Written by David Foster & Carole Bayer Sager

Quest For Camelot was an animated musical film released in 1998 by Warner Brothers Feature Animation. The songs for the project were all co-written by David Foster and supreme lyricist Carole Bayer Sager. The most famous song featured on this project was “The Prayer,” sung by global superstars Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion. This powerful anthem was nominated for an Academy Award and eventually became a modern standard performed by hundreds of singers worldwide.

Another stand-out track on Quest For Camelot was the sweet ballad, “Looking Through Your Eyes” sung by country/pop diva Leann Rimes. That song reached the top twenty of Billboard’s Hot 100 and was also a top five Adult Contemporary hit. “Looking Through Your Eyes” was also included on the soundtrack as a pop duet between Andrea Corr of Corrs fame and aclaimed country singer Bryan White. Past reviews of these tracks can be found in the archives.

Foster also delivered a lovely instrumental version of “Looking Through Your Eyes”. This is the pick for Song of the Week.

The composition’s moving melody and  gorgeous piano performance are a joy for the ears of The Hitman’s loyal followers. The melody echoes the glorious sounds of Foster’s classic hit, “Love Theme From St. Elmo’s Fire.” “Looking Through Your Eyes” benefits from a great orchestral arrangement that enhances the song’s melodic power plus some beautiful work on the acoustic guitar probably played by session great, Dean Parks.

To round out this review, David Foster again sent a welcome note about this project:

“I Love this instrumental and remember it very well, but I also loved the vocal that Andrea Corr did on her duet with Bryan White. The melody still holds up, at least in my mind. Quest For Camelot was a great experience, although the movie didn’t do anything at box office. Carole and I had a great time writing for it and, of course, we came up with ‘The Prayer’ with inspiration from the movie.”

• Acoustic Piano & Keyboards: David Foster
• Orchestra Arranged by James Shearman
• Arranged by David Foster
• Produced by David Foster & Carole Bayer Sager

Lyrics

No Lyrics

written by Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager

In the first half of the eighties, the songwriting collaboration between legendary composer Burt Bacharach and his then-wife and supreme lyricist Carole Bayer Sager blossomed to brilliant levels. In previous decades, both enjoyed a great deal of success with their individual works. Mr. Bacharach had a golden partnership with the late Hal David (May 25, 1921 to September 1, 2012) that resulted in dozens of much-loved evergreens and chart toppers while Ms. Sager’s lyrics graced a multitude of top ten hits.

Their working collaboration was remembered for #1s including “On My Own” sung by Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross’ “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” “That’s What Friends Are For” performed by Dionne Warwick & Friends Sir Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder and the Neil Diamond classic “Heartlight.” Although those songs were magnificent and helped shape the adult contemporary genre of the eighties, there was so much more inside Mr. Bacharach’s and Ms. Sager’s common songbook. Many sparkling hidden gems were in lesser-known projects or the couple’s solo releases. A perfect example was the song “Easy To Love Again.”

 Co-written for Ms. Sager’s 1981 Sometimes Late At Night, “Easy To Love Again” was an evocative ballad that sported a delicious arrangement that spoke of jazzy overtones and had an intense refrain. Ms. Sager’s smoky voice complimented this number that was backed up by Mr. Bacharach’s piano. As was usual on his productions, the Maestro surrounded himself with the cream of the crop of the LA mafia including the late Jeff Porcaro (April 1, 1954 to August 5, 1992) on drums, Lee Sklar of James Taylor fame on bass, two guitar gods like Lee Ritenour and Steve Lukather and his friend David Foster on keyboards. Foster’s artistry was always highly esteemed by Mr. Bacharach and the Hitman was a fixture on Mr. Bacharach’s productions for his unique playing, ear and arranging skills. Foster arranged the silky strings on “Easy To Love Again” while Jerry Hey brought his usual magic to the horns department. Moreover, there was fantastic work on the track by Richard Page on backing vocals and Steve Lukather’s intense guitar solo. The result is a joy for the ears of any music lover. Sure, “Easy To Love Again” was still adult contemporary stuff, but the craft and top-notch level of all performances were as good as it can possibly get. 

