From LISA DALBELLO (S/T)
Written by Lisa Dalbello & Roy Kenner
Lisa Dalbello was just seventeen years old when, in 1977, she recorded her first album in L.A., with fellow Canadian David Foster in the control booth. This interesting mixture of funky and pop wasn’t only Dalbello’s debut record but also one of Foster’s first productions as well, both very young and rich of talent. The ten tracks included here are nice evidence of the sounds of that era, great grooves played by extraordinary musicians like the late Jeff Porcaro, Steve Lukather, Jay Graydon and Larry Carlton just to name a few and with guest appearances also by Bill Champlin, Patrice Rushen, Nigel Ollson and Philip Bailey.
Lisa Dalbello’s voice is really impressive for strength and richness, she flies high between dance numbers, pop rock tunes and tender ballads and she also co-wrote all the songs included, three of them co-written with Foster. One of the ballads, “(Don’t Want To) Stand In Your Way” is, in our opinion, the best moment of the album. It is an incredible slow jam, perfectly orchestrated by Foster and sung by the singer with great intensity. There’s some great work on the oberheim synths by Richard Baker (Gino Vannelli) and Charles Mims while Foster plays his mellow fender rhodes and Champlin supports Lisa with his vocals. Foster helped Dalbello also arranging her sophomore release, “Pretty Girls” one year later.
Let’s leave to her words to try and define the sounds you can find on these records: “…..this record was made during that groovy bad-ass time in music history in L.A., so I’d love to ask the listeners to put on their highest of highiest platform shoes, shake their funky thang and get down to some funky beats sung and written from the very core of my heart and….soul”.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/dalbello.mp3|titles=(DON’T WANT TO) STAND IN YOUR WAY|artists=Lisa Dal Bello]
Lead Vocals: Lisa Dal Bello
Drums and Percussion: Jeffrey Porcaro
Fender Rhodes: David Foster
Guitars: Jay Graydon & Eddie Patterson
Bass: Mike Porcaro
Oberheim Synthesizers: Richard Baker & Charles Mims
Background Vocals: Carmen Twillie, Netty Gloud & Bill Champlin
Produced and Arranged by David Foster
Lyrics
Sometimes a love won’t let go
Hard as I try I know it shows
Everybody’s telling me
You’ll be over her eventually
But how am I supposed to feel so secure?
When I keep wondering who’s holding Donna now
And I keep wondering who’s heart she’s knocking around
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do
To be in his shoes somehow
And I keep wondering who’s holding Donna now
And I keep wondering what magic can be found
To turn me back to the one who’s holding Donna now
The letter started with good-bye
I’ve read it half a million times
Tell me this is just a dream
When I wake up she’ll be here next to me
Tell me it will be just the way it was
Well, I keep wondering who’s holding Donna now
And I keep wondering who’s heart she’s knocking around
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do
To be in his shoes right now
And I keep wondering who’s holding Donna now
And I keep wondering what magic can be found
To turn me back to the one who’s holding Donna now
[break]
Who’s holding Donna now?
I keep wondering who’s heart she’s knocking around
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do
To be in his shoes right now
And I keep wondering who’s holding Donna now
Oh, Donna, what magic can be found?
To make me be the one who’s holding Donna now
I can’t get Donna off my mind