Written by David Foster, Jay Graydon & Allee Willis

To round off 2021, here’s a review of Airplay’s “It Will Be Alright.”

Airplay was the pop/rock group that David Foster and pal Jay Graydon formed at the end of the seventies with singer Tommy Funderburk. As most Foster fans already know, Airplay’s seminal 1980 self-titled album is considered one of the milestones of the West Coast music scene of those years.

“It Will Be Alright” is a beautiful love song co-written by Foster and Graydon with supreme lyricist Allee Willis (1947-2019). Foster and Willis first crossed paths in 1978 working on Earth, Wind & Fire’s masterpiece, I Am. Willis is remembered for co-writing “September” and “Boogie Wonderful,” huge hits for EWF plus other chart toppers including The Rembrandts’ “I’ll Be There For You,” “Lead Me On” by Maxine Nightingale, “Neutron Dance” by The Pointer Sisters and Pet Shop Boys’ “What Have I Done To Deserve This.” “It Will Be Alright” belonged to a string of gorgeous ballads that Foster and Graydon crafted during those glory days. Some became all-time classics including EWF’s “After The Love Has Gone” or Manhattan Transfer’s “Smile Again.” Others, like “It Will Be Alright,” never got the recognition their quality deserved.

Airplay’s “It Will Be Alright” was released as a single. It didn’t chart although a version of the song by the R&B act Odyssey became a 1981 minor UK chart hit by reaching #43. The original Airplay version is pure ear candy with a gorgeous melody, smart chord progression and the catchy refrain. Funderburk’s lead vocal and harmonies were top-notch. The song featured Foster and Graydon at the top of their game as they delivered a fantastic arrangement. The Hitman’s keyboards and synths were all over the track while Graydon’s guitars and his glorious solo were spot-on.

Look in the archives if you want to read about Odyssey’s aforementioned cover plus another little-known rendition by the late Dan Seals (1948-2009).

Listen

• Lead & Backing Vocals: Tommy Funderburk
• Guitars & Backing Vocals: Jay Graydon
• Keyboards & Backing Vocals: David Foster
• Drums: Mike Baird
• Bass: David Hungate

• Produced & Arranged by Jay Graydon & David Foster

Lyrics

“I’m not in love with you…” you said to me
“…You’ll always be my friend
but that’s where my story ends…”
So I think that no one can love me
I swear to keep to myself and never need anyone else oh, no
and now you want to be loved by me again

I know love can come and go, one day it’s “yes” then one day “no”
I know second chances don’t fall from the sky
“But I love you, stay with me tonight, and it will be alright”

Indecision sure can drive you wild
my heart’s staring me in the face pain can never be erased
it scares me into running like a child
now I can hear your eyes – they say you have lied
now I want to be loved by you again

I know love can come and go, one day it’s “yes” then one day “no”
I know second chances don’t fall from the sky
“But I love you, stay with me tonight, and it will be alright”

“Stay with me tonight… stay with me and it will be alright…”

come and go, come and go
first it’s “yes” and then it’s “no”

Do you want me?
if you don’t want me let me know

I know love can come and go, one day it’s “yes” then one day “no”
I know second chances don’t fall from the sky
“But I love you, stay with me tonight, and it will be alright”

Written by David Foster & Linda Thompson. Additional Lyrics by Amy Grant

Pentatonix is an American acappella group that includes vocalists Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee.

Their first appearance was on the TV show The Sing-Off. The group won in 2012 and Pentatonix’s unique acappella style took the music world by storm. They had a series of successful records featuring their very personal renditions of many pop classics. Pentatonix also released a string of Christmas cds presenting covers of seasonal evergreens delivered with their rare acappella style.

In 2018, the gifted vocal combo covered David Foster’s and Linda Thompson’s modern day Christmas standard, “Grown-Up Christmas List” on their third seasonal cd, Christmas Is Here! The song featured a stellar lead vocal by singing star Kelly Clarkson supported by Pentatonix’s flawless harmonies. Clarkson already sang “Grown-Up Christmas List” in 2003 and even had a top twenty adult contemporary hit with her rendition. Both versions include the additional lyrics that Amy Grant wrote for her own cover of the song back in 1992. The version of “Grown-Up Christmas List” by Pentatonix and Clarkson reaffirms the song’s powerful message of hope while being a great reminder of Foster’s unique knack for a great melody.

This year, Pentatonix has released a new Christmas-themed cd (their fifth) titled Evergreen. It offers listeners a haunting rendition of another modern-day Foster classic, “The Prayer.” Pick it up for a blast of the season on your stereo.
Enjoy the music and Merry Christmas!

