Airplay: Airplay – 1980
Produced by: Jay Graydon & David Foster
Label: RCA
The mother of all "West Coast" albums. A must if you’re into this genre. Here
you’ll find the original recording of the EWF classic "After the love has gone".
Jap. import CD.
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Alessi:
Long Time
Friends – 1982
Produced by: Cristopher Cross & Michael Ostin
Label: Qwest
Great album from identical twins Billy and Bobby Alessi. Featuring most of the LA studio mafia, and additional
vocals by Cristopher Cross and Patti Austin. Executive producer is Quincy Jones. Jap.
import CD.
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Bill Cantos:
Who Are
You – 1995
Produced by: Bill Schnee and others
Label: Pioneer PICP 1051
This very talented piano player has worked with Brenda Russel, Jay Graydon and Howard
Hewett. CD only available in Japan. Also check out his latest
release "Movie in the Night Sky".
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Bill Champlin:
Runaway
– 1981
Produced by: David Foster
Label: Elektra
Singer/songwriter/keyboard player/guitarist Bill Champlin first started out in 1966 as the
leader of the San Francisco-based group The Sons of Champlin. In 1981, Champlin became a
member of Chicago, with whom he has recorded and toured ever since, while releasing the
occasional solo album, sometimes only in Japan. He scored two singles chart entries in
1982 with "Tonight Tonight" and "Sara", both from "Runaway".
Also check out his 1978 release "Single". This is
produced by David Foster and has a more R&B feeling.
Extremely hard to find on CD!
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Christopher Cross:
Another Page – 1983
Produced by: Michael Omartian
Label: Warner Bros.
Cross (born Christopher Geppert) came out of the blue in 1980 with his self-titled debut
of slight soft pop. He managed to clean up at the following year’s Grammys, beating
out previous record-holder Frank Sinatra with a total of five awards. Another Page is his
second album, and features additional vocals by Michael McDonald, Don Henley and Art
Garfunkel. Cross also had a #1 hit with "Arthur’s Theme" from the movie Arthur.
Question: What’s with the pink flamingo? Anybody?
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Ned Doheny:
Hard Candy
– 1976
Ned Doheny: Prone – 1978
Label: Sony Japan
Produced by: Steve Cropper
Two of my personally favorite "West Coast" albums. These two titles are not in
stock at CDnow. Only available on import from Japan. Doheny
songs also recorded by such artists like Average White Band, Chaka
Khan, George Benson and Millie Jackson.
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Doobie Brothers:
Minute By Minute – 1978
Produced by: Ted Templeman
Label: Warner Bros.
The Doobie Brothers (after a slangterm for marijuana) was one of the most popular
Californian pop/rock bands of the ’70s. They evolved from a mellow, post-hippie boogie
band to a slick, soul-inflected pop band by the end of the decade. In 1979 the Doobies
released their most successful album, Minute By Minute, which spent five weeks at number
one on the strength of the number one single "What a Fool Believes." For more of
the same, check out "Livin’ on the Fault Line" from 1977.
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Bryan Duncan:
Blue
Skies – 1996
Produced by: Dan Posthuma & Dan Garcia
Label: Myrrh Records
A very good "West Coast" album from the former lead singer of Sweet Comfort
Band. Great songs and an excellent production.
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Donald Fagen:
Nightfly
– 1982
Produced by: Gary Katz
Label: Warner Bros.
Classic album from the one half of Steely Dan.
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Jay Graydon:
Airplay
for the Planet – 1993
Produced by: Jay Graydon
Label: Insideout
Seems like this guitarist and producer has worked with about everybody in the business!
Jap. import CD.
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Greg Guidry:
Over the
Line – 1982
Produced by: John Ryan
Label: Columbia
Greg Guidry:
Soul’d Out – 2000
Produced by: Greg Guidry
Label: GMG Records
The first release from this very talented singer/songwriter and
pianist from St. Louisis in my opinion one of the best
"West Coast" albums from the early 80’s. Featuring
David Hungate (Toto) and David Sanborn. The original is very hard to find on
CD, but the album has now been remastered and released with new
cover on GMG Records in the US.
It took him about 18 years to release the second album Soul’d
Out, but this is definitely one to get you hands on! Excellent
songs and production with an early 80’s feeling.
There is also a Jap import album titled "Private
Session" for the die hard fans that can’t
get enough of that distinctive 80’s sound. The album is a
collection of previously unreleased material that was recorded
in the mid to late 80’s and the early 90’s. Most of these cuts
were originally intended for Greg’s sophomore offering, but
never made it to production.
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Marc Jordan:
Blue
Desert – 1979
Produced by: Jay Graydon
Marc Jordan: Hole in the Wall – 1980
Produced by: Marc Jordan & Don Murry
Label: Warner Bros.
