This song started out as a haunting instrumental entitled “Heartstrings,” co-written with Burt Bacharach, that was included on David Foster’s 1982 debut solo album, “The Best Of Me.” Four years later, Glenn Jones, a well-known R&B singer, recorded the version included here with brand new lyrics added by Michael Jay. “Love Will Show Us How” is a mellow ballad, beautifully performed by the talented singer. The only problem here is the arrangement and production that beg for a different treatment. Neither Foster nor Bacharach were involved, so producer/arranger La La got a bit lost in the heavy programmed sounds of the era that take away some of the song’s magic. If you get past the production and just concentrate on the beauty of Jones’ vocal performance plus the sweet melody, the splendor of the song is still there. The same thing happens with the entire parent album, “Take It From Me.” It sounds dated and inconsistent, especially on the up-tempo numbers even though big names like Hawk Wolinski (Rufus & Chaka Khan) and Pat Leonard (Madonna, Peter Cetera) were involved. If you want to listen to Glenn Jones’ smooth voice in a more typical soul/R&B setting, take a listen to his hit duet with Dionne Warwick, “Finder Of Lost Loves,” also co-written by Bacharach. Also check out his last couple of records, “Feels Good,” and “It’s Time.” Both are solid R&B works with plenty of good songs, many co-written with Ross Vannelli.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/love_will_show_us_how.mp3|titles=Love will show us how|artists=Glenn Jones]

Lead Vocals: Glenn Jones
Keyboards: La La
Additional Programming & Rhythm Arrangements by Jeff Smith & Loris Holland
Produced & Arranged by La La

Lyrics

No Lyrics

“I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” taken from David Foster’s 1994 “Christmas Album,” is as refined and classy as holiday music can get. This song is perfect with all the ingredients to make it absolutely delicious. We have two of the best singers in the business trading lines, Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack, a winning duo with plenty of hits under their respective belts. David Foster and the incredible Greg Phillinganes arranged the song. Then we have the best guys around when it comes to provide soothing strings for a special piece of music, Johnny Mandel and Jeremy Lubbock, plus Jerry Hey, another absolute god, takes care of the sweet horn arrangement while playing his trademark flugelhorn licks.
The song echoes some of the finest work that David Foster has produced over the years for Earth, Wind & Fire, Peter Allen, and Boz Scaggs. “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” is just one of the many great moments on Foster’s “The Christmas Album.” This record is filled with perfect music for a nice, romantic holiday with your loved ones. The super-producer also “fosterized” some of the most famous holiday songs like “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire),” “Blue Christmas,” “O Holy Night,” and “White Christmas” with the help of friends like Celine Dion, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole, Wynonna, Vanessa Williams and Tom Jones. It also includes a beautiful arrangement of “Carol Of The Bells” performed by Foster on piano, plus “Grown-Up Christmas List,” co-written by Foster and Linda Thompson, which has quickly become a new Christmas classic and has been covered by some of the best in the business.
On a final note, we’d like to wish a Merry Christmas to all of you who kindly read our weekly reviews and your families.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/i_ll_be_home_for_christmas.mp3|titles=I’ll be home for christmas|artists=Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack]

Lead Vocals: Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack
Keyboards: Greg Phillinganes & Larry Williams
Bass: Nathan East
Drums: John Robinson
Strings arranged by Johnny Mandel & Jeremy Lubbock
Horns arranged by Jerry Hey
Arranged by David Foster & Greg Phillinganes
Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

I’ll be home for Christmas.
You can count on me.
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree.
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love-light gleams.
I’ll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.

I’m dreaming tonight
Of a place I love
With every glow of candlelight
And every star above
And although I know
It’s a long road back, it’s true
I’ll be home for Christmas
This one thing I promise you.

I’ll be home for Christmas.
You can count on me.
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree.
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love-light gleams.
I’ll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.

Oh oh ah I’ll be home for Christmas.
You can count on me.
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree.
Oh Christmas Eve is gonna find me
Where the love-light gleams.
I’ll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.

