Mark Baker is the man behind the iconic Signal‘Loud & Clear’ album as well as many other songs including tracks for 38 Special, Paris Black, Triumph and Boulevard.
He was also the main co-writer on House Of Lords’ acclaimed ‘Demons Down’ record, re-joining as co-writer on some of the band’s more recent albums too.
‘The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be’ is a compilation of Mark’s songwriter demos from the 80s and 90s. The songwriter demos feature various singers, including the best session vocalist of them all – Mark Free. I’m pleased to say there are several unreleased Mark Free vocals.
PRE-ORDER MARK BAKER 'The Future Ain't What It Used To Be' ($15 + $5 Airmail Shipping Worldwide)
PRE-ORDER DEALMARK BAKER 'The Future Ain't What It Used To Be' & OUTLASTED 'Waiting For Daybreak' ($30 + $5 Airmail Shipping Worldwide)
Track Listing & Vocalist Featured:
01. Nobody Gets Out Alive (Mark Free) 03:38
02. The Future Ain't What It Used To Be (Mark Free) 04:35
03. Demons Down (Demo Version)(James Christian) 03:34
04. No Pleasure Without The Pain (Demo Version)(James Christian) 05:00
05. Someday You're Gonna Love Someone (Mark Free) 03:45
The name Mark Baker may not be immediately recognisable to many, but for liner note/album credits junkies, it signifies top shelf AOR songwriting. Whether it be anthems or ballads, a Mark Baker song means memorable hooks and a big chorus.
Mark Baker is the man behind the iconic Signal‘Loud & Clear’ album as well as many other songs including tracks for 38 Special, Paris Black, Triumph and Boulevard.
He was also the main co-writer on House Of Lords’ acclaimed ‘Demons Down’ record, re-joining as co-writer on some of the band’s more recent albums too.
‘The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be’ is a compilation of Mark’s songwriter demos from the 80s and 90s. The songwriter demos feature various singers, including the best session vocalist of them all – Mark Free. I’m pleased to say there are several unreleased Mark Free vocals.
But that’s not all – there are some original demos from the House Of Lords‘Demon’s Down’ record as well as an appearance from Chicago’s Bill Champlin on an amazing AOR anthem.
Several of these demos have been traded online for years and MRR is thrilled to be able to bring one disc of this material to light in July. The tracks come from DAT masters and will as always be remastered by JK Northrup.
NEW AUDIO!
Mark Baker ‘The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be’ will be released worldwide July 26 alongside Outlasted ‘Waiting For Daybreak’.
You can pre-order the album now as well as hear a couple of the songs right now!
Track Listing & Vocalist Featured:
01. Nobody Gets Out Alive (Mark Free) 03:38
02. The Future Ain't What It Used To Be (Mark Free) 04:35
03. Demons Down (Demo Version)(James Christian) 03:34
04. No Pleasure Without The Pain (Demo Version)(James Christian) 05:00
05. Someday You're Gonna Love Someone (Mark Free) 03:45
This is nice little must have for Joseph Williams, Bill Champlin and Peter Friestedt. Peter has of course teamed with Williams before, but most recently the duo became a trio with the addition of Chicago’s Bill Champlin for the Live In Concert release.
This album of all original material is everything the names on the box would suggest.
Fans of Toto’s Seventh One album will love four of the five opening tracks – they are classic Toto AOR with Williams in fine voice.
Champlin fans get a taste throughout those songs, but Bill takes lead on Still Around and then again on Nightfly, which is also lush in harmonies and has that strong Toto influence.
Hearts At War is as smooth a ballad as you’ll hear this side of Air Supply’s Greatest Hits.
The last three tracks lose it a bit for me, heading out of AOR territory into Westcoast 101 and into a tempo more reserved for those considering their retirement plans.
Still, there’s nothing but class throughout. The 10 tracks are explicably produced and arranged, not to mention the near perfect instrumentation.
Some will find the tempo a little slow and mellow and some will find like I did, that the end is just a little too fluffy, but the opening 4-5 songs are just perfect soft AOR.
The new album also includes contributions from Steve Porcaro, Randy Goodrum, Will and Tamara Champlin. This must be a purchase for all card carrying members of the Westcoast Toto fanclub.
AOR Heaven proudly announce two releases for October 23! Both RADIO EXILE and CHAMPLIN, WILLIAMS, FRIESTEDT will certainly please all fans of AOR music.
Product: Champlin, Williams, Friestedt CWF
Label: AOR Heaven
Release date: 23.10.2015
TOTO singer Joseph Williams teams up with former Chicago singer Bill Champlin and Swedish guitarist/producer Peter Friestedt for a new remarkable AOR release following the success with the ”Live In Concert” DVD that made it all the way to the top on the Swedish Chart!
In 2012 Champlin/Willams/Friestedt played a sold out Scandinavian tour and during this time the first recordings of the "CWF" album took place. The new album also includes contributions from Steve Porcaro of TOTO, Randy Goodrum (TOTO, Chicago), Will Champlin and Tamara Champlin.
Champlin says: "I’ve been involved with a project that includes me, Peter Friestedt a great guitarist and producer from Sweden, and Joseph Williams, the singer of TOTO! I was pretty knocked out by the stuff. I’d almost forgotten how good it was when we did it. There are great songs and even better performances on this album, and I know you’ll love it It’s rare for me to be involved with a project and be surprised by how good it is. This one will knock you out.”
Joseph Williams is the lead vocalist with Grammy winning US band TOTO. He has been busy as a composer of film and drama scores, as a session vocalist, backing singer and can be heard in Disney’s animated feature film “The Lion King” as singing voice of the adult Simba (“Hakuna Matata” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”).
Guitarist, producer & recording artist Peter Friestedt has released two critically acclaimed albums “LA Project” (2002) and “LA Project II” (2008) that got top reviews. Peter has been a busy sessionplayer playin on records with David Foster and Fergie Frederiksen and touring Europe and Japan with Joseph Williams with who he also released the "Williams/Friestedt" album that was a top 40 hit in Scandinavia!
Bill Champlin was the lead singer of the legendary band Chicago for more than 25 years, and is a founding member of the band Sons of Champlin. Champlin has written Grammy award winning songs for Earth Wind & Fire and George Benson, and worked with countless artists including Elton John, The Doobie Brothers and Steve Lukather of TOTO.
Tracklist: Runaway, Aria, Still Around, All that I want, Carry On, Nightfly, Hearts At War, After the Love Has Gone, RIvers Of Fear, Evermore
In the post era of the FM dominated airwaves comes a new generation of classic rock, RADIO EXILE.
On rare occasions, some magical-artistic vibe goes out calling up a unique set of musicians to create groundbreaking music. When truly great musicians come together, the resulting brotherhood/sisterhood embraces their diversity, enabling them to collaborate so as to push through otherwise insurmountable boundaries. Collaboratively, they each pour the very best of what makes them cutting edge individually, into one dynamic presentation. For the rest of us, we are compelled to listen over and over.
When Charlie Calv decided to send out the vibe, he probably didn’t anticipate collective perfection, but that is what he got. When Charlie and Chandler Mogel wrote the music and lyrics for these songs, they could not have anticipated the individual masterpiece each would become. But that is what they got. Take two brilliant writers and musicians, collaborating with some of the best individual players in the world and you understand why this music is so strong. RADIO EXILE is one of the very best hard rock projects to come along in many years.
Individually, the musicians that come together to form RE, perform on stage or in the studio with the greatest artists of our time. This list includes Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Hall and Oates, Allison Krauss, Billy Idol, John Waite, members of Pink Floyd, Styx, Journey, Van Halen, the Rolling Stones, and Black Sabbath. This talent pool has been tapped, used, and appreciated over the years. Now, together as one, five brilliantly successful, creative worlds collide in a panoramic musical explosion.
The lineup is notable with Charlie on keyboards and Chandler on lead vocals. Jimmy Leahey contributes his soulful guitar playing, and all are constructed on the rhythm foundations crafted by bassist Kenny Aaronson and percussion specialist Dave Anthony. Their impressive resumes list their many accomplishments, but only hint at what RE truly represents. What makes this project so epic is that these five distinguished artists draw us in to experience their passion and love for music right along with them. From the hard-hitting, bombastic percussion of “High Road, High Price,” to the gospel infused “A Cross on Stone” - featuring the voices of Jessie Wagner (Kid Rock and Lenny Kravitz), Joe Cerisano (TSO and Silver Condor) and Amy Harnell (Tony Harnell and The Mercury Train) - these tracks are sure to stand the test of time.
Enlisting Grammy-nominated engineer/producer Steve DeAcutis (Vanilla Fudge, Cyndi Lauper, Corey Glover, etc) and veteran producer/A&R man Steve Lunt (Britney Spears, ‘NSync , Joan Jett ,etc), the latter who first honed his skills alongside the legendary Mutt Lange as vocalist of the chart topping British band City Boy, the guys checked into the SPA (Sound Spa Recording) and an immediate synergy took hold. The finishing touches were then added by top mastering engineer Alan Douches (Fleetwood Mac, Yes, Train, Pete Townsend, etc.) at his West West Side Music facility.
Reuniting some old friends, and making some new, RADIO EXILE is a fantastic blend of hard rock that will not disappoint the existing fans of any of these musicians. In fact, RADIO EXILE is sure to gain a new generation of fans who will be hungry for more. When the sure hand of destiny channels the melodic heart, we celebrate the creation. RADIO EXILE is exactly that and more. Just listen.
Tracklist: 1. High Road, High Price, 2. Soulfire, 3. No Pity On The Highway, 4. Feels Like Home, 5. Higher Than The Sun, 6. Hang On, 7. Starting Over, 8. Down In A Hole, 9. A Cross On Stone, 10. Road To Exile
