Late last month, world-class arranger Jeremy Lubbock passed away (June 4, 1931 to January 29, 2021). Mr. Lubbock was born in England and moved to Los Angeles in the late seventies.  He was unanimously recognized as one of the best arrangers in the history of popular music. Mr. Lubbock would work alongside heavyweights including Quincy Jones, Pat Metheny, Burt Bacharach, Joni Mitchell and, of course, David Foster.

Mr. Lubbock was the mastermind behind the orchestral landscapes that enriched many of Foster’s classic productions including Chicago’s “Hard Habit To Break” and “Hard To Say I’m Sorry,” the late Whitney Houston’s (1963-2012) “I Have Nothing” and “I Will Always Love You,” Michael Bolton’s “To Love Somebody” and the late Al Jarreau’s (1940-2017) “Mornin’.” This arranger extraordinaire gained 14 Grammy nominations with three wins. He also wrote timeless gems like “Not Like This” for Jarreau, “Goodbye Love” for Manhattan Transfer, “The Best Of Me” co-written with Foster and Richard Marx and sung by superstars like Cliff Richard and Barry Manilow and “Whatever We Imagine,” also penned with the Hitman, lyricist Paul Gordon and sung by the incomparable James Ingram (1952-2019).

To honor Mr. Lubbock’s memory, “All That My Heart Can Hold” was picked for its gorgeous instrumental that Mr. Lubbock co-wrote with Foster for the Canadian super-producer’s 1986 self-titled album.

“All That My Heart Can Hold” sported one of Foster’s trademark heart-wrenching melodies and an intimate nocturne feel that resulted in pure listening bliss. The track was all performed by Foster on various keyboards and synths except the timely mid-track appearance of Dave Boruff’s warm saxophone. This gorgeous instrumental was eventually rediscovered by Latin superstar Luis Miguel. Miguel recorded a version with added Spanish lyrics under the title of “Ayer” that jumped to #1 in 1993 on the Latin chart.

On this solemn occasion, David Foster dedicated a few words to his friend:

“I don’t remember how I met Jeremy, but right from the start I fell in love with his musical brain. He was simply a notch more talented than most of us. His brain was wired differently. Jeremy hated to compromise (and seldom did) and he had an uncommon ability to walk between the world of classical and pop. Sure, we did have extraordinary success with Chicago, Whitney, etc., but I particularly loved his contributions to a couple of lesser-known Josh Groban tracks like the arrangement of the Christmas classic, ‘Oh Holy Night’ and ‘Mi Mancherai’ from Closer.”

On a personal note, we were lucky enough to exchange a few emails in the past with Mr. Lubbock and here was the first paragraph of his first answer:

“Many thanks for your very kind e-mail. First of all, my name is Jeremy, NOT Mr. Lubbock!!!!!!!”

R.I.P. Jeremy 

Listen

• Keyboards & Synthesizers: David Foster
• Saxophone: Dave Boruff

• Arranged by David Foster
• Produced by David Foster & Humberto Gatica

Lyrics

No Lyrics

In the early eighties, a very young but skilled Richard Marx began working as an assistant at David Foster’s Chartmaker Studios. Marx co-wrote some staples with the Hitman including “The Best Of Me,” recorded by Foster as a duet with Olivia Newton-John plus the Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes and James Ingram hit, “What About Me?.”

Marx also wrote songs for Chicago (“Good For Nothing“), Fee Waybill (“Who Loves You Baby“) and the pop ballad “If I Turn You Away,” sung by newcomer Vikki Moss for the hit soundtrack of St. Elmo’s Fire.

Moss met Foster in her early twenties through her then-boyfriend and hockey superstar, Wayne Gretzki. Born in Edmonton , Canada , the young singer had the right looks and impressive vocal chops also seen in Sheena Easton or Olivia Newton-John. The super-producer first worked with Moss on the single “Hold Me Close” and eventually performed a duet with her on the track “Love At Second Sight” off his 1983 Best Of Me cd. Both were delicate pop ballads that nicely showcased Moss’ charming pop voice while being surrounded by Foster’s lush and catchy sounds.