Listen

• Lead Vocals: Kelly Clarkson
  Vocals: Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee
• Vocal Producer: Jason Halbert
  Produced by Ben Bram & Pentatonix

Lyrics

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies
Well, I’m all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I’m not a child
But my heart still can dream
So here’s my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list
As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath the tree
But heaven only knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up Christmas list
What is this illusion called
The innocence of youth
Maybe only in our blind belief
Can we ever find the truth
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list
This is my only life I wish
This is my grown-up Christmas list

Written by Attitudes/B.J. Cook & Eric Mercury

At the dawn of 1975, the great George Harrison (1943-2001) was about to start the recording of his new album Extra Texture (Read All About It). He decided to follow the advice of legendary drummer Jim Keltner who suggested David Foster’s name as a smart addition to the album’s line-up. The former Beatle immediately called Foster and asked him to join them for those sessions. As a result, Foster and Keltner apperared on several tracks of the album along with a young bass player named Paul Stallworth.

Soon after, those three talented cats with the great Danny Kortchmar on guitar,  became the group Attitudes that recorded two albums for Harrison’s Dark Horse label. Their debut, simply titled Attitudes, was also released in 1975 and presented an interesting mix of funk, rock and soul.  Unfortunately, Attitudes went unnoticed. The material included was good, but not great even though the group’s superior musicianship and masterful arrangements still gave listeners plenty of reasons to enjoy the effort.

For this week’s review, the pick is “You And I Are So In Love,” a soulful ballad co-written by singer/songwriter Eric Mercury with Foster’s then-wife, B.J. Cook.

“You And I Are So In Love,” was preceded by an instrumental titled “A Moment” that showcases Foster’s skills on electric piano and goes into the smooth ballad that features Stallworth’s tender and melodious vocal performance. Stallworth said in an interview that he became the group’s main singer only by chance when it was needed to add vocals to the intrumental tracks. It must be said that he did an excellent job and added the right amount of soulfulness to this song. “You And I Are So In Love” was also a nice listen for Foster fans because it featured his great work on the electric piano and synths. The arrangement was a fine example of sophisticated pop/soul. It could even be said it gave a good preview of Foster’s fantastic work for acts including Hall & Oates, Earth, Wind & Fire and Boz Scaggs.

For those interested, there’s a review in the archives of “Ain’t Love Enough,” another track from Attitudes that’s absolutely worth a listen.

Listen

• Lead Vocals & Bass: Paul Stallworth
• Keyboards: David Foster
• Guitar: Danny Kortchmar
• Guitar: Jesse Ed Davis
• Drums: Jim Keltner
• Backing Vocals: Carmen Twillie, Venette Gloud & kathryn Collier
• Arranged by Attitudes
• Produced by Lee Kiefer & Attitudes

Lyrics

No lyrics

Music by Neil Diamond, Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager

Moved and motivated by Stephen Spielberg’s 1982 classic movie, E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, Neil Diamond’s fifteenth studio album, Heartlight, was released in August of 1982. Heartlight included a string of adult contemporary goodies with the archetypal, sophisticated pop sound of the eighties. The record was co-written and co-produced by the veteran singing star with the great Burt Bacharach and supreme lyricist and Bacharach’s then-wife, Carole Bayer Sager. Heartlight resulted in another platinum seller for Diamond.

The title-track of Heartlight was a big #5 hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 and #1 on the Easy Listening chart. David Foster played electric piano on that beautiful ballad. Foster was also a co-writer along with Diamond on the rocking “I’m Alive” that was destined to be Diamond’s last Top 40 hit. Reviews of both songs can be found in the archives.

The Hitman played keyboards on another tender ballad, “I’m Guilty,” that’s the pick for this Song of the Week review.

Co-written by the Brooklyn-born singer/songwriter with Bacharach and Bayer Sager, “I’m Guilty” was a lesser-known gem that presented an arrangement that echoed the magic of the Bacharach hit sound of the previous decades. It also sported a fantastic orchestration, trademark female harmony vocals and top-notch instrumental parts courtesy of Foster. He opened and ended the track with the Foster signature silky touch on the Fender Rhodes while guitarist supreme, Dean Parks, and talented sax man, David Boruff, hit just the right chords. Here and throughout Heartlight, Diamond and Bacharach made a home run crafting their elegant adult contemporary material. Diamond’s confidential baritone delivered a classy vocal performance and the overall result was  like a warm, musical breeze.

To close this review we share a few words that the Hitman kindly sent us and that speak volumes of his love for Bacharach. “There is no one I respect or admire more than Burt Bacharach. He is one of the ALLTIME great composers of our time, actually of anytime.
His ability to write complicated, beautiful melodies that also the average person can sing and enjoy makes him even more special. And EVERY single note is hand crafted by the man himself, NOTHING falls thru the cracks or happens by accident. He is pure genius.”

