written by  by Olivia Newton-John & Amy Sky
Spanish lyrics by Jon Secada

To keep going with the holiday spirit, we have selected an album by Olivia Newton-John entitled “Christmas Wish.” Released in 2007, “Christmas Wish” was a collaboration between Newton-John and Canadian singer/songwriter/producer Amy Sky.

These two talented ladies assembled a line-up made of traditional Christmas classics and very well done original tunes that they co-wrote especially for this project. The resulting album is quite appealing  and a perfect back-up for any Christmas celebration. The mood of the entire “Christmas Wish” cd is pretty much low-key with soft arrangements, rich orchestral work and smooth instrumental performances to support Newton-John’s familiar voice.

The album includes several duets with important names like Michael McDonald, Barry Manilow, Jann Arden and Marc Jordan who also happens to be Sky’s husband. One of these duets, “Everytime It Snows” sung with Pop/Latin star Jon Secada, has the participation of Newton-John’s old friend David Foster. Foster beautifully arranged the sweet, orchestral tune and also played piano and keyboards.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/every_time_it_snows.mp3|titles=Every time it snows|artists=Olivia Newton John & Jon Secada]

Lead Vocals: Olivia Newton John & Jon Secada
Piano & Keyboards: David Foster

Strings Arrangement by David Foster & Phil Manos
Produced by Amy Sky

Lyrics

Spiraling and trembling
The snowflakes tumble down
Fluttering like angel wings
Like diamonds on the ground
Autumn leaves are gone now
Winter winds blow cold
But I’d dance through December
With your hand to hold
Oh It’s you I miss the most
Every time it snows
Carollers and revellers
Their songs are bittersweet
The streets are full but they can’t fill
The emptiness in me
Christmas lights are sparkling
But still they lack a glow
Everything reminds me

That you’re too far from home
Oh It’s you I miss the most
Every time it snows
Please come back regresso mi corazon
Please come back
Te extrano tanto mi amor
Back to me my love te neccessito te quiero
I need you here regresso mi regresso mi
I cry frozen tears
Spiraling and trembling
The snowflakes tumble down
Fluttering like angel wings
They fall without a sound

written by  David Foster & Linda Thompson

“Grown-Up Christmas List” is a famous Christmas song co-written by David Foster with his ex-wife Linda Thompson. Since the original performance by Natalie Cole on Foster’s 1990 album, “River Of Love,” this beautiful tune has become a new holiday classic with dozens interpretations by superstars like Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Michael Bublè, The Manhattan Transfer and Amy Grant.

For the 2010 holiday season Foster teamed up with his last protégée, young Filipino sensation Charice, for a new version of this modern day classic. Charice’s “Grown-Up Christmas List” was released in November as the title track of a three song EP produced by Foster. Although Charice still echoes of her main influences like Whitney Houston, Céliné Dion and Mariah Carey, she also shows considerable growth in personality to fully place her thumbprint on the song. Foster’s tender arrangement and perfect piano accompaniment back-up the young singer beautifully as she delivers her heartfelt vocal performance with rare finesse and style.

Also included on “Grown-Up Christmas List” are the cute, up-tempo “Jingle Bell Rock” and a great version of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).” Given Charice’s fine work on this Christmas project, her guest starring on the hit TV series “Glee” and her fantastic performances on the last Foster & Friends event, we can easily predict her great success for the new year.

Also a Merry Christmas to all of you!

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/grown_up_christmas_list.mp3|titles=Grown-Up Chirstmas list|artists=Charice]

Lead Vocals: Charice
Piano & Keyboards: David Foster

Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well I’m all grown up now
Can you still help somehow?
I’m not a child but my heart still can dream

So here’s my lifeful wish
My grown up Christmas List
Not for myself
But for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars will never start
And time will heal our hearts
And every man will have a friend
That right will always win
And love will never end
This is my grown up Christmas List

Why does this illusion call the innocence of you?
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth

Not for myself
But for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars will never start
And time will heal our hearts
Every man will have a friend
That right will always win
And love will never end
This is my grown up Christmas List
This is my only life long wish
This is my grown up Christmas List

written by  David Foster, Peter Allen & Tom Keane

“One Step Over The Borderline” is the opening song of Peter Allen’s 1980 masterpiece “Bi Coastal.” This great tune helps define the kind of music that we call quality pop. There are elements of rock, jazz, soul and pop, but this music can’t be labeled so we call it quality pop to distinguish it from the sad, repetitive, boring pop music that we find too often on radio and at the top of the charts.

