LINKS FIRST, it’s been a minute since the last one.
DL LINK
STREAM LINK:
Joined 3 lp's together on mixcloud via me:
bit.ly/2Gle4mX (ps don't pay attention to the time limit, mixcloud glitched it, it's 100+ minutes to stream)
Or usual platforms if you have them:
music.apple.com/us/artist/pages/251208439
open.spotify.com/artist/4xoTZnaFX7xWz76sVSgg7u
tidal.com/browse/artist/3747337
Youtube:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCIZUqjIbhD1Zopxw60zArSKqIPLRUO-U
youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nDMBEFglLKEKERYF1sK0WViz-kgT8sVdU
youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nOZtM0boywEmy-OtUfOxi7plMOWYgx10Y
Samples:
These lp’s are very impressive with their musical cohesion. You can definitely tell how easy of a signing this would be. Download or Stream, dl includes the original artwork.
Welcome to another edition of Consulting Music Series - an on going quest to find musical work that I think you should know about.
PAGES
Welcome to another edition of Drop’s with Consulting. If you are just joining me and you see this post and you like what you are hearing, this happens every weekend where I select specific up’s and I never repeat an artist. If you don’t care for someone there are usually 2 or 3 drop’s of music. This week it is going to be 2, Tonight we delve into Westcoast AOR Pop Scene. A scene which doesn’t matter if you are from the westcoast, just as long as you have the aesthetic.
This particular drop is alll streaming on all platforms. So if you only use Apple,TIdal,Spot, you are in luck.
Our story starts with a young upstart named “Richard Page” moves to Hollywood on the day he graduates in 1971. Eventually his childhood friend “Steve George” they link up somehow in LA California. Instantly the sessions they land together is a who’s who in music history: Reo Speedwagon, Kenny Loggins, Al Jarreau. Page would turn down the offer to be the lead singer for Chicago & Toto. You know you have the juice when you turn down what would soon be “two” of the biggest selling band’s in history. Sometime after many sessions together a concept for a group were brewing in their mind. This would be the beginning of a interesting chapter for this duo.
Pages was a very sophisticated pop melodic outfit with jazzy melodies/ harmonies/rhythms & great musicianship. One thing of note, there’s an actual song cowritten by Kenny Loggins, its a pop standard done by countless others called “Who’s Right Who’s Wrong?” A few people who have covered this, Four Tops. In the 20’s they already wrote a standard. Off an album that sold briskly, if that.
There is a lot to love about Pages. There is the crisp drums, the mellow Rhodes and the warm harmonies. Great chord voicing but there’s also the melodic sensibility that is beyond their age at that time. Did I mention the guitar work? Just everything you want in a pop related lp. There is no doubt in My mind that the perfection of these song’s were designed for radio domination. But it’s the cleverness in the time changes & this AOR melodic wonder wall that just floats in your eardrums.
But it isn’t a surprise when you see who was on the sessions with Page/George:
Brecker Brothers, Dave Grusin,Victor Feldman,Kenny Loggins,Jerry Hey, Don Alias,Paulinho Da Costa,Jeff Pocaro,Jay Graydon,Steve Khan, that’s an Allstar cast if you have any of them on your record, that’s one person you can say you worked with a legend.
The group lasted 3 lp’s and amazingly they never did break through like their contemporaries. They did everything right, the loose fit shirts, the tight jeans,,swooning to ladies that they need their love. But all the checks couldn’t make this group catch fire. Radio probably did pull out all the stops because Pages seems like it was catered directly for the radio market. Surprisingly a few pages would be ripped out and a new book would begin. (Ohh, it’s okay to wince)
They created one of the biggest pop lp’s of the 80’s Mr. Mister -Welcome to the Real World. Its unreal to think the same songwriters created the song’s from Pages. It really is a vast difference. 2pac would immortalize them with a song that would be released after his death. Broken Wings was already a pop standard but with this Pac track, its one of the best sample flip’s in that time.
The level of session musicians on these record’s is impressive as well. You can definitely tell it probably didn’t take them many takes to do something. Journey back to a time where radio did not aspire to be the loudest mastering volume on the dial. Where dynamics were embraced & records could breathe with ease.
Ohh yea and that 2pac fella? 2pac would immortalize them with a song that would be released posthumously. Broken Wings was already a pop standard but with this Pac track, its one of the best sample flip’s in that time. it’s hard to believe the same songwriters who wrote Broken Wings were Westcoast AOR gurus. But it just goes to show, you can never guess who you are listening to.
You might like this if you like:
Michael Franks
Steely Dan
Christopher Cross
Michael Mcdonald
Kenny Loggins
America
Gino Vanelli
3 lp’s of relaxing music from a group I don’t have which I enjoy? What do I owe you, Ac?
Me: Nothing
You: Oh my god, I love Who’s Right Who’s Wrong? Thank you
Join us whenever for Volume 2, but you already know I got something
And this concludes V1 for WESTCOAST AOR POP. Lots of cool s*** to chop as well.
@Johan_DeVito @fellivarda @prince @free @AtTheEquinox
Something relaxing for the weekend
@flosh @Soupvillain @grimes @Goo @nonamestreets14
I hope some of you like it
@Prbz @SOLARIS @Bob_Tha_Trillder @blkswnoir
We back again? Yes....
Here we go, gentlemen
@newgodlevel @Plx193 @Drain_Cook @KingJames_activist
This a easy one before we rev this weekend into gear.
@PerryTheMADLADYPUS @PushaToThe @BaroudeurFlipFlop @ineedabaker @Danny
such a great musical act to bring the stress and anxiety levels down
@Twitch @LastCall @Tubig @Trap_a_holic @Sarcoid
The unveiling for the weekend has begun.
@Prince @Antidote @NiGHTS @lil_clam @Moka_Beans
"Who's Right Who's Wrong"
@flosh @Soupvillain @grimes @Goo @nonamestreets14
I hope some of you like it
You’re doing the lords work
Guy was going ham on the synthesizers in Clearly Kim
beast mode.... in the pocket with the groove.
In
@Twitch @LastCall @Tubig @Trap_a_holic @Sarcoid
The unveiling for the weekend has begun.
We here!!!!
This one is beautiful the intro is perfect.
that beginning is where you say to everyone in the studio room "i have a feeling we wont have any issues this evening with the energy, ladies n gentlemen"
it's crazy the rhodes changes with the vibraphone on this
The spirit of Mccartney, Bobby Caldwell, Stevie shining.
If I was walking in the studio about to record as an artist, I'd turn around as soon as I heard the chorus. Id already be turning around in my head at the sound of the intro.
Nope, not even going to play anything for that engineer, he's already been spoiled.
Four Tops killing a Pages/Loggins Song:
You hear the person singing lead? The truth, one of the unsung vocalist's.
By the way that's Seymour from Little Shop of Horrors @FREE
Just a way to bring this to a book end.
Scary how they rearranged this. When I saw this, I was like "omg even the Four Tops knew what was up"
Something to decompress for the week if you are in a heavy stress environment. Check it out, it might be your coping mechanism.
S***, if you play this outside this probably makes the trees sway with the birds bopping & the bears hitting the tree stumps . 😎
I have another group I just discovered that I think some of you will enjoy. The melody lines on this, can’t wait to present it correctly. Probably 2 weeks. 😭
@Broswisskey aor reminder of what we got returning in a day or so with the new aor drop installment . relaxing therapy 😎
if you are new to my aor drops
covered by four tops & kenny loggins 😳
you hear those harmonies and that musicianship? those lead adlibs
whoooooa right who’s wrong heyyyyyyyyyy that’s that west coast luxury 😭