In the early eighties musician/actor Jack Wagner was a star on General Hospital, one of the hottest daytime TV soaps ever. Wagner was given the opportunity to perform songs on the show giving him immediate chart success as well. The first tune, “All I Need,” was co-written by then up-and-coming producers Glen Ballard and Clif Magness with David Pack of Ambrosia. It was a smash hit reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song is an emotional power ballad perfectly performed by the singer and sports a memorable refrain that’s absolute ear candy. The singer went in the studio with Ballard and Magness to first record a mini LP and then, thanks to the increasing popularity of both Wagner and the song, a whole album. This pop collection, aptly titled “All I Need,” was released in 1984 for Quincy Jones’ label, Qwest, and sounds a bit dated because the heavy programmed production. However, some of the material included there has very good hooks. “After The Fact” is an elegant, up-tempo ballad with an interesting synth melody while “Make Me Believe It” has more of an edge and a nice pop/rock feeling. The final track, “Lady Of My Heart,” is another high moment of the album. It’s a moving ballad co-written by Ballard, David Foster and Jay Graydon. The Airplay duo gave Wagner another winner, a haunting, piano-driven melody that evolves into a restrained but effective refrain. This song became another hit and was performed with great success on General Hospital as well.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/lady_of_my_heart.mp3|titles=Lady of my heart|artists=Jack Wagner]

Lead Vocals: Jack Wagner
Keyboards: Bill Elliot
Drums: Pat Mastelotto
Bass: Davey Faragher
Sax Solo: Jerry Peterson
Produced & Arranged by Glen Ballard & Clif Magness

Lyrics

There’s a quiet time
When everyone goes home
And I’m left standing here
On the stage alone
When shadows paint the scene
Where spotlights used to fall
And now it’s like a dream
Did it happen after all?

Then I see you there
In silent silhouette
The glow of your cigarette
Is like a shooting star

Lady of my heart
Tell me who you are
You’ve waited in the dark
And I need you will me
Lady, please reveal
If what you are is real
Can I touch?
Can I feel?
Just an image of you.

I’ve listened to the cheers
I guess I’ve heard my share
But I was never sure
Was it you out there?
Now I understand
You’ve always been the one
Who stood out from the crowd
You’re my inspiration

So take me by the hand
Before the moment’s gone
I’ll dance you into the dawn
And dream you into my life

Lady of my heart
Tell me who you are
You’ve waited in the dark
And I need you w
With me tonight

Lady, please reveal
If what you are is real
Yeah
Can I touch?
Can I feel?
Are you just a fantasy?

You’re the lady of my heart
I know you are.

Here’s another gem that Foster and Graydon co-wrote in the eighties, this time around with the help of Steve Kipner and singer/actor Donny Osmond. We are almost sure that “Too Young” was written for a record that Graydon was preparing with Osmond around that time but which unluckily never saw the light of day. It is a good thing that at least we got this intense ballad recorded by Jack Wagner for his 1985 album entitled “Lighting Up The Night”, under the production of two good friends of mr. Foster, Glen Ballard and Clif Magness. These two gentlemen who started out as Quincy Jones’ protégés have developed an amazing career producing people like Alanis Morrissette, Wilson Philips and Michael Jackson (Ballard) and Streisand, Avril Lavigne and Clay Aiken (Magness).

“Too Young” was released as a single and peaked at # 52 on Billboard’s Hot 100, a bit of a disappointment cause it has all the right elements to be a winner, especially David Foster’s wonderful keyboards and synth playing, which was the key to many of his chart toppers and has helped shaping a whole genre that sounds fresh to this day and whose evolution has brought us Josh Groban. Jack Wagner does a good with this tune singing it with the right emotion, he had some success with his records back in the eighties, especially with “All I Need” whose parent album included another Foster composition, “Lady Of My Heart”. Later on her has started an acting career which goes on to these days appearing in many TV shows and TV movies.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/too_young.mp3|titles=TOO YOUNG|artists=Jack Wagner]

Lead Vocals: Jack Wagner
Drums: Mike Baird
Keyboards and Synth Bass: David Foster
Guitars: Dann Huff and Clif Magness
Synths: John Van Tongeren and Clif Magness
Produced by Clif Magness & Glen Ballard

Lyrics

Hello love it’s been way too long
Since I realized that you’re the most important thing in my life
I’ve gotta the need to tell you I know that I was wrong
Show you how I feel and what’s goin’ on
I don’t know what to say

Except I love that girl so much
But I didn’t show it
Started spreading myself too thin
Fool around thought she didn’t know it
Such childish games I played I fooled her with my touch
Time has taught me so much
I’m grown enough to say

I was too young but that’s no excuse
I had too much too soon I wanted more room
To please my restless youth
Now all this peace
I can’t feel your bliss
You treated me so kind, you were all mine
But I just walk away

That sweet smile and face
Hangs heavy on my mind
Is there a way that you can turn back the hands

The more love that precious time I let slip by
I can’t take much more of this
So I gotta try
To get you back and say

I was too young but that’s no excuse
I had too much too soon I wanted more room
To please my restless youth
Now all this peace
I can’t feel your bliss
You treated me so kind, you were all mine
And I just walk away

True love comes once in a lifetime
And if it’s true then you’ll be back in mine