“From Q With Love” is a collection of Quincy Jones’ best ballads. Released in 1999, it includes music he produced for Michael Jackson, George Benson and Aretha Franklin, plus the sweetest moments from his own solo albums. He also produced four new songs for this project. “If This Time Is The Last Time,” co-written by David Foster with his wife Linda Thompson and good friend Diane Warren, is the best of the new tunes. It is the only one that can compare to the evergreens included in this collection. These gems include “Baby, Come To Me” and “Just Once,” both featuring Foster on the keyboards, plus “Human Nature,” and “The Lady In My Life.” “If This Time Is The Last Time” is a very elegant number, beautifully arranged and played by Foster with the usual partners in crime like Jerry Hey, who was also the associate producer, Greg Phillinganes, Paul Jackson, Neil Stubenhaus, John Robinson and Kirk Whalum, who plays his tender sax licks throughout the song. “If This Time Is The Last Time” is a winner for many reasons, especially the emotional vocal performance given by Patti Austin. The veteran singer reunites with her mentor, Jones, and her voice absolutely shines as she sings the bittersweet words. Foster and Jones have been working together for almost thirty years and their collaborations have always represented some of the best examples of quality in pop music. This song is no exception. Take a listen.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/if_this_time_is_the_last_time.mp3|titles=If this time is the last time|artists=Patti Austin]

Lead Vocal: Patti Austin
Rhodes: Greg Phillinganes
Piano: David Foster
Guitar: Paul Jackson jr.
Bass: Neil Stubenhaus
Drums: John Robinson
Sax Solo: Kirk Whalum
Flugel Horn: Jerry Hey
Synthesizer: Aaron Zigman
Strings arrangement: Bill Ross
Produced by Quincy Jones
Associate Producer: Jerry Hey

Lyrics

So here we are
at the end of the road
the two of us know
there´s a heart that´s breakin
but that´s okay
coz you never said you´d stay
I knew I´d face this day
that you´d say goodbye

I won´t plead and I won´t cry
I won´t bleed and I won´t die
I just hold my head up highwhile I watch you walk away

This time is the last time
this night is our last night
let´s not waste a heartbeat
let´s hold this moment tight
this time is the last time
hold me like the first time
baby that would be eough
if this time is the last time we make love

we´re letting go
of a love that´s come and gone
somehow life goes on
we´ll get pst the sorrow
and when you weepdon´t look back on me too long
coz I´m trying so hard to be strong
I can´t let you see my pain

I won´t plead and I won´t cry
I won´t bleed and I won´t die
I won´t ask the reason whyas you turned and walk away

some other day, some other time
when you speak my name will you be kind
I hold on to your memory
coz you´ll always be a part of me

Steve Kipner’s “Knock The Walls Down” is a very important album cause it marks Jay Graydon’s first production ever. Graydon was one of the hottest geitar players of the seventies, playing sessions for Steely Dan, Carpenters, Barry White, Marvin Gaye and a zillion other big names. In 1979, he was asked by Kipner to produce his debut album and, even if it didn’t become a hit, it started a tremendous career for Graydon who went on to produce hit records for George Benson, Manhattan Transfer and Al Jarreau. It was also very important for Kipner, who became one of the biggest songwriters in pop music, writing hits like “Physical” for Olivia Newton-John, “Hard Habit To Break” for Chicago and “Genie In A Bottle” for Christina Aguilera. Obviously the album is along the lines of the quality pop that Graydon and his friend David Foster were developing around those years. Foster appears on “Knock The Walls Down” adding his golden touch to many of the songs. “School Of Broken Hearts” is the show-stopper here. It is a mix of jazz changes, rock guitars, and smooth vocal harmonies that showed a new, fresh direction for pop music. Kipner sings the sarcastic lyrics with good conviction and style with Graydon underlying his lines with unmistakable guitar licks. Foster’s jazzy keyboard playing, Jeff Porcaro’s unique drumming and The Seawind Horns’ licks are the other perfect tools to make these four minutes an absolute listening pleasure.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/school_of_broken_hearts.mp3|titles=School of broken hearts|artists=Steve Kipner]

