This album is a mixed bag, for sure. There's the usual Grusin tracks that sound like his award-winning work for movies and TV plus some filler tracks that sound like Grusin was just playing around with the latest synths (Yamaha GS2 & DZ7, OBX, Fairlight) to see what they could do. But the better tracks on this album are a cover and a couple of West Coast/AOR tracks from Randy Goodrum.
Recorded at a time when the words "all digital recording" were cutting edge so it made sense to plaster "Digital Master" on the front cover and brand the GRP label as "The Digital Master Company."
CD liner notes.
Reviews/ratings:
- Billboard: "Grusin pushes a little deeper into the pop sphere"
- The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★
Album chart peaks:
- US Billboard 200: Did not chart
- Billboard Jazz: #4
- CashBox: #160
- CashBox Jazz: #2
- Radio & Records Jazz National Airplay: #1
Tracks: I can't tell if singer Phoebe Snow ever heard Sly Stone's Thankful N' Thoughtful from the Fresh album, but it's obvious David Sanborn and Marcus Miller grew up with it because they take the cover of that tune to another level. It was released as both a 7" and 12" single but failed to chart. There's two tunes written and sung by Randy Goodrum here which have him sounding a lot like Stephen Bishop. The better of those two is Haunting Me, but the other, Tick Tock, has its moments. Goodrum also co-wrote a ballad with Dave Loggins, Somewhere Between Old And New York, which is sung by Snow and there's not much to get excited about. There's the theme from the TV show St. Elsewhere which peaked at #15 on the Adult Contemporary chart in '84. Also included is a track from Grusin's soundtrack to the movie Racing With The Moon.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None
Previously revisited for the blog:
Amparo (2008) (with Lee Ritenour)
Two Worlds (2000) (with Lee Ritenour)
Collection (1989)
Harlequin (1985) (with Lee Ritenour)
Out Of The Shadows (1982)
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