Neil Diamond’s career was one of the longest and most successful in modern pop music. Between the late seventies and the early eighties, Diamond reigned as the king of American adult pop. During that timeframe, Diamond scored an astounding string of hits with adult contemporary staples like his duet of “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” with Barbra Streisand, “September Morn,” “Love On The Rocks” and “Heartlight.”

His major strengths were the unique power of his confident baritone and the superior quality of his songwriting. Diamond also carefully picked the best names in the biz to collaborate on his records and among them were Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. Together, Bacharach and Bayer Sager co-wrote and partially produced with the singer the bulk of Diamond’s 1982 hit album, Heartlight, and kept the collaboration going by co-writing a couple more songs for the subsequent 1984 release,Primitive. David Foster appeared on those two projects, playing keyboards and lending a hand with some of the arrangements. On Heartlight, Foster played piano on the title track and fender Rhodes on “I’m Guilty.” The Hitman also co-wrote and co-produced the rocker “I’m Alive” that became another Top 40 hit.

Foster’s keyboards embellished “Sleep With Me Tonight” and “Crazy” on Primitive. Although a bit troubled during the recording process with a first version rejected by Columbia Records, Primitive was another catchy collection of well-dosed adult pop material. The two aforementioned songs, again co-written by the superstar with Bacharach and Bayer Sager and produced by Richard Perry, were delicious pop compositions with huge chart potential. “Sleep With Me Tonight” was a trademark killer ballad that got covered a couple of years later by Patti Labelle under Bacharach’s production.

The up-tempo “Crazy” is the more interesting of the two, especially for its unusual mid-tempo pop/dance feel and clever arrangement. For these reasons, “Crazy” is the Song of the Week.

Foster played fender Rhodes on the track and was credited as playing, arranging and conducting the synthesizer parts. There’s a good chance that Foster was responsible for the ear-candy power of “Crazy.” Diamond’s performance was energetic and nicely supported by the golden vocal harmonies of Mr. Mister’s Richard Page and Steve George. Primitive reached #35 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart and it was eventually certified gold. It was also successful in the UK where it went to #7.

If interested, past reviews of “Heartlight” and “I’m Alive” can be read and heard in the archives.

Listen

Lead Vocals: Neil Diamond
Fender Rhodes & Synthesizer: David Foster
Drums: John Robinson
Bass: Neil Stubenhaus
Guitar: Dennis Herring & George Doering
Percussion: Lenny Castro
Backing Vocals: Richard Page & Steve George

Arranged by Burt Bacharach
Synthesizer Arranged & Conducted by David Foster
Produced by Richard Perry

Lyrics

Lately, I can’t sleep at night
I can’t turn off my mind
You’ve got me goin’ in circles
When you’re not around me
I just keep thinking

What my life would be without you
Isn’t it crazy
Like I’m on a string
Make me dance and sing

And when you feel like some lovin’
You turn on my music
You give me hope and then you’re gone
I feel so helpless

Isn’t it crazy
Totally crazy
You touch my hand
And make my temperature rise

You get me goin’
With that look in your eyes
Holding on,
I’m holding on

Your love keeps killing me I go willingly
Crazy
And baby I love you
Like nobody loves you

I only wish that loving you was not so easy
Isn’t it crazy
Totally crazy
You touch my hand

And make my temperature rise
You get me goin’
With that look in your eyes
Holding on,

I’m holding on
Your love is killing me
I go willingly crazy
Crazy over you

Look what love can do
Can make you act like a baby
Isn’t it crazy
Why do I go on

It’s out of control now
Isn’t it crazy

written by Richard Starkey

In the fall of 1974, legendary former Beatle, Ringo Starr released his new album entitled “Goodnight Vienna.” Produced by the great Richard Perry, “Goodnight Vienna” was a solid pop/rock endeavour with several catchy moments and chock full of special guests like John Lennon, Elton John, Robbie Robertson and Harry Nilsson.