Originally a film student from Canada, Marc Jordan started out in 1970. He played with a
band for a short time, returned to school, but then left for good to travel outside
Canada. Warner Bros. signed him and released his 1978 debut
album "Mannequin".
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Ray Kennedy:
Ray
Kennedy – 1980
Produced by: David Foster
Label: Sony
Jap import CD only.
Although better known for his country albums, this
Foster-produced "West Coast" album is really worth
checking out.
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Clif Magness:
Solo –
1994
Produced by: Clif Magness
Label: Empire
As far as I know, his only solo release and very hard to find on CD. (My copy
was released in Sweden).
Better known for his guitar-, keyboard-, songwriting and
productionwork for artists like Al Jarreau, George Benson,
Wilson Phillips and Barbra Streisand.
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Kazu Matsui Project:
Marine Fantasia – 1986
Produced by: Kazu Matsui
Label: Japan Record
A master of the shakuhachi (a Japanese traditional bamboo flute),
Matsui is more of a New Age artist, but his
"Marine…" album is excellent smooth "West
Coast". (Jap import CD only). He also contributed music to a series of major Hollywood features including Willow, Legends of the Fall and Jumanji,
and producing recordings for his wife, keyboardist Keiko Matsui.
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Pablo Cruise:
A Place
in the Sun – 1977
Pablo Cruise: World’s Away – 1978
Produced by: Bill Schnee
Label: A&M
Pablo Cruise achieved some measure of success during the latter part of the 70’s with its
mellow, easygoing California pop. The group was praised for the compositional and
instrumental skill on the albums "Pablo Cruise" and
"Lifeline", and were rewarded with the Top
Ten hit "Whatcha Gonna Do?" in 1977 from "A Place in the
Sun". "Worlds Away" went
platinum, as did its predecessor, and produced three hit singles, including the Top Ten
"Love Will Find a Way". Several of the group’s songs were used as
soundtrack material for sports programs on ABC, CBS and NBC.
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Lee Ritenour:
Rit –
1981
Produced by: Harvey Mason, David Foster & Lee Ritenour
Label: Elektra
Lee Ritenour has long been a very busy studio guitarist in Los Angeles. He possesses an
impressive technique, and has mostly played instrumental pop throughout his career,
sometimes with a Brazilian flavor. He has recorded many albums as a leader, most recently
for GRP.
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Boz Scaggs:
Middle Man
– 1980
Produced by: Bill Schnee
Boz Scaggs: My Time – A Boz Scaggs
Anthology
– 1998
Produced by: Various
Label: Sony
Born William Royce Scaggs in Ohio 1944, singer/songwriter Boz Scaggs started out in the
60’s as a member of the Steve Miller Band. In 1963 after relocating to England, he sang on
street corners. He recorded "Boz" in Sweden in 1965, before returning to the U.S. where he
reunited with Miller two years later. After recording two acclaimed albums with the group,
"Children of the Future" and "Sailor", Scaggs exited in 1968 to mount a solo career. He didn’t
achieve a commercial breakthrough until 1976’s "Silk
Degrees", which reached number two on
the album charts while spawning the Top Three single "Lowdown," as well as the
smash "Lido Shuffle." 1977’s "Down Two, Then Left" was also a success, and 1980’s
"Middle Man" reached the Top Ten on the strength of the singles "Breakdown Dead
Ahead" and "Jo Jo."
However, Scaggs spent much of the 1980s in retirement, owning and operating the San
Francisco nightclub Slim’s and limiting his performances primarily to the club’s annual
black-tie New Year’s Eve concerts. Finally, in 1988 he resurfaced with the album Other
Roads, followed three years later by a tour with Donald Fagen’s
"Rock and Soul Revue". The
solo "Some Change" appeared in 1994, with "Come on Home" released in 1997. For the ultimate
Boz Scaggs collection, check out the excellent double CD "My Time – A Boz Scaggs
Anthology" on Sony.
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Gino Vannelli:
Powerful People – 1974
Produced by: Gino & Joe Vannelli
Gino Vannelli: Brother to Brother – 1978
Produced by: Gino, Joe & Ross Vannelli
Label: A&M
Gino Vannelli: Nightwalker – 1981
Produced by: Gino, Joe & Ross Vannelli
Label: Arista
Maybe not that "West Coast", but I couldn’t resist recommending these 3
excellent titles from Gino Vannelli. Never really have got the recognition he definitely
deserves. Gino Vannelli learned to play the drums early in life and studied music theory
at McGill University. He formed an R&B band with brothers Joe and Ross in the late
60’s, but began recording solo material for RCA in 1970.
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