David Foster started making his transition from top session ace to record producer around 1977. Foster helmed albums by teen-pop act, The Keane Brothers, singer/songwriter Danny Peck and vocalist Lisa Dalbello. Of those three records, the one that most prominently presented the seeds of Foster’s impressive talents as an arranger and producer was Dalbello’s self-titled release.

Lisa Dalbello offered a melting pot of pop, rock and R&B delivered with a sophisticated sound courtesy of Foster and the cream of the L.A. session scene of those years. Foster enlisted future Toto guys Jeff and Mike Porcaro (April 1, 1954 to August 5, 1992 and May 29, 1955  to March 15, 2015) with Steve Lukather, Jay Graydon, Bill Champlin, Patrice Rushen, Nigel Olsson and Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire. Dalbello’s voice was a stunner, especially considering she was only seventeen at the time. Foster gave Dalbello songs with smooth and refined arrangements to compete with the best names of the genre and she really shone vocally throughout the album. There have been reviews of the goodies from Lisa Dalbello in the past and they can be found in the “ARCHIVES” section of this website. Original compositions like the intense ballad, “(Don’t Want To) Stand In Your Way,” and two funk-infused Foster co-writes, “Day Dream” and “Milk & Honey,” can be found.

This week, the focus is on another beautiful ballad titled “Stay With Me.”

Again, Foster created a gorgeous soul/R&B atmosphere where Dalbello’s voice could express itself on top of a magnificent musical scenario. The instrumental track was owned by Foster on Fender Rhodes, Graydon on guitar and the Porcaro brothers driving the rhythm section. Tom Scott’s saxophone solo and the refined licks by the Seawind Horns’ were perfect embellishments to raise the level of sophistication on the track.

Listen closely. There was a common thread that goes from “Stay With Me” on Lisa Dalbello to Bill Champlin’s Single to Boz Scaggs’ Middle Man. It was a thread made of quality music that will catapult Foster to his triumphs with Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Listen

• Lead & Backing Vocals: Lisa Dalbello
• Fender Rhodes: David Foster
• Guitar: Eddie Patterson & jay Graydon
• Drums: Jeff Porcaro
• Bass: Mike Porcaro
• Saxophone Solo: Tom Scott
• Horns: Seawind Horns
• Backing Vocals: Michele Gruska, Patrice Rushen

• Rhythm Arrangements by David Foster
• Vocal Arranged by Lisa Dalbello
• Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could be more than just friends?
Discovering ways to spend our evenings and days
Gettin’ to know each other well

It would be so nice to have you wake me in the morning
We’d float on silvery streams creating beautiful dreams
Inside our ivory tower

We shouldn’t waste a night like this
Worrying what tomorrow will bring
Let’s forget about the rest
Forget about the rest
Stay with me
Let’s forget about the rest, baby baby,
And stay with me

We are worlds apart from a lifetime together
But we could suppose that while the curtains are closed
We’d share a timeless ecstasy

If we should lose a night like this
We will always wonder
What might’ve been
So forget about the rest
Forget about the rest
And stay with me
Let’s forget about the rest, baby baby
And stay with me

If I could have you here til the morning
Explore this feeling touching me, touching you

written by David Foster & Lisa Dal Bello

Though not commercially successful at the time of their release, Lisa Dal Bello’s 1977 self-titled album was one of David Foster’s early productions that aged particularly well in terms of instrumental arrangements, musicianship and vocal performances.“Lisa Dal Bello” was mostly made of funky/pop songs that resulted in a better-than-average soul/disco album of the era. Dal Bello’s songwriting was extremely solid and her singing was utterly impressive. Although only eighteen years old at the time, she blew the roof off in strength and versatility. The album became a superior hit in Canada and the singer took home Canada’s Juno Award as Most Promising Female Vocalist. Foster’s production was another obvious plus, giving the singer and her material the perfect setting to deliver the goods. Foster brought in the usual suspects like Jay Graydon, Larry Carlton and Tom Scott. The young producer also co-wrote three numbers with Dal Bello including the soulful, mid-tempo “Milk & Honey.”

