick & Kenny Loggins

Lyrics

What you thinkin’ of?
Darlin’ you’ve been with me every day
But you seem so far away, I know
No, it’s never enough
To smile and say there’s something on your mind
If you doubt my love
Know that it’s here all the time
If that’s not what you’re lookin’ for
If it’s not what you need to know
And if there is somethin’ more
Girl, I’ll give you anything you want
Girl it’s been so right
Nobody could ever love you more
I’ve never been more sure
Where in the middle of the night
I hold you near
And take your heart in my arms
Swearin’ all my love
That’s something you’ve known from the start
If that’s not what you’re lookin’ for
If it’s not what you need to know
And if there is somethin’ more
I’ll give you anything you want
If that’s not what you’re lookin’ for
If it’s not what you need to know
Know that you’re free to go
Just be sure that what you want
Is not what you got
Hold me
Oh, hold me tonight
Forever
Here, my love
So you’ll never
Fly away
(SOLO)
Gotta work it out
I’m tryin’ to hold on to our romance
We’ve only got one more chance I know
So tell me what it’s all about
Oh darlin’ if there’s still a way to your heart
I’ll use all my love
To keep us from fallin’ apart
If that’s not what you’re lookin’ for
If it’s not what you need to know
And if there is somethin’ more
I’ll give you everything you want
If that’s not what you’re lookin’ for
If it’s not what you need to know
Know that you’re free to go
Just be sure that what you want
Is not what you got

written by Bruce Roberts & Sam Roman

“Whenever There Is Love” is a refined adult contemporary ballad co-written by renowned singer/songwriter Bruce Roberts who also sang the song as a duet with his friend and international superstar, the late Donna Summer.

“Whenever There Is Love” was included in the soundtrack of the 1996 movie, “Daylight,” starring Silvester Stallone. The production of the song was handled by super-producer David Foster, another old friend of both Roberts and Summer. The track was released as a single with the bonus of some dance remixes by Junior Vasquez but it didn’t chart on Billboard’s Hot 100 while an accompanying music video got some airplay on MTV.
The evocative arrangement by Foster is pretty typical of his work of the nineties with a prominent use of keyboards, synthesizers, guitars and programmed drums to support the singers’ heartfelt performances. The song sports a very nice melody that Foster enhances especially towards the end with a powerful crescendo and the use of a gospel flavoured choir.
Another very good reason to listen to “Whenever There Is Love” is to appreciate once again Summer’s legendary voice well complemented here by Roberts’ intense vocal performance.

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Lead Vocals: Donna Summer & Bruce Roberts
Keyboards: David Foster

Produced by David Foster & Bruce Roberts

Lyrics

Like the welcome of spring
like the light that you bring
to skies that were empty and gray
just your breath in the night
can make it alright
when you sigh as you’re drifting away
oh baby
All that is simple and good
lives in the places you stood
the things that are pure and true
paint a picture of you
and you are all I can think of
whenever there is love
whenever there is love
whenever there is love

Like a brief desert rain
like the air that remains
making everything suddenly new
oh baby and like the light in your eye
s
as if you and I made a world that was only for two
oh tell me baby
If you are lost I will find you
no matter where you go
if you fall I’ll be behind you

written by David Foster, David Paich & Cheryl Lynn

Ithamara Koorax is a very popular Brazilian jazz/pop singer. On the course of her noteworthy career she has recorded several critically acclaimed albums and collaborated with illustrious names like Claus Ogerman, Eumir Deodato, Marcos Valle, Azymuth, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Dave Brubeck.

In 2012, Koorax released her new album entitled “Got To Be Real.” It’s a great collection that includes a very eclectic mix of jazz standards, disco anthems, pop evergreens and Brazilian songs but the very eclectic material is perfectly blended by the inventive arrangements by Arnaldo De Souteiro who also produced the album. The title-track is obviously a cover of Cheryl Lynn’s 1978, monster hit “Got To Be Real.” The classic disco hit co-written by Lynn with David Foster and David Paich is presented in a fascinating slowed down version. Koorax stated in an interview that De Souteiro “did especially a terrific job on the title-track because he transferred the bass line (from the original Cheryl Lynn recording) to the keyboards and transferred the horn riffs to the bass.”
The arrangement of this song is for sure extremely inventive but the true highlight is Koorax’s amazing vocal performance. Check out especially how she holds an incredibly high note at the end of the first refrain. A true stunner. Another key element is the fantastic work on keyboards by the late Josè Roberto Bertrami, a member of seminal fusion trio, Azymuth who sadly passed away a little after the recording of “Got To Be Real.” This album is a true listening pleasure with absolute highlights like the bossa influenced “Up, Up And Away” and a spectacular “My Favourite Things” with a clever samba arrangement and it confirms Koorax as one of the most important jazz/pop singers today.

