from AIRPLAY-30th Anniversary Special Edition
written by David Foster, Jay Graydon & Steve Kipner
This week we go back once again to one of the seminal albums of David Foster’s career, the magnificent “Airplay.” That group was the brainchild of Foster and Jay Graydon. The self titled album was released in 1980 and is considered the musical manifest of quality pop. It includes Airplay’s original idea of popular music with rock overtones, jazzy changes and clever instrumental arrangements. “Airplay” has been re-released a couple of times for the 25th and 30th anniversary of its release.
On those occasions, Graydon has remastered the original tapes giving them a more brilliant sound and improving it a lot sonically. Graydon said that “Airplay” sure sounded different than what was on radio those days and we absolutely agree. It presents hard rockers like the opener “Stranded,” smooth ballads like “Should We Carry On” and their own take on “After The Love Is Gone plus ear-candy pop goodies like “Crying All Night” and “Nothing You Can Do About It.” One of the lesser-known tracks on the album is entitled “Bix.” Co-written by Foster and Graydon with singer/songwriter Steve Kipner, “Bix” is a magnificent work of art. Musically it has a little bit of everything. The incredible pop/rock arrangement of the backing track dominated by Foster’s piano and Graydon’s rhythm guitar, the jazz, in your face work of Jerry Hey on the horn arrangement, the powerful yet elegant performance of singers Tommy Funderburk and Bill Champlin with strong echoes of R&B. “Bix” includes one of the best horn breaks ever recorded on a pop record and lyrically it’s deeper than your typical mainstream song. We strongly suggest you to check out this song and enjoy the timeless artistry of those who were involved. “Airplay” wasn’t a big seller but it reached the hearts of many music lovers and gave life to a music genre that has influenced thousands of top musicians and music-makers around the world.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/bix.mp3|titles=Bix|artists=Airplay]
Lead Vocals: Tommy Funderburk & Bill Champlin
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitars: Jay Graydon
Drums: Jeff Porcaro & Mike Baird
Bass: David Hungate
Trumpets: Jerry Hey, Gary Grant & Steve Madaio
Trombones: Bill Reichenbach, Lew McCreary & Charlie Loper
Horn Arrangement by Jerry Hey & David Foster
Produced & Arranged by Jay Graydon & David Foster
Lyrics
Bix likes it when you play it cool
Bix likes you breakin’ all the rules
Bix likes it when he makes a score
keeps you comin’ back for more
Introduce you to Mary Jane
she’ll seduce you back again
don’t care if it’s against the law
they’ll keep you running back for your pie in the sky
Saturday night the “wheelers and dealers” and Billy
were out lookin’ to graze in some grass
cruisin’ for action,lookin’ for a buy
No,they wore no 7 squares out to grab
a slice of their pie in the sky
Heart of steel – first to rust
when you’re too cold to feel what’s real
There’s no one you can trust
don’t know where to draw the line
ignoring all the danger signs
You’re dangerous,you’re headed for a bust
(Spoken)Bix likes it when you play it cool
Bix likes you breakin’ all the rules
Bix likes it when he makes a score
keeps you comin’ back for more
The made a connection with a villain in the shadows
who satisfied their never need –
ups and downs,cocaine and weed
Flashin’ some green,showin’ off the merchandise
when Billy said “I want a taste,
before I pay the price for the pie in the sky”
Heart of steel – first to rust
when you’re too cold to feel what’s real
There’s no one you can trust
don’t know where to draw the line
ignoring all the danger signs
You’re dangerous,you’re headed for a bust
Bix likes it when you play it cool
Bix likes you breakin’ all the rules
Bix likes it when he makes a score
keeps you comin’ back for more