David Foster released his celebrated seasonal cd, The Christmas Album, in 1993. This cd was a gorgeous collection that immediately became a holiday staple. The multiple Grammy-winning Canadian super-producer “fosterized” a number of yuletide classics including “Carol Of The Bells,” “O Holy Night,” “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)” and “White Christmas.” Foster gathered some of his superstar friends such as Celine Dion, Tom Jones, Roberta Flack, Johnny Mathis and Wynonna to sing the meticulously crafted material.

The top-notch level of the project was maximized by the collaboration of superlative arrangers and musicians including Jeremy Lubbock, Johnny Mandel, Jerry Hey and Greg Phillinganes. Stylistically, the cd belonged in the traditional refined pop/adult contemporary field. Yet, this cd delivered a wide palette of musical colors with touches of gospel, R&B, country and contemporary jazz. The magnitude of Foster’s work on The Christmas Album was also acknowledged by the fact that most of his renditions were included on a number of important Christmas recordings. Bebe & Cece Winans, Michael Crawford, Dion, Mathis and Vanessa Williams took the opportunity to have some Foster seasonal magic on their Christmas albums.
This week, the spotlight is on Vanessa Williams’ beautiful, gospel-tinged rendition of the medley “Go Tell It On The Mountain/Mary Had A Baby.” After the delicate intro of “Go Tell It On The Mountain” by a soulful choir, the acclaimed singer/actress and a child choir are heard giving a soft, slow rendition of “Mary Had A Baby.” With an arrangement conceived by Foster with Lubbock and Randy Waldman, the choirs and Ms. Williams explode with great energy on a reprisal of “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” Very soon, listeners are taken right to church with a hand clapping, foot stomping beat, great musicianship and Ms. Williams delivering a noteworthy vocal performance backed up by the rousing choir. It must be mentioned that the amazing choir arrangement on “Go Tell It On The Mountain” was provided by the late giant of gospel music, Andraé Crouch. Foster’s deluxe production also benefited from a great job in the control room by two world-class engineers, Humberto Gatica and Dave Reitzas. Ms. Williams went on to included this song on her 1997 Grammy-nominated Star Bright cd.

Take a listen to “Go Tell It On The Mountain/Mary Had A Baby” and get in the Christmas spirit. Rediscover all the magic to be found on Foster’s The Christmas Album, a true work of art and a perennial favorite among fans worldwide.

Listen

Lead Vocals: Vanessa Williams
Acoustic Piano: Randy Waldman
Keyboards: David Foster
Bass: Neil Stubenhaus

Arranged by David Foster, Jeremy Lubbock, Randy Waldman & Vanessa Williams
Choir & Orchestra Arranged by Jeremy Lubbock
Choir on Go Tell It On The Mountain Arranged by Andraè Crouch

Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

Mary had a baby, oh Lord
Mary had a baby, oh my Lord
Mary had a baby, oh Lord
People keep a comin’ and the train done gone

Laid him in a manger, oh Lord
Laid him in a manger, oh my Lord
Laid him in a manger, oh Lord
People keep a comin’ and the train done gone

Shepherds came to see him, oh Lord
Shepherds came to see him, oh my Lord
Shepherds came to see him, oh Lord
People keep a comin’ and the train done gone

Named him King Jesus, oh Lord
Named him King Jesus, oh my Lord
Named him King Jesus, oh Lord
People keep a comin’ and the train done gone

When I was a seeker
I sought both night and day
And I asked the Lord to help me
And he showed me the way

Oh, go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall
And if I am a Christian
I am the least of all, yeah, yeah

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

At the beginning of 1996, Vanessa Williams released a sophisticated ballad especially recorded for “Eraser,” a blockbuster movie she co-starred in with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The song did reasonably well, entering both Billboard’s Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts. It was also an Adult Contemporary Top 5 hit. “Where Do We Go From Here” was co-written by David Foster and Linda Thompson with songwriters Douglas Pashley and Evan Kopelson. This ballad has the same feel of another Foster/Thompson superb collaboration, Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.” Performed by two of the best singers around, both songs have big fat sounds with very prominent strings and horns that hark back to 70’s acts like Barry White and Earth, Wind & Fire. Foster’s trademark keyboards are all over them with interesting rhythm changes that help propel both songs to very strong climaxes. Let’s also mention the sweet backgrounds sung by the unforgettable velvety tenor of Warren Wiebe that nicely complements the actress/singer’s elegant and smooth vocal performance. “Where Do We Go From Here” was initially available only as a cd single, but was eventually included on Williams’ 1998 “Greatest Hits: The First Ten Years.”

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/where_do_we_go_from_here.mp3|titles=Where do we go from here|artists=Vanessa Williams]

Lead Vocals: Vanessa Williams
Keyboards: David Foster
Background Vocals: Warren Wiebe
Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

Life can be strange,
Some things we forget
Or rearrange in time, lose the past
Tell me the truth, tell me how can I know
That this new love of ours,
that it’s gonna last

I need your strength and I feel your worth
With you I feel protected from all harm

Where do we go from here it’s clear
You erase the fear in me,
that keeps me alone
Where do we go from here I know
No matter what the road,
your love will lead me home

What’s in a name, his life just a game
We color then erase (we’ve been erased),
when we lose face
How many lives, tell me how many tries
Before we get it right (before we get it right),
the truth is inside

I need your strength and I feel your worth
With you I feel protected from all harm

Where do we go from here it’s clear
You erase the fear in me, that keeps me alone
Where do we go from here I know
No matter what the road,
your love will lead me home

When I never weak, so weak
To scared to speak
When I never low, so low
To tell me, you will never need

Where do we go from here it’s clear
You erase the fear in me,
that keeps me alone
Where do we go from here I know
No matter what the road,
your love will lead me home

No matter what the road,
your love will lead me home