DISQUS

hagen · 1 year ago

I was wondering when you'd get around to one of my weaknesses, Boz Scaggs. It's a great song, and Middle Man is a really great album, you're absolutely right. And The Earth, Wind & Fire track is probably my second favorite of theirs. This does not, however, warrant a hand-written letter of apology from me to David Foster, as his atrocities far outweigh his artistic triumphs (if, indeed, we can call a track from Urban Cowboy an 'artistic triumph'). At best, it means I'd make a stop at Foster's 70s beach condo when I invent my time machine (to save John Lennon and Frank Zappa and win big on the stock market, of course) to look him in the eye and tell him money is one thing, Celine is another. Choose wisely, Davy.

History and Wikipedia currently bear out the fact that I've not made this trip yet.

Good luck with Autumn... at least you have seasons. And lots of fish.

terje · 1 year ago

Now that I'm aware of your weaknesses I'm gonna dedicate my next posts to turning you into a full-blooded Foster fan.

And thanks! Iove autumn - plenty of storms, heavy rain, fog and 40 °F - if you're ever going to Norway, autumn's the time to go. Seriously. Summer in Norway sucks weatherwise, anyway.

Pete · 1 year ago

I'm really enjoying this series, learning that Mr Foster was involved in more and more of some of my favorite tracks, such as "After the Love Has Gone".

Back when it was popular I used to hear "Look What You've Done to Me" played a lot on the radio in the late hours of the night, hauntingly perfect for that time of day. I've grown to love it even more now, and am curious to hear the Scaggs album that followed now that I know Foster helped write both.

And I was just introduced to the Peter Allen album a couple of years ago and love it too. Great adult pop that fell under the mainstream radar.

terje · 1 year ago

I'm glad to hear you enjoy it, Pete - and Middle Man is probably a safe bet if you like the Peter Allen album - it's naturally more groove-oriented, Scaggs being the epitome of blue-eyed soul (sorry, McD & H&O), but there are some "Love, Look What You've Done To Me"-style ballads, too.

rwcass · 1 year ago

Wait a second! Did Foster cowrite "Breakdown Dead Ahead"? That's my favorite Boz Scaggs song. It's also one of my favorite songs, period. And "What Cha' Gonna Do for Me" is a great Chaka song, and "Let's Go Round Again" is a good AWB song.

Hmm ... I think we need to look at David Foster this way. He may not be great now, but he was pretty great for 10 or 15 years there, and that's about all you can ask for from an artist. Now he's no longer inspired, but he's rich and happy, and I'd say he earned it.

By the by, did I wake up a giant this morning, or did the comments on Popdose get smaller?

jefito · 1 year ago

They do look a little smaller, don't they? I upgraded the Disqus plugin to get rid of the double comment box. I guess this was one of the side effects.

rwcass · 1 year ago

I can always hit the "+" key to enlarge the text. Just an observation.

rwcass · 1 year ago

Oooh ... I do like that we can now edit our comments from this page as opposed to going to the "forum" page. My OCD really appreciates this new feature.

terje · 1 year ago

Yes, he co-wrote six tracks on "Middle Man" and "Breakdown" is one of them. And even though AWB's "Shine" is generally regarded as their weakest album, I quite like it. Less punch and more gloss, yes, but I like punch as well as gloss, so there!

And as for your take on Foster: Yeah, I guess that's what happens to most of us - sooner or later we grow old and lazy, and we lose our youthful brilliance. And then we realize that we need glasses to read comments on blogs. You're still young, Robert - enjoy your life without bifocals and squint while you still can.

rwcass · 1 year ago

Funny you should say that -- I had just gotten back from a visit to the eye doctor. My 20/20 vision started to exit when I was seven.

I don't know if youth is needed for every artistic pursuit, but it certainly seems to help with pop music.

terje · 1 year ago

I remember when I was younger, I used to think the charts were totally dominated by older guys like Phil Collins, Sting, The Travelling Wilburys, Elton John and whatnot, but looking back now, they were exceptions, really. The average age of artists on the charts were probably 23-24... like it is today. Besides, these "old" guys were only in their mid- to late-30s back then.

terje · 1 year ago

Well, Phil and Sting, anyway.

rwcass · 1 year ago

Stop replying to yourself to boost the number of comments!

rwcass · 1 year ago

I'm serious!

I still think everyone famous is in their mid-30s, even as I'm approaching my mid-30s. I like being in denial.

terje · 1 year ago

Yeah, I'm pretty sure Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers