Michael Dinner was an American singer/songwriter who released a couple of good albums in the mid-seventies that were commercially unsuccessful. Dinner’s style was reminiscent of popular names like Jackson Browne, The Eagles and Danny O’Keefe with solid country/rock songwriting mixed with a refined, pop/rock instrumental back-up.

“Tom Thumb The Dreamer” was Dinner’s sophomore release in 1976. Produced by Keith Olsen of Fleetwood Mac fame, this endeavor presents mostly nice soft-rock ditties performed by the singer with a fantastic supporting cast including Nigel Olsson and Dee Murray of Elton John’s band, Bill Champlin, Waddy Watchel, Chuck Findley and David Foster. There were a couple of pretty good up-tempos tunes including the rocking title-track and “Silver Bullets.” Both of these songs have echoes of Elton John and The Eagles and feature great guitar and saxophone work by Watchel and Lenny Pickett. Also found is the nice mid-tempo tune called “The Swallow.” “Tom Thumb The Dreamer” has an interesting acoustic ballad called “Julye” that sports a beautiful melody and smooth background vocals by Champlin, Olsson and Schmidt. The closing number was also a ballad highlight entitled “Pale Fire.” This song starts out with Dinner’s story telling voice supported by only acoustic guitars and Champlin’s organ. Foster’s powerful orchestration comes in at mid-song and brings “Pale Fire” to an intense ending. Truly a gorgeous song.

“Tom Thumb The Dreamer” is a good example of well-written and well-performed westcoast music of the seventies that didn’t find its way to large audiences despite good ear value. After a brief stint in the music business, Dinner went on to find big success as a producer/director on TV shows like “Law & Order,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Chicago Hope” and “The Wonder Years.”

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Lead Vocal & Guitar: Michael Dinner
Bass & Backing Vocals: Dee Murray
Guitar & Backing Vocals: Waddy Watchel
Keyboards: David Foster
Drums & Backing Vocals: Nigel Olsson
Organ & Backing Vocals: Bill Champlin
Percussion: Alan Estes
Saxophone: Lenny Pickett
Trumpet: Chuck Findley
Trombone: Dick Hyde
Backing Vocals: Laura Allan, Gary Rowles, Richie Hayward & Timothy B. Schmidt

String & Horn Arrangements by David Foster
Produced by Keith Olsen

Lyrics

No lyrics

written by John Perry Barlow & Bob Weir

Bob Weir is a founding member of the legendary San Francisco band, The Grateful Dead. In the summer of 1977 when his band was on a forced break after drummer Mickey Hart got injured in a car crash, Weir started working on his second solo album that was eventually titled “Heaven Help The Fool.”

Produced by super-producer Keith Olsen fresh from his work with The Grateful Dead on their “Terrapin Station” album, “Heaven Help The Fool” is a good collection of original pop/rock tunes mostly co-written by Weir with his songwriting partner John Barlow. Olsen recruited a line-up of top notch session players to play on the album like David Paich, David Foster and Tom Scott. The names involved, the arrangements and the rocking musical scenario are basically the same of another 1977 Olsen-produced record for the group Fools Gold entitled “Mr. Lucky.”

Weir’s vocals are pretty good throughout the album and reinforced with prominent back-up vocals courtesy of Fools Gold’s Tom Kelly and San Francisco legend Bill Champlin. Musically, the album leans towards a more commercial sound very distant from The Grateful Dead’s unique style. This can be heard on the opener “Bombs Away” that was released as a single and the title track which echoes of Steely Dan’s jazzy sound. Both songs benefit from Scott’s impressive sax work and a well-dosed use of keyboards. Another interesting moment is the bluesy, upbeat “Salt Lake City” with Champlin’s organ in the spotlight. “Heaven Help The Fool” reached #69 on the albums chart while “Bombs Away” became a minor chart entry on Billboard’s Hot 100 at #70.

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[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/bombs_away.mp3|titles=Bombs Away|artists=Bob Weir]

Lead Vocals & Guitar: Bob Weir
Keyboards: David Foster & David Paich
Bass: Mike Porcaro
Drums: Mike Baird
Winds: Tom Scott
Background Singers: Bill Champlin & Tom Kelly

Produced by Keith Olsen

Lyrics

Bombs away
Well, I guess I’m back in love again
Well, hey now, and around we go
This will bring me ruin
Though I suppose it’s pleasing

I’ve changed the eyes I gaze in
Still, she’s just another girl
And I need more than a trade in
Guess I’ll have to change the world

Strike up the band
Well, I believe I have this dance
Hey, raise that glass again, my friend
Yes, of course, I’m charming
But she’s so easy

Well, I’ve changed the tune I dance to
In this gay old social whirl
But if I get a chance to
I might just change the world

It’s just the same old movie
Been playing here for years
(Playing here for years)
I could use a change of scenery
But when I get there I’m still here

Coming soon
We’ll have another day in paradise
At a theatre near you
And they’ll be showing it forever

So let them keep parading
Give ’em all batons to twirl
For me, the splendor’s fading
Yeah, I’ll have to change the world
And it’s still the same old movie
And I’ve seen it all before
Guess one more run through won’t undo me
Hell, I’ll just watch the show some more

Hey, some more, yeah, some more
Sit back and watch it some more
Guess I’ll just watch the show some more
Hey, some more, yeah, some more
But I’d like to know what for
Hey, don’t you worry what for
Yeah, I’d like to know what for
Guess you must know what I’m talking about

Bombs away (bombs away)
I guess I’m back in love again
(Love again)
Yeah, around and around we go

(Bombs away) bombs away
Guess I’m back in love again
(Love again) you got me
Round and round we go

Bombs away
Guess I’m back in love again
Round and around and around and around
It’s love again (love again)

Yes, I guess I’m back in love again
Love again (love again)
Look out, I’m back in love again

written by Tom Kelly & Denny Henson

Fools Gold started out in the mid-Seventies as Dan Fogelberg’s backing band. The Country/Rock group included Tom Kelly on bass and vocals, Denny Henson on piano, guitar and vocals, Doug Livingston on pedal steel and keyboards plus Ron Grinel on drums.

In 1976, Fools Gold released a solid, self-titled album supported by Glenn Frey, Don Felder and Joe Walsh of The Eagles. The album was obviously influenced by the soft rock sound of that super group and Fogelberg, who also donated a couple of his compositions for the set.

In 1977, only Kelly and Henson were still in the band for the sophomore release entitled “Mr. Lucky.” Keith Olsen of Fleetwood Mac fame produced the album and he enlisted his favorite session cats like Jeff and Mike Porcaro on drums and bass respectively, Tom Scott on sax plus David Foster and David Paich on keyboards. Foster also arranged the whole album with Fools Gold. The young keyboardist was a fixture on Olsen’s productions of the Seventies for people like The Sons Of Champlin, Bob Weir of Grateful Dead and Russ Ballard. Olsen also engineered some of Foster’s early productions for Attitudes, Alice Cooper and Airplay.

“Mr. Lucky” had some Country/Rock moments, but also showcased some Boz Scaggs’ inspired Rock’N’Soul and a few intense Pop/Rock ballads. Foster’s touch gave the material polish and class. The vocal and instrumental performances are top notch with a special mention to Kelly’s tenor voice. Among the highlights there are the up-tempo, funky/rock title track, the sophisticated ballad “Captain” that sports a fantastic orchestral coda courtesy of David Foster and the rocking opener, Sweet Country Air with echoes of The Doobie Brothers.

After the release of “Mr. Lucky,” Fools Gold disbanded. In 1983, Kelly started another group with Billy Steinberg called “I Ten.” They eventually moved on to a very successful career as songwriters co-writing giant hits like “True Colors” for Cindy Lauper, “Like A Virgin” for Madonna, “Eternal Flame” for The Bangles and “Alone” for Heart. Henson kept working as songwriter and backing vocalist and briefly joined Country group The Remingtons in the Nineties.

Lead Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars: Denny Henson & Tom Kelly
Keyboards: David Foster & David Paich
Drums & Percussion: Jeff Porcaro
Bass: Mike Porcaro
Electric Guitar: Waddy Wachtel

Arranged by David Foster & Fools Gold
Produced by Keith Olsen

Lyrics

No Lyrics

In the early eighties, the successful album-oriented rock sound of groups like Toto, Styx, Journey and Foreigner were reproduced by many popular names around the world to attain some rock credibility. A good example is famous French singer Sheila, also known as Sheila & B. Devotion. This veteran pop singer had already reinvented herself in the late seventies as a disco queen with hits like “Singin’ in the Rain,” “You Light My Fire” and “Spacer,” written and produced by Chic. In 1981, she went to Los Angeles with the intent of recording an AOR album to present herself to American audiences. She hired Keith Olsen, famed producer of Pat Benatar, Heart and Journey, plus enlisted an A-list of songwriters and musicians including Mike Baird, Bill Champlin, Tom Kelly, Richard Page, Alan Pasqua and Tim Pierce. The end result was a solid collection of pop/rock songs entitled “Little Darlin’.”
The album included a faithful cover of the Airplay classic, “Stranded,” co-written by David Foster and Jay Graydon with Kelly. “Stranded” is a rousing rocker perfectly performed by the stellar backing musicians. Sheila’s voice may lack the power and strength needed for this kind of song, but the tight vocal support of Champlin, Kelly and Page help her bring home an effective performance.
There are other valid moments on “Little Darlin’,” especially the Champlin and Kelly up-tempo “I’m Still Believin'” and the title track co-written by Holly Knight and Amanda Blue that was a minor chart entry on Billboard’s Hot 100. “Little Darlin'” was recently reissued on cd with a bonus track entitled “Prisoner.” This album isn’t a masterpiece, but the songwriting and great musicianship are good listening for lovers of album-oriented rock.

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[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/stranded.mp3|titles=Stranded|artists=Sheila]

Lead Vocal: Sheila
Drums: Mike Baird
Bass: Dennis Belfield & Rick Phillips
Guitars: Chas Sanford & Tim Pierce
Keyboards: Alan Pasqua & Bill Champlin
Background Vocals: Tom Kelly, Richard Page, Bill Champlin with Trevor Raven & Venette Gloud
Produced by Keith Olsen

Lyrics

You are dealing underhanded,so far
the closer that we get the more I’m stranded

I’m tangled in this situation
looks like you got the best of me
I’m handing in my resignation
sufferin’ a cold defeat for your love

I tell you secrets and you’re tellin’ me lies
you paint a picture and you cover my eyes
and since I found you I’ve been lost in the night
and feeling stranded,stranded – empty~handed
and I don’t know if I’ll ever survive
First you want to please me
then you want to tease me
lead me to your lock and throw away the only key

You are dealing underhanded,so far
the closer that we get the more I’m stranded

I’m takin’on a bad reaction
from putting on a one-man show
you’ll never give me satisfaction
I can’t hold on and can’t let go of your love

I tell you secrets and you’re tellin’ me lies
you paint a picture and you cover my eyes
and since I found you I’ve been lost in the night
and feeling stranded,stranded – empty~handed
and I don’t know if I’ll ever survive
First you want to please me
then you want to tease me
lead me to your lock and throw away the only key

You are dealing underhanded,so far
the closer that we get the more I’m stranded

Released in 1976, “A Circle Filled With Love” was the best shot to wider popularity the Sons Of Champlin had in their career. This band, lead by the legendary singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Bill Champlin, was always considered one of the best in terms of pure talent to come out of the San Francisco area. However, they never achieved the success they deserved for the quality of their work.

For “A Circle Filled With Love” the band teamed up with super producer Keith Olsen who was responsible for musical milestones like Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors.” Bill Champlin wrote some great tunes for the album that are brilliantly performed by the band. There are powerful rockers like “Hold On,” the first single off the album, and “Follow Your Heart” that showcase the Sons’ tight musicianship. There’s also the right amount of rich, soulful ballads like “Here Is Where Your Love Belongs,” “Helping Hand” and the amazing “You” beautifully performed by Champlin with superior class and style. “Here Is Where Your Love Belongs” was covered later by The Pointer Sisters, Maria Muldaur and Jaye P. Morgan.

Olsen enlisted a young, up and coming David Foster to do some work on the album. This was the first encounter between Foster and Champlin beginning a close friendship and a long list of successful collaborations. Foster did a great job with his clever strings arrangements and also played the electric piano on “Helping Hand.”

“A Circle Filled With Love” has many other great tunes including the acoustic ballad “To The Sea,” the breezy, up-tempo “Imagination’s Sake,” plus a nasty cover of The Commodores “Slippery When It’s Wet.” This wonderful band is still around today and has just recently released a great new record entitled “Hip Li’l Dreams.” We encourage you to check it out. If you can, be sure to catch them in concert. They always put on an amazing show.

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[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/you1.mp3|titles=You|artists=Bill Champlin]

Lead Vocals, Guitar & Keyboards: Bill Champlin
Guitars: Terry Haggerty
Drums & Percussion: James Preston
Bass: David Schallock
Keyboards & Vibes: Geoff Palmer
Saxophone & Flute: Steve Frediani
Percussion: Allan Estes
Strings Arranged & Conducted by David Foster
Produced & Arranged by Keith Olsen

Lyrics

NO LYRICS