Lead Vocal: Steve Kipner
Drums: Jeff Porcaro
Bass: David Hungate
Piano, Synth Strings & Fender Rhodes: David Foster
Rhythm Guitar: Dean Parks
Electric Guitars: Jay Graydon
Percussion: Victor Feldman
Trumpets: Jerry Hey & Gary Grant
Trombone: Bill Reichenbach
Background Vocals: Carmen Twillie, Venette Gloud, Bill Champlin, Steve Kipner, Tom Kelly & Bobby Kimball
Arranged by Steve Kipner & Jay Graydon
Produced by Jay Graydon

Lyrics

Oh no! Not another one! Not another romantic fool!
You’re all the same. You’re just like me
Welcome to the school of broken hearts
Welcome to the school

She’s a devil with an angel’s eyes –
What a siren is to a sailor
On a ship of fools we learn the rules
Go crashing into the school of broken hearts

Chorus
Oh! Think of what you’ve learned

You’ll be smart enough to see
Wise to the ways of love
It’s so elementary
Oh! She teaches all the rules
She graduates you with a love degree
You’re gonna find out
You’ll find out just like me

She enrols you with a kiss goodnight
Another student has come to class
You can’t help but fall; she educates us all
Welcome to the school of broken hearts

Chorus

Graduation

“I Finally Found Someone” is just one episode in the long professional partnership between Ms. Steisand and David Foster. The seventies found the super-producer first playing keyboards and arranging music on her records like “Lazy Afternoon,” “Superman,” “Songbird,” and “Wet.” In 1985, Foster produced the hit song “Somewhere” from her #1 “Broadway Album,” bringing him back to the Grammy podium for his inspired arrangement of the song. Many other productions followed including the 1993 #1 record, “Back To Broadway,” to this beautiful ballad co-written by Streisand and legendary composer Marvin Hamlisch (“The Way We Were”), pop/rock producer/songwriter John “Mutt” Lange (Shania Twain, AC/DC, Def Leppard), and Bryan Adams, another old friend of Foster’s who duets with Barbra. The Canadian superstar does a magnificent job matching Streisand’s voice with his gritty vocals and the result is smooth as silk. Foster arranged the song with help from co-writers Adams and Lange. The arrangement is classic enough for the faithful Streisand fans, but Adams’ voice and the catchy refrain give the song a contemporary twist perfect for A.C./pop radio. This soundtrack includes another track produced by Foster, “All Of My Life,” that’s good but not as interesting. Another Foster song, his beautiful rendition of “Carol Of The Bells,” was actually used in the movie but does not appear on the soundtrack.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/i_finally_found_someone.mp3|titles=I finally found someone|artists=Barbra Streisand & Bryan Adams]

Lead Vocals: Barbra Streisand & Bryan Adams
String Arrangements by Jack Hayes
Arranged by David Foster, Bryan Adams & “Mutt” Lange
Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

I finally found someone
Who knocks me off my feet
I finally found the one
Who makes me feel complete

It started over coffee
We started off as friends
It’s funny how from simple things
The best things begin

This time it’s different,
It’s all because of you
It’s better than it’s ever been
Cause we can talk it through

My favorite line was
‘Can I call you sometime’
Its all u had to say
To take my breath away

This is it
Oh I finally found someone
Someone to share my life
I finally found the one
to be with every night
Cuz whatever I do
It’s just got to be you
My life has just begun
I finally found someone
Oooh someone
I finally found somone

Did I keep u waiting? (I didnt mind)
I apologize (baby that’s fine)
I will wait forever
Just to know you were mine
(Ooh) You know I love your hair
( Sure it looks right?)
I love what you wear
(Isn’t it too tight?)
You’re exceptional
I can’t wait for the rest of my life

This is it
Oh I finally found someone
Someone to share my life
I finally found the one
To be with every night
Cuz whatever I do
It’s just got to be you

Ohh my life has just begun
I’ve finally found someone
And whatever I do
It’s just got to be you
Ohh my life has just begun
I’ve finally found someone…