Listen

• Fender Rhodes: David Foster
• Piano: Burt Bacharach
• Guitar: Dean Parks
• Drums: Jim Keltner
• Bass: Reinie Press
• Alto Saxophone: David Boruff
• Background Vocals: Stephanie Spruill, Julia Tillman Waters, Maxine Willard Waters, Clydene Jackson, Richard Page
• Arranged & Conducted by Burt Bacharach
• Produced by Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager & Neil Diamond

Lyrics

Whenever I get down
I look to someone else
I need your love to bring me ’round
And so I must confess
I’m guilty
Of believing you to be
The better part of me
I never thought to look around
In times when more is less
I’m guilty
Guilty of lovin’ you
‘Cause I need you
Yes and I want you
You know you always bring me through
I’m guilty
And if you want to know
You really let me down
But I won’t never let you go
There’s something in my heart keeps sayin’
There’s something in my heart that’s sayin’
You’re guilty of lovin’ too
And you need me
Yes and you want me
And I won’t never let you down
There’s something in my heart keeps sayin’
There’s something in my heart that’s sayin’
You’re guilty of lovin’ too
I’m guilty

Written by Ray Kennedy & Jack Conrad

“I met Ray Kennedy through his songwriting partner, Jack Conrad. Jack and I met in the seventies when Jay Graydon and I collaborated on his first disco project, The Bottom Line. I remember Ray being really fun to work with and a really great singer. He was also a good songwriter. I think I was actually too soft for his style because he was more of a rocker. Ray and Jack co-wrote a couple of hits for a band called The Babys including “Isn’t It Time” that we covered for his 1980 album.”

As David Foster mentioned in his note, “Isn’t It Time” was co-written by the late, Ray Kennedy (1946-2014) and Jack Conrad (1944-2017). “Isn’t It Time” became a 1977 top twenty hit for the British rock band, The Babys. The group, who featured noted singer/songwriter John Waite, reached #13 on Billboard’s Hot 100 with “Isn’t It Time.”  A couple years later, The Babys’ same songwriting team gave the group another #13 hit single with “Every Time I Think Of You.”

Kennedy hooked up with Foster at the end of the seventies to work on his second solo album after his 1970 debut. Kennedy’s record was a lesser-known Foster production that delivered all The Hitman’s trademark goods with deluxe production, fantastic musicianship and solid songwriting. The bulk of the album was co-written by Kennedy and Conrad with Foster helping out on a couple of numbers. Among the musicians were Toto’s fabled rhythm section which included the incomparable Jeff Porcaro (1954-1992) on drums, the remarkable Mike Porcaro (1955-2015) on bass, Steve Lukather heard on guitars and the synthesizer programming of Steve Porcaro plus other session aces including the great Jerry Hey Horns, Mike Baird, Jay Winding and Bob Glaub.

The aforementioned “Isn’t It Time” was reworked here with excellent results. The arrangement was powerful yet more sophisticated than The Baby’s original hit. Kennedy’s vocals were strong and delivered a bluesy feel that bore a resemblance to the brilliant Robert Palmer (1949-2003). The singer was supported by some killer vocal harmonies courtesy of studio greats Bill Champlin, Tom Kelly and Tommy Funderburk. “Isn’t It Time” became the b-side of Ray Kennedy’s single, “Just For The Moment,” that went to #82 on Billboard’s Hot 100. That was Kennedy’s only appearance on the legendary Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

Listen

• Keyboards & Synthesizers: David Foster
• Drums: Jeff Porcaro
• Bass: Mike Porcaro
• Guitars: Steve Lukather
• Castenets: Paul Laney
• Synthesizers Porgramming: Ralph Dyck & Steve Porcaro
• Background Vocals: Bill Champlin, Jack Conrad, Tommy Funderburk, Tom Kelly, Venette    Gloud & Paulette Brown

• Arranged by David Foster & Ray Kennedy
• Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

Falling in love was the last thing I had on my mind
Holding you is the warmth that I thought I could never find

Just trying to decide
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, whether to go on alone)
Or stay by your side?
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, then I stop myself because)
I know I could cry

I just can’t find the answers
To the questions that keep going through my mind
Hey babe
Isn’t it time?

Isn’t it time?
(Isn’t it time you took time to wait?)
(Falling in love could be your mistake)

I’ve seen visions of someone like you in my life
A love that’s strong reaching out holding me through the darkest night

Just trying to decide
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, whether to go on alone)
Or stay by your side?
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, then I stop myself because)
I don’t want to cry

I just can’t find the answers
To the questions that keep going through my mind
Hey babe
Isn’t it time?

Isn’t it time?
(Maybe it’s time you took time to wait)
(Falling in love could be your mistake)

I feel a warmth in my heart and my soul that I never knew
This love affair gives me strength that I need just to get me through

Just wondering: why?
(Ooh ooh ooh. then I stop myself because)
I know I could cry
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, then I think of you)
And everything seems alright

I’ve finally found the answers
To the questions that keep going through my mind
Hey babe
Isn’t it time?

I know it’s time
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
Ooh yeah, I know it’s time
(Isn’t it time you don’t have to wait?)
It must be time
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
Yeah, it must be time
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
Made up my mind
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
It must be time
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
It must be time
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
Yeah
(Isn’t it time?)
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
(Don’t have to wait)
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
(Isn’t it time?)
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
(Don’t have to wait)
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
(Isn’t it time?)
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
(Don’t have to wait)
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
(Isn’t it time?)
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
(Don’t have to wait)
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
(Isn’t it time?)
(Maybe this time you don’t have to wait)
(Don’t have to wait)
(Losing this love could be your mistake)
(Losing this love)