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Lead Vocal: Ithamara Koorax
Keyboards: Josè Roberto Bertrami
Bass: Jorge Pescara
Drums: Haroldo Jobim
Percussion: Arnaldo De Souteiro

Produced & Arranged by Arnaldo De Souteiro

Lyrics

What you find-ah
What you feel now
What you know-a
To be real

What you find, ah
(I think I love you, baby)
What you feel now
(I feel I need you, baby)
What you know-a
To be real

Ooh, your love’s for real now
You know that your love is my love
My love is your love
Our love is here to stay

What you find-ah
What you feel now
What you know-a
To be real

Ooh, your love’s for real now
You know that your love is my love
My love is your love
Our love is here to stay

What you find, ah
(I think I love you, baby)
What you feel now
(I feel I need you, baby)
What you know-a
To be real

What you find, ah
(I think I love you, baby)
What you feel now
(I feel I need you)
What you know-a
To be real…

written by The Isley Brothers & Chris Jasper

At the beginning of 2011 Seal and David Foster went back into the studio to work on the follow-up to their 2008 hit album, “Soul.” This time the focus was more on the soul classics of the Seventies.

Foster started working on songs like “I’ll Be Around,” “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” and “Let’s Stay Together” doing the arrangements and recording strings and other instruments but eventually they mutually decided to take all the material recorded and handing it off to Trevor Horn to finish the album.
Four of the songs originally crafted by Foster made the final cut on “Soul 2,” when it was released the next November, with additional production work by Horn. “Let’s Stay Together” became the first single off the album and made it to #13 on the adult contemporary chart. “Soul 2” didn’t become a huge seller like its predecessor but made the top ten on Billboard’s top 200 and was #1 on the R&B chart. After a few months after its original release, in January 2012, a deluxe edition of “Soul 2” was made available. The most interesting thing about it, is that it included two bonus tracks, “Ain’t Nothing But A House Party,” produced by Horn and a spectacular rendition of The Isley Brothers’ classic, “For The Love Of You.” The latter was another juicy fruit from the Foster sessions. Listening to that song we can appreciate the superior quality of Foster’s arrangement with a smooth beat, silky strings and especially the “fosterish” trademark break towards the end. Seal’s performance is another top notch affair and the fine overall result make us wonder why it didn’t make the original tracklist of “Soul 2.”

Listen

Lead Vocals: Seal
Drums: Ash Soan
Bass: Trevor Horn
Acoustic & Electric Guitar: Phil Palmer
Electric Guitar: Paul Jackson, Jr.
David Foster: Keyboards
Julian Hinton: Keyboard & Synths

Produced by David Foster & Trevor Horn
Co-Produced by Jochem van der Saag

Lyrics

Driftin’ on a memory
Ain’t no place I’d rather be
Then with you, yeah
Lovin’ you, well, well, well

Day will make a way for night
All we’ll need is candle lights
And a song, yeah
Soft and long, well

Glad to be here alone
With a lover unlike no other
Sad to see a new horizon
Slowly comin’ into view, yeah

I wanna be living for the love of you
Ah, yes I am
All that I’m giving is for the love of you
Alright now

Lovely as a ray of sun
That touches me when the mornin’ comes
Feels good to me, yeah
My love and me, well

Smoother than a gentle breeze
Flowin’ through my mind with ease
Soft as can be, well
When you’re lovin’ me
When you’re lovin’ me

Love to be right in the waves
Of your love enchanted with a touch
And it seems to me
We could sail together
In and out of mystery

Well, I wanna be living, for the love of you
Alright now
All that I’m giving, is for the love of you
You got me, girl

I wanna be living, for the love of you
Alright now
All that I’m giving, givin’ is for the love of you
Oh, yes I am

Paradise I have within
Can’t feel insecure again
You’re the key
Well, and this I see
Oh, I see

Now and then I lose my way
Using words that try to say
What I feel, yeah, love is real
Oh, love is real

I might as well sign my name
On a card which could say it better
Time will tell ’cause it seems
That I done just about all that I can do

I know that I’m livin’, for the love of you
Oh, yes I am
I know that I’m livin’, for the love, love of you
Every, everyday I, livin’, for the love of you

I’m living, for the love
Each and every day, oh yes I do
I’m gonna say it one more time

Said, “I’m living, for the love
Each and every day, oh”
Lord, Lord knows I am right, right now
Said that, “I’m livin’ for the love”

written by Neil Sedaka & Phil Cody

1975 was an important year for David Foster. He was in his mid-twenties and was quickly becoming one of the most important keyboard players on the LA session scene. That year he participated to countless projects including albums for big names like George Harrison, Bobby Womack and Barbra Streisand.

