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Tag: Richard Landis

LOVE ME TONIGHT

from NIELSEN/PEARSON
Written by Reed Nielsen & Mark Pearson

This week, go back to 1980 and the sophisticated soft/rock music of Nielsen/Pearson. The late Reed Nielsen (died November 15, 2014) and his partner Mark Pearson were among those gifted musicians who walked the quality pop road. On their Nielsen/Pearson album, they wrote songs with beautiful melodies, great hooks and arranged them with an irresistible jazzy flavor not far from the Steely Dan or Gino Vannelli world. Lyrically, they were more conventional than Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan. Nielsen’s and Pearson’s music presented similar, unusual chord changes and superior musicianship delivered by session aces comprising of Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Neil Stubenhaus on bass, Charles “Icarus” Johnson on guitar, Tom Scott and Chuck Findley playing the horns.

TIL I LOVED YOU

From DIRTY LOOKS

Written by Dave Robbins, Jeff Sibar & Van Stephenson

Singer Juice Newton achieved very good success throughout the eighties with her personal mix of pop, adult contemporary and country. She started the decade with crossover top ten hits like “Break It To Me Gently,” “Queen Of Hearts,” “The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known)” and “Angel Of The Morning” from her successful albums “Juice” and “Quiet Lies.”

JUST ANOTHER MAKE-OUT SONG

From NOT THE BOY NEXT DOOR
Written by David Foster & Peter Allen

Peter Allen returned in 1983 with a new label, Arista Records, and a new record entitled “Not The Boy Next Door.” The singer was quite popular in those days having won an Academy Award co-writing “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” and the success of his wonderful “Bi Coastal” album and its single, “Fly Away,” plus his unique, over-the-top live shows.

DON’T LET ME GO

From NIELSEN/PEARSON
Written by Reed Nielsen & Mark Pearson

Reed Nielsen and Mark Pearson started out as leaders of The Nielsen Pearson Band that released one record in 1978. That first album included some country-flavored pop but nothing really memorable.