The album went straight into the top ten, it was certified gold in the US and spawned a couple of hit singles, “Only You (And You Alone)” and “No No Song,” that went into the top ten on Billboard’s Hot 100 respectively at #6 and #3.
Lennon contributed the opening number, the bouncy, up-tempo “(It’s All Da-Da-Down To) Goodnight Vienna” while the feel-good “Snookeroo” was co-written by Elton John and his partner, Bernie Taupin especially for Starr. Another highlight is Allen Toussaint’s “Ocappella,” a fantastic r&b song with Dr. John guesting on electric piano. One of the strong points of “Goodnight Vienna” was Perry’s exquisite production with top performances by the cream of American session players. As a good example, listen to the first piano bars of “Call Me” and you’ll find a young David Foster playing wonderfully on this pretty ballad, a Starr original, clearly influenced by the Beach Boys’ classic vocal harmonies. Other session legends appearing on “Goodnight Vienna” were drummer Jim Keltner, keyboard player Billy Preston and guitarist Steve Cropper. Foster, who was at the beginning of his career, also appeared on the drummer’s “Ringo The 4th,” in 1977. Starr nowadays still tours with his incredible All Starr Band that includes some of the best musicians in the world and recently released his new album entitled “Ringo 2012.”

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/call_me.mp3|titles=Call Me|artists=Ringo Starr]

Lead Vocals & Drums: Ringo Starr
Piano: David Foster
Guitar: Steve Cropper
Bass & Backing Vocals: Klaus Voormann
Backing Vocals: Lon & Derrek Van Eaton, Vini Poncia, Richard Perry & Cynthia Webb

Produced by Richard Perry

Lyrics

Call me, if you wanna see me,
Call me, if you still believe me.
‘Cause i’m not gonna hide,
No, i’m not gonna hide from you.

If you still think you need me,
Like i do, i want you to feed me.
With your love, i’ll be strong,
With your love, ill be strong and carry on.

Don’t be hurt by what you’ve seen, dear,
I know it’s like a dream, dear.
Remember, i slept too,
Remember, i slept too with you.

(uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-ah-)
(uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-ah-)
(ah-ah, ah-ah)

It’s time that we both went through it,
If we don’t, then we know we’ll blew it.
‘Cause we’ve gotta give it a try, (gotta give it, give it a try)
Yeah, we’ve gotta give it a try, yeh, you and i.

We tried, (we know that we tried)
But we didn’t make it. (we tried, you know that we tried)
Now we don’t (we don’t, you know that we don’t)
Ever have to fake it. (we tried, you know that we tried)
Well, we’ll go on our way, (go on our way)
Yeh, we’ll go on our way, it’s a brand new day.

(ah-ah, ah-ah)

Call me, if you wanna see me,
Call me, (call me, call me, oo-)
If you wanna still be my friend.
You can call me, (call me, call me, oo-)
If you wanna see me again.
Why don’t you call me? (we tried, you know that we tried)
You can call me. (we tried, you know that we tried)
If you wanna still be my friend. (we tried, you know that we tried)

(be-doo-be-doo)
(we tried, you know that we tried, ah -)
(we tried, you know that we tried)
(we tried)

written by Donald Dunn & Charles Smith

“Baby It’s Me” is one of the lesser known gems of Diana Ross’ career. Released in 1977, this refined album was produced by Richard Perry who gave to the soul/R&B diva a little spin adding a more sophisticated pop sound to support her unmistakable voice.

Perry also enlisted top songwriters like Tom Snow, Jerry Ragovoy and Melissa Manchester to write material and carefully picked some covers to round out what is an extremely appealing record. The elegant approach of the singer is also enhanced by the top notch backing crew who includes future Toto members, Jeff Porcaro, David Paich, David Hungate and Steve Lukather plus Michael Omartian, Tom Scott, Ray Parker, Jr. and Lee Ritenour. There are several high points on “Baby It’s Me” like the opener, “Getting’ Ready For Love,” a delicious Tom Snow danceable up-tempo that was also the first single reaching # 27 pop, #16 black and #8 adult contemporary. Other goodies are “You Got It” with its elegant soul atmospheres and another Snow offering, the feel good, soul/pop  “Top Of The World.” The title track is also a stand-out with its refined, funky rhythms and jazzy horns arranged by David Foster who, once again, demonstrates his superior skills on this track, co-written by the legendary Donald Dunn of Booker T. & The M.G.’s fame with Charles Smith. Smith also sung the harmony vocal supporting Ms. Ross who gave another smooth and perfect vocal performance. “Baby It’s Me” wasn’t a huge seller but made the top twenty on Billboard’s pop album chart. One year later, in 1978, Ms. Ross will collaborate with Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson on the “Wiz” project and again Foster will participate to the sessions playing keyboards.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/baby_it_s_me.mp3|titles=Baby It’s Me|artists=Diana Ross]