Foster’s playing also started being featured on hit singles like Helen Reddy’s “Ain’t No Way To Treat A Lady,” Gary Wright’s “Dreamweaver” and Harrison’s “You.” He also played clavinet on Neil Sedaka’s #1, “Bad Blood.” That song marked the first time that Foster’s name appeared on a #1 single on Billboard’s Hot 100. “Bad Blood” is a catchy pop tune co-written by Sedaka with Phil Cody that especially benefits from the appeal of Elton John’s familiar harmony vocals. It was #1 for three weeks and certified gold thus becoming the most successful commercial single of Sedaka’s illustrious career. That song and its parent album, “The Hungry Years,” were both released in the US by Elton John’s Rocket Records label. “Bad Blood” also presents a stellar line-up of musicians to support the two singer’s superior performances. The back-up band included Foster with other absolute giants like Nigel Olsson on drums, Lee Sklar on bass, Steve Cropper and Dean Parks on guitars plus the noteworthy work on flute by John Horn. “The Hungry Years” was also a good success reaching #16 on the albums chart. It included another couple of good songs with Foster on keyboards, the opening track, “Crossroads” and “Lonely Night (Angel Face).” Sedaka and Foster worked together years later on a couple of interesting projects for the singer’s daughter, Dara.
In 2010 Sedaka released a new album entitled, “The Music Of My Life.” It was a good reminder of the veteran singer/songwriter’s uncommon ability to write and sing fine pop music. It presented many of his classic plus new material. Among the new songs there was a track entitled “Do You Remember,” a latin tinged song produced by his old friend David Foster.

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Lead Vocal & Acoustic Piano: Neil Sedaka
Harmony Vocal: Elton John
Clavinet: David Foster
Guitar: Steve Cropper & Dean Parks
Bass: Leland Sklar
Drums: Nigel Olsson
Shaker & Tambourin: Milt Holland
Flute: Jim Horn

Produced by Neil Sedaka & Robert Appere

Lyrics

It coulda been me but it was you
Who went and bit off a little bit more than he could chew
You said that you had it made, but you been had
The woman no good, no how, thinkin’ maybe the blood is bad

Bad (ba-a-ad) blood (blo-o-od)
The woman was born to lie
Makes promises she can’t keep
With the wink on an eye

Bad (ba-a-ad) blood (blo-o-od)
Brother, you’ve been deceived
It’s bound to change you mind
About all you believe

>From where I stand, it looks mighty strange
How you let a woman like that treat you like small change
I don’t understand what you’re lookin’ to find
The only thing bad blood do is mess up a good man’s mind

SPOKEN: Hear me talkin’ now

Bad (ba-a-ad) blood (blo-o-od)
The bitch is in her smile
The lie is on her lips
Such an evil child

Bad (ba-a-ad) blood (blo-o-od)
Is takin’ you for a ride
The only good thing about bad blood
Is lettin’ it slide

Doo-ron, doo-ron, di di, dit, dit, ron-ron
Doo-ron, doo-ron, di di, dit, dit, ron-ron
Doo-ron, doo-ron, di di, dit, dit, ron-ron
Bad blood, talkin’ ’bout bad blood

Doo-ron, doo-ron, di di, dit, dit, ron-ron
Doo-ron, doo-ron, di di, dit, dit, ron-ron
Doo-ron, doo-ron, di di, dit, dit, ron-ron
Bad blood
SPOKEN: Here we go

Bad (ba-a-ad) blood (blo-o-od)
The bitch is in her smile
The lie is on her lips
Such an evil child

Bad (ba-a-ad) blood (blo-o-od)
Is takin’ you for a ride
The only thing good about bad blood
Is lettin’ it slide

The only good thing about bad blood
Is lettin’ it slide

written by David Foster

“I Will Be There With You” is a special project that David Foster prepared around 2008 for the Japanese airline company, Jal. On that occasion, the Canadian hitmaker wrote this beautiful instrumental while his daughter Amy added the right lyrics to it. Katharine McPhee, the gifted singer of American Idol fame and frequent Foster collaborator, sung the track, produced by Foster with Jochem van der Saag, that became part of an important campaign for the airline company.

A couple of years later, popular Japanese star, Anri recorded a new version of the song with Japanese lyrics to be included on her 2011 album, “Heart To Heart-With You.” Both versions of the song benefit from Foster’s state of the art backing track and are absolutely great to listen to also thanks to both singers’ superior talents and wonderful voices.  Foster’s instrumental version of “I Will Be There With You” was eventually released on iTunes internationally. As great as both vocal versions are, we think that Foster’s piano version is more appealing to fans cause it echoes his excellent instrumentals of the Eighties, especially his hit single, “Love Theme From St. Elmo’s Fire.” His work on the acoustic piano surrounded by the lush orchestra and tasteful synth programming by van der Saag  is absolutely priceless and a true sonic pleasure.
As we said “I Will Be There With You” can be found on iTunes and we urge you to go and buy it to enjoy once again the greatness of Foster’s touch and his unique ability to create an instrumental pop classic.

Listen

Acoustic Piano: David Foster
Keyboards & Drum Programming: Jochem van der Saag

Arranged by David Foster
Strings Orchestrated by Brad Dechter
Produced by David Foster & Jochem van der Saag

Lyrics

No Lyrics