Steve Lukather’s guitar intro and powerful performance throughout the song adds the rock flavor married perfectly with David Foster’s and Tom Keane’s elegant keyboard playing. The refined arrangement with rich rhythm changes shows a jazzy attitude underlined by the soulful performances of Allen and the magnificent Richard Page and Steve George on backing vocals.

We hope that those who discovered Foster’s unique talent through his connection with Céliné Dion, Charice, Josh Groban and Michael Bublé will take the time to listen to a masterpiece like this one. Hidden gems can be found in old albums by Bill Champlin, Average White Band, Jaye P. Morgan, Deniece Williams, Hall & Oates, Airplay, Boz Scaggs and this by Peter Allen. Years before the Grammy triumphs and the millions upon millions of albums sold, Foster was pioneering, with a circle of other talented friends, a spectacular genre of music that was probably too refined and way ahead of its time. Many of those albums can be found on iTunes and we strongly suggest you to listen and discover where it all started.

This review is also a tribute to the memory of Peter Allen, a multi-talented artist that left us all way too soon. This beautiful song and the most treasured gems of his songbook can be found on an anthology entitled “The Very Best Of Peter Allen – The Boy From Down Under.” Check it out!

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/one_step_over_the__borderline.mp3|titles=One Step Over The Borderline|artists=Peter Allen]

Lead Vocals: Peter Allen
Fender Rhodes & Synthesizer: David Foster
Piano & Synthesizer: Tom Keane
Guitar: Steve Lukather
Drums: Ed Greene
Bass: Mike Porcaro
Backing Vocals: Richard Page & Steve George

Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

Woke up here in the desert

Wondering where’d everybody go
Last thing I remember
Is going through hills of snow
Lots of palms in your arms
I went so high I went so low
You could be my oasis
But you’re gonna have to go slow
And take it as a warning

Baby, don’t push me
One step over the borderline
Anything can happen
If you push this old heart of mine
Over the borderline

I’ve been used and abused
Nobody does it quite like you
Though the pain keeps me sane
I got nothing better to do
Call it love, call me lazy
Just get me through another day
Tell me lies, I’m so crazy
I believe whatever you say

Baby, don’t push me
One step over the borderline
Anything can happen
If you push this old heart of mine
Over the borderline

It’s over, it’s over
I went through you, you went through me
It’s over, I’m sober
But will you ever think of me

Baby, don’t push me
One step over the borderline
Anything can happen
If you push this old heart of mine
Over the borderline

Baby, don’t push me
One step over the borderline
Anything can happen
If you push this old heart of mine
Over the borderline

written by  Ron Sexmith

“Crazy Love,” released in the fall of 2009, is Michael Bublè’s 4th studio album.
This new collection was an out of the box hit reaching the top spot of the charts in the US, the UK, Canada, Italy, Australia and several other countries and selling over six million copies worldwide to date.

Bublè presented his ever growing fan base the usual, perfectly dosed mix of old and most recent standards plus a couple of originals co-written with frequent collaborators Alan Chang and Amy Foster. One of those new songs, the catchy, up-tempo “Haven’t Met You Yet,” became a quick smash hit and also got nominated for a Grammy as Best Male Pop Vocal. For “Crazy Love” the singer teamed up again with his longtime collaborators David Foster, Humberto Gatica and Bob Rock. Foster’s stellar arrangement of “Cry Me A River” opens the album. It’s a wonderful rendition of the Ella Fitzgerald evergreen that would be perfect as a theme song for a James Bond movie. Foster also produced “Georgia On My Mind” beautifully sung by Bublè who sounds as smooth as silk on this number as he does on his take of Billy Vera’s “At This Moment.” The singer also shines on the Bob Rock produced duet with Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes)” and the Foster-directed, rocking rendition of The Eagles’ “Heartache Tonight.” The tracklist really doesn’t have weak points and makes for a delightful listen from start to finish with an absolute peak towards the end entitled “Whatever It Takes.” Again masterfully produced and arranged by Foster, this gem of a song was written by talented Canadian singer/songwriter, Ron Sexmith who duets with Bublè on this light bossa take of his composition.