Around 1985, those Foster/Moss collaborations produced “If I Turn You Away.” This track had the greatest potential of being included on a high-profile soundtrack.  Musically, it was an extremely appealing ballad with captivating verses and a killer refrain delivered by an ear-candy arrangement. Moss’ vocals were on point. Her fresh, smooth singing was perfectly supported by Foster’s incredible programming and wall of keyboards that make up the skeleton of the song together with Mike Landau’s guitar and Dave Boruff’s trademark saxophone solo. The hit value of this song should have been rewarded with a single release. Nonetheless, “If I Turn You Away” remains one of the highlights of the St. Elmo’s Fire soundtrack.

Obviously, Moss didn’t become the new pop sensation. She did score a #1 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart with “Never Say Die,” a 1983 duet ballad with Tim Feehan.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/If-I-Turn-You-Away-Vikki-Moss-Warner-Canada-1985.mp3|titles=If I Turn You Away|artists=Vikki Moss]

Lead Vocals: Vikki Moss
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitars: Michael Landau
Saxophone: Dave Boruff

Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

It won’t be hard to say goodbye I’ve seen this road before
And I’ve survived through every bend
You’re just a page I need to turn and I’ll be on my way
For me it’s over not the end.

Why should I stay and fight another lonely night?
I’ve got no reason to pretend.
You lied too many times and I’ve got too much pride
To let myself be fooled again.

So if I turn you away, it’s really nothing more
Than my way to say that it’s over.
If I turn you away, you’ll know the reason why
I just couldn’t stay anymore

Somewhere a stranger waits for me with eyes to warm my soul
His arms will hold me night and day.
You taught me everything I know ’bout breaking hearts and so
I think it’s time for me to say

You’ve had your way too long and I’ve been oh so wrong
To be a fool and not be gone.
I’ll tell you here and now, I’ll make it through somehow
I’ll find it easy to go on.

So if I turn you away, it’s really nothing more
Than my way to say that it’s over.
If I turn you away, you’ll know the reason why
I just couldn’t stay anymore

You lied too many times and I’ve got too much pride
To let myself be fooled again.

So if I turn you away, it’s really nothing more
Than my way to say that it’s over.
If I turn you away, you’ll know the reason why
I just couldn’t stay anymore
So if I turn you away, it’s really nothing more
Than my way to say that it’s over.
If I turn you away, (if I turn you away) you’ll know the reason why
I just couldn’t stay anymore
So if I turn you away (turn you away), it’s really nothing more
Than my way to say that it’s over.
If I turn you away, you’ll know the reason why
I just couldn’t stay anymore

written by David Foster & Bob Rock

John Parr’s “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion)” from the soundtrack of the 1985 hit movie “St. Elmo’s Fire” is one of the most important successes of David Foster’s songbook. This rocking tune was a huge worldwide hit reaching #1 in the US and Canada, #6 in the UK and the top ten in several other countries.

An interesting Foster rarity can be found on that single’s b-side. It’s a mostly instrumental pop/rock jam entitled “One Love” that can be heard in the movie but wasn’t included in the soundtrack. The song was fictionally performed in “St. Elmo’s Fire” by Rob Lowe and his band but actually played by Foster on keyboards with his team of super musicians like Dave Boruff and Mike Landau who are featured prominently on this energetic track respectively on sax and guitar. One Love was co-written by Foster with another Canadian top music-maker, Bob Rock around the days when the two were working on the Paul Hyde & The Payolas’ record, “Here’s The World For Ya.”

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/one_love.mp3|titles=One Love|artists=St.  Elmo’s Fire]

Saxophone: Dave Boruff
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitar: Michael Landau
Bass: John Pierce
Drums: Carlos Vega & Mike Baird
Vocals: John Elefante

Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

No Lyrics