Lead Vocal: Diana Ross
Drums: Jeff Porcaro
Bass: David Hungate
Guitar: Donald Dunn, Lee Ritenour & Ray Parker, Jr.
Electric Piano: Michael Omartian
Percussion: Lenny Castro
Hotel Sheet: Jack Ashford
Harmony Vocal: Charles Smith (not credited)

Horns Arranged & Conducted by David Foster
Produced by Richard Perry

Lyrics

You got the shakin’, I got the shimmy
You got the takin’, I got the gimme
And I don’t want to go but baby you send me
You want it all and I wanna give it
You are the dream and I wanna live it
And I don’t want to go but baby you send me

Baby it’s me, I’m the same as you
A dreamer who dreams that’s a dream come true
And all my life all I’ve wanted to meet someone just like you
Someone just like you who wants to love me, too
Someone just like you

We’ve got the spark, we’ve got the desire
The longer we burn the higher the fire
And baby take my heart, I want you to have it
Our love’s a storm, it goes on forever
The more that it rains the better the weather
And baby take my heart, I want you to have it

Baby it’s me, I’m the same as you
A dreamer who dreams that’s a dream come true
And all my life all I’ve wanted to meet someone just like you
Someone just like you who wants to love me, too
Someone just like you

You got the shakin’, I got the shimmy
You got the takin’, I got the gimme
And I don’t want to go but baby you send me
You want it all and I wanna live it
You got a dream and I wanna live it
And I don’t want to go but baby you send me

Baby it’s me, I’m the same as you
A dreamer who dreams that’s a dream come true
And all my life all I’ve wanted to meet someone just like you
Someone just like you who wants to love me, too
Someone just like you

Oh yeah
Yeah

In the late seventies and early eighties, the Pointer Sisters were improving their success and crossover appeal album by album that would eventually make them one of the hottest acts in the world of pop music. Their Svengali was renowned and experienced producer Richard Perry who helped them create some very well crafted pop/R&B albums.“Black & White” was released in 1981 and went high on the charts. It was helped by the triumphant single “Slow Hand,” a top ten hit on the AC/R&B/pop charts that quickly became one of their signature songs. From the smooth pop of the opener, “Sweet Lover Man,” to the slick R&B sounds of “What A Surprise,” on to David Lasley’s sweet ballad, “Got To Find Love,” the Pointer Sisters were giving their audiences some of the best popular music for that time period.
David Foster appears on the album as co-writer and arranger of “We’re Gonna Make It,” another fine moment of this collection. The song is an up-tempo showcase for the sister’s harmonies. Foster’s percussive piano playing and synthesizers married with the frenetic vocals play a big role and give the song a different kind of new wave/pop/gospel atmosphere. Co-writer Mike Cotten, keyboardist for the Tubes, the famous band that Foster was producing during the same time, helps Foster here. Given the sophisticated sound of “Black & White,” the other musicians enlisted were obviously top session guys including Paul Jackson, John Robinson, James Newton-Howard and Nate Watts.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/we_re_gonna_make_it.mp3|titles=We’re gonna make it|artists=Pointer Sisters]

Lead Vocal: Anita & June Pointer
Keyboards & Synthesizers: David Foster
Additional Synthesizers & Synthesizers Programming: Mike Cotten
Bass: Mike Porcaro
Drums: John Robinson
Congas: Paulinho Da Costa
Background Vocals: Anita, June & Ruth Pointer
Arranged by David Foster
Produced by Richard Perry

Lyrics

Got to really get it goin’
That’s the only way of knowin’
Make it worth all that we’re doin’
We must take it all the way

Followed plans that we perfected
Get results so unexpected
Learn your lessons and accept it
You will find a better way

Trust your heart
Hold onto your dreams and don’t let go
Trust your heart

It will never let you down
It will never let you down

We’re gonna make it
Yeah we’re gonna make it through

Pleasin’ yourself is better than pleasin’ someone else
It won’t be easy for you
It won’t be easy for me
Don’t stop or you will never know

We’re gonna keep on pushin’ till it all comes through
Think about what you wanna do
We’re gonna make it
Yeah we’re gonna make it through

Don’t waste your time
You got to get in line
Don’t waste your time

No one leaves here without stayin’
In this game of life we’re playin’
Got to take a lot of chances
Broken hearts and hot romance

Nothing will be here forever
What is here we can make better
Everything is for a reason
You can do it your way

(repeat chorus)

We’re gonna make it