Recently Warner Bros. has released a new version of “Crazy Love” entitled “Crazy Love (Hollywood Edition)” that includes all the songs of the original album plus the new single, “Hollywood,” produced by Rock, a few live tracks and a couple more Foster productions including a fantastic rendition of his classic tune,“The Best Of Me” beautifully sung by Bublè.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/whatever_it_takes.mp3|titles=Whatever it takes|artists=Michael Bublè]

Lead Vocals: Michael Bublè with Ron Sexmith
Bass: Brian Bromberg
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar: Dean Parks & Ramon Stagnaro
Keyboards: David Foster
Percussion: Rafael Padilla
Backing Vocals: Ron Sexmith
Programming & Sound Design: Jochem van der Saag

Orchestration by Bill Ross

Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

We’ve all been hurt by love
It’s out of our hands
But for all it’s worth
I’m drawing a line in the sand
Another morning just won’t do
I need your love to shine on through
Or it won’t be new

Whatever it takes, my love, I’ll find it
Whatever it takes my love
To put the lonely days behind us
I’m laying it down
Whatever it takes my love

If there’s a chance
For two hearts to celebrate
To blow out some candles
And tempt the hands of fate

You make a wish, I’ll make one too
But close your eyes love when you do
Or it won’t be true

Whatever it takes, my love, I’ll find it
Whatever it takes my love
To put the lonely days behind us
I’m laying it down
Whatever it takes, my love

‘Cos I’ve been wandering ’round
With the same old blues
That have been dragging me down
If you feel the same way too
Maybe it takes two

And if we give thanks
For our love at each new dawn
We’ll find the strength
And the will to carry on

The sun alone will never do
Without your love to shine on through
It just won’t be new

Whatever it takes, my love, I’ll find it
Whatever it takes, my love
To put the lonely days behind us
I’m laying it down
Whatever it takes, my love

written by  Alice Cooper, David Foster, Steve Lukather & Bernie Taupin

You’ll probably never hear a heavier sounding David Foster co-written song than this live version of Alice Cooper’s “Nurse Rozetta.” Earlier this year, the legendary heavy metal singer/songwriter released a new live CD/DVD entitled “Theatre Of Death: Live At Hammersmith 2009.”

Recorded at the famous London venue, this new recording presents all the pivotal moments of Cooper’s career like “Only Women Bleed,” “Billion Dollar Babies,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” and his signature anthem, “School’s Out.” Cooper, well supported by his band, gives an energetic performance throughout the show with his still impressive vocals on the spotlight backed up by rousing instrumental performances.

“Nurse Rozetta” was co-written by Foster and Cooper with famous lyricist Bernie Taupin of Elton John fame and Toto axe-man Steve Lukather. It was originally included on Cooper’s 1979 album, “From The Inside.” Although recorded at the developing stage of Foster’s career, the album was produced by Foster who did a wonderful job finding a balance between his refined sounds and Cooper’s hard rock roots. The title track from that album is also performed on “Theatre Of Death: Live At Hammersmith 2009.” Both songs are presented in new, heavier versions that increase the powerful rock side and drastically change Foster’s inventive pop/rock arrangements of the originals. Give a listen to this example of versatility and superior talent proving once again that Foster isn’t just the King of Ballads.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/nurse_rozetta.mp3|titles=Nurse Rozetta|artists=Alice Cooper]

Lead Vocals: Alice Cooper
Drums: Jimmy De Grasso
Guitar: Damon Johnson & Keri Kelli
Bass: Chuck Garric

Produced by Rob Roth

Lyrics

I’m a shepherd for the pentecost
I got my scriptures and my wires crossed
I got no kids and I got no home
They want us holy men to live alone

Since I’ve been here for a little stay
I see Rozetta day by day
She turns my head makes me cough
I want to tear my collar off

I just can’t sleep at night
Rozetta dressed in white
She’s got the Devil’s light
Shining in her eyes

Screamed my sermon damning sin and vice
When underneath I was a regular guy
My pulpit melted like a block of ice
When a bolt of lightning hit me from the sky

From my stretcher when they wheeled me in
I stared directly in the eyes of sin
Nurse Rozetta standing over me
And I was helpless as a man of God could be

Nurse Rozetta I won’t let her
Catch me peering down her sweater
Fantasizing silk suspenders on her thighs
Nurse Rozetta make me better
Secretly my eyes undress her
Let me feel your tongue depressor

I’m suddenly twice my size
My pants are all wet inside

She’s so creative with a bar of soap
And so inventive with a stethoscope
To check my pulse she gotta hold my hand
I blow the fuse on the encephalogram

Satan sent her from the bowels of hell
I should have recognized old Jezbel
I surrendered to the urges felt
She popped the buckle on my bible belt

I just can’t sleep at night
Rozetta dressed in white
She’s got the Devil’s light
Shining in her eyes

I’d lick her nylon seams
Like a hungry cat with cream
Oh what a vivid scene
And I can’t hold back no more