 Simply put: this is world-class music.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Carole-Bayer-Sager-Sometimes-Late-At-Night-10-Easy-To-Love-Again.mp3|titles=Easy To Love Again|artists=Carole Bayer Sager]

Lead Vocals: Carole Bayer Sager
Bass: Leland Sklar
Drums: Jeff Porcaro
Guitar: Lee Ritenour & Steve Lukather
Piano: Burt Bacharach
Fender Rhodes: David Foster
Backing Vocals: Richard Page, Steve George & Venette Gloud

Strings & Horns arranged by David Foster & Jerry Hey
Produced by Burt Bacharach & Brooks Arthur

Lyrics

Uptown he’s calling
I’m coming
He can take me anywhere
Let me know that he’ll just be there
That’s all I need to know
That’s enough for me to go wherever he may go
He’s making it

Chorus:
Easy to love again
Easy to love
And I was empty and then heaven sent me

Someone easy to love again
Easy to love again

Uptown
I’m fine now
No worries
In his arms they disappear
Let me know that I’ll stay right here
That’s all I need to know
That’s enough for me to go
Wherever he may go, he’s making it

Repeat Chorus

written by David Foster & Carole Bayer Sager

“It’s The Falling In Love” is a catchy, up-tempo song co-written, in 1978, by David Foster with legendary lyricist, Carole Bayer Sager. This irresistible tune became pretty popular when it was sung by the late Michael Jackson with Patti Austin for his 1979, multi-platinum album, “Off The Wall.”

Quincy Jones sure did a wonderful job producing that cover but there’s an earlier take on “It’s The Falling In Love,” sung by its co-writer, Bayer Sager, that stands, at least, on the same excellent musical level. In 1978, Bayer Sager released her second album entitled “…Too.” It was an impressive showcase of her superior songwriting talent and among the tunes presented there was “It’s The Falling In Love.” The production by Brooks Arthur is truly noteworthy with the absolute bonus of a superb arrangement by Foster who also played on the track with other session aces like Steve Lukather and David Hungate from Toto. The singer’s performance is supported by the voices of two of the most spectacular singers of that era, Bill Champlin and Mike McDonald and the result is total ear-candy.
We can’t help but think that such a great song with its catchy refrain should have been a huge radio hit.  Unfortunately, “It’s The Falling In Love” was only released as a promotional single backed up by a romantic tune entitled “There’s Something About You,” co-written by Bayer Sager with another legend, the late Marvin Hamlisch.
If you wish to learn more about Carole Bayer Sager’s work, there’s a recently released, double cd collection by Australian label, Raven Records, that presents all her three albums released between 1977 and 1981, where you can discover some absolutely wonderful songs, all co-penned by this gifted songwriter with some of the best pop musicians ever.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/its_the_falling_in_love.mp3|titles=It’s Falling In Love|artists=Carole Bayer Sager]

Lead Vocals: Carole Bayer Sager
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitar: Steve Lukather
Bass: David Hungate
Drums: Ed Greene
Percussion: Steve Forman
Backing Vocals: Bill Champlin & Mike McDonald

Arranged & Conducted by David Foster

Produced by Brooks Arthur

Lyrics

You`re not like anybody I ever knew
But that don`t mean that I don’t know where we are
And though I find myself attracted to you
This time I’m trying not to go to far, `cause
No matter how it starts it ends the same
Someone’s always doing someone more
Trading in the passion for that taste of pain
It’s only gonna happen again

It’s the falling in love that’s makin’ me high
It’s the being in love that makes me cry, cry, cry
It’s the falling in love that’s makin’ me high
It’s the being in love that makes me cry, cry, cry
All night…all night

And though I’m trying not to look in you’re eyes
Each time I do they kind of burn right through me
Don’t want to lay down in a bed full of lies
And yet my heart is saying, ´Come and do me´
Now we’re just a web of mystery
A possibility of more to come
I’d rather leave the fantasy of what might be
But here I go falling again

It’s the falling in love that’s makin’ me high
It’s the being in love that makes me cry, cry, cry
It’s the falling in love that’s makin’ me high
It’s the being in love that makes me cry, cry, cry
Over you…over you ( all night )

written by  David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager & Steve Perry

Steve Perry was the lead singer of the famous American Rock band Journey. His distinctive and powerful tenor voice graced the band’s multi-platinum selling albums and most famous hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Who’s Crying Now,” “Open Arms” and “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart).”

In 1983 Perry released his debut solo album entitled “Street Talk.” It went on to sell over two million copies and spawned the hit single, “Oh Sherrie.” In 1987 Journey disbanded and Perry went on hiatus. He came back in 1994 with a second solo album called “For The Love Of Strange Medicine” before reuniting with Journey in 1996 for a new album entitled “Trial By Fire.” In 1998 after a second split with Journey, Perry appeared on the original soundtrack of the animated movie “The Quest For Camelot.” The project was the brainchild of David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager. Perry co-wrote and sung two songs for that star-studded soundtrack, “I Stand Alone” and “United We Stand.” Both are epic ballads that benefit from the perfect match of Perry’s familiar voice with Foster’s classic adult contemporary style.

That same year, Perry released a “best of” album entitled “Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased.” It presents his most loved solo hits plus various tracks and demos he recorded for other projects including his “I Stand Alone” collaboration with Foster.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/i_stand_alone.mp3|titles=I stand alone|artists=Steve Perry]

Lead Vocals: Steve Perry
Keyboards: David Foster
Drums: John Robinson
Guitars: Michael Thompson
Programming: Felipe Elgueta

Arranged by David Foster
Produced by David Foster & Carole Bayer Sager

Lyrics

I know the sound of each rock and stone
I embrace what others fear
You are not to roam in this forgotten place
Just the likes of me are welcome here

Everything breathes
And I know each breath
It’s more than enough for this man

Like every tree stands on its own
Reaching for the sky I stand alone
I share my world
With no one else
All by myself I stand alone

Deep in the darkness my heart still sees
Everything that I’ll never be
Behind these eyes I’ll go everywhere
There’s no need for sympathy
Everything breathes and I know each breath
In my world there’s no compromise

Like every tree stands on its own
Oh reaching for the sky I stand alone
I share my world with no one else
All by myself…

Still
I will remember
Still
I’ll run with you, yes
And when it’s time for you to go
Take me in your heart

Like every tree
Stands on its own
Oh reaching for the sky I stand alone
I share my world with noone else
All by myself
I stand alone

All by myself… all by myself
I stand alone

“David Foster’s been in my life since 1977 or 8, I think. Really quite a long time and continues to be a great force in my life, collaboratively.” These words come from Carole Bayer Sager’s official website and testify the great friendship between these two legendary figures of the music world.

This time around we go back to that first 1978 collaboration for Bayer Sager’s second album, “…Too.” That sophomore effort, produced by Brooks Arthur, was chock full of great collaborations with amazing songwriters like the late Peter Allen, Melissa Manchester, Marvin Hamlisch, Bruce Roberts and Foster. Sure Carole Bayer Sager isn’t a great singer but she put the right emotion performing her own lyrics. Big ballads obviously make the core of the album while the two Foster co-written efforts have more of a danceable feeling that give the record a welcome twist in its overall atmosphere. “It’s The Falling In Love” has hit written all over it and was recorded later on by Michael Jackson, Dionne Warwick, Samantha Sang and Dee Dee Bridgewater. All those versions are good but we feel like Bayer Sager’s is the definitive one. Foster’s arrangement is breezy with ear candy strings and horns plus the fundamental touch of special guests Mike McDonald and Bill Champlin on the smooth backing vocals. “I Don’t Wanna Dance No More” is a refined disco fiesta that also had its share of covers by singers Gwen Owens and Jeane Manson. It does sound a bit dated today but absolutely pleasant nonetheless. Both tracks features the cream of the session aces of that era like the Toto guys and Jay Graydon with Foster’s touch on piano and keyboards. Among the various ballads included on “…Too” we want to mention “You’re Interesting” and “To Make You Smile Again” co-written respectively with Peter Allen and Melissa Manchester.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/i_don_t_wanna_dance_no_more.mp3|titles=I don’t wanna dance no more|artists=Carole Bayer Sager]

Lead Vocal: Carole Bayer Sager
Keyboards & Synthesizer: David Foster
Drums: Jeff Porcaro
Guitar: Steve Lukather & Jay Graydon
Bass: David Hungate
Synthesizer: Steve Porcaro
Percussion: Steve Forman
Horns: George Bohannon, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Kim Hutchcroft, Bill Reichenbach, Larry Williams
Background Vocals: Bill Champlin, Venette Gloud & Carmen Twillie

Arranged by David Foster
Horns Arrangement: Jerry Hey
Produced by Brooks Arthur

Lyrics

No Lyrics