From its slow, elegant intro, “Milk & Honey” quickly develops into a funk jam driven by the amazing Jeff Porcaro on drums, Mike Porcaro on bass, tight horns by Seawind, smooth vocals by Bill Champlin and rhythm guitars by Graydon. Dal Bello’s vocal performance on this number is nothing short of brilliant. “Lisa Dal Bello” is extremely pleasing from start to finish. We urge Foster fans to check it out and discover the funky side of The Hitman!

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/milk_honey.mp3|titles=Milk & Honey|artists=Lisa Dalbello]

Lead & Background Vocals: Lisa Dalbello
Clavinet: David Foster
Drums: Jeff Porcaro
Bass: Mike Porcaro
Guitars: Jay Graydon & Eddie Patterson
Horns: Seawind Horns
Background Vocals: Bill Champlin, Carmen Twillie & Netty Gloud

Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

Give me milk and honey, honey
Spice the recipe
Pledge allegiance to the good sweet life
Light the light for me

Tasting my milk and honey, honey
Make me come alive
Make my cup runneth over
Until two and two make five

Honey, honey, I’ve had the best
Honey, until they lay me to rest
You should have been there
You should have been there

Do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do

Turn on milk and honey, honey
Make my case for me
Don’t throw me crumbs from the table
Give me the good life and the liberty

Taste my milk and honey, honey
Make me come alive
Make my cup runneth over
Until two and two make five

Lisa Dalbello was just seventeen years old when, in 1977, she recorded her first album in L.A., with fellow Canadian David Foster in the control booth. This interesting mixture of funky and pop wasn’t only Dalbello’s debut record but also one of Foster’s first productions as well, both very young and rich of talent. The ten tracks included here are nice evidence of the sounds of that era, great grooves played by extraordinary musicians like the late Jeff Porcaro, Steve Lukather, Jay Graydon and Larry Carlton just to name a few and with guest appearances also by Bill Champlin, Patrice Rushen, Nigel Ollson and Philip Bailey.

Lisa Dalbello’s voice is really impressive for strength and richness, she flies high between dance numbers, pop rock tunes and tender ballads and she also co-wrote all the songs included, three of them co-written with Foster. One of the ballads, “(Don’t Want To) Stand In Your Way” is, in our opinion, the best moment of the album. It is an incredible slow jam, perfectly orchestrated by Foster and sung by the singer with great intensity. There’s some great work on the oberheim synths by Richard Baker (Gino Vannelli) and Charles Mims while Foster plays his mellow fender rhodes and Champlin supports Lisa with his vocals. Foster helped Dalbello also arranging her sophomore release, “Pretty Girls” one year later.

Let’s leave to her words to try and define the sounds you can find on these records: “…..this record was made during that groovy bad-ass time in music history in L.A., so I’d love to ask the listeners to put on their highest of highiest platform shoes, shake their funky thang and get down to some funky beats sung and written from the very core of my heart and….soul”.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/dalbello.mp3|titles=(DON’T WANT TO) STAND IN YOUR WAY|artists=Lisa Dal Bello]

Lead Vocals: Lisa Dal Bello
Drums and Percussion: Jeffrey Porcaro
Fender Rhodes: David Foster
Guitars: Jay Graydon & Eddie Patterson
Bass: Mike Porcaro
Oberheim Synthesizers: Richard Baker & Charles Mims
Background Vocals: Carmen Twillie, Netty Gloud & Bill Champlin
Produced and Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

Sometimes a love won’t let go
Hard as I try I know it shows
Everybody’s telling me
You’ll be over her eventually
But how am I supposed to feel so secure?

When I keep wondering who’s holding Donna now
And I keep wondering who’s heart she’s knocking around
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do
To be in his shoes somehow
And I keep wondering who’s holding Donna now
And I keep wondering what magic can be found
To turn me back to the one who’s holding Donna now

The letter started with good-bye
I’ve read it half a million times
Tell me this is just a dream
When I wake up she’ll be here next to me
Tell me it will be just the way it was

Well, I keep wondering who’s holding Donna now
And I keep wondering who’s heart she’s knocking around
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do
To be in his shoes right now
And I keep wondering who’s holding Donna now
And I keep wondering what magic can be found
To turn me back to the one who’s holding Donna now

[break]

Who’s holding Donna now?
I keep wondering who’s heart she’s knocking around
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do
To be in his shoes right now

And I keep wondering who’s holding Donna now
Oh, Donna, what magic can be found?
To make me be the one who’s holding Donna now
I can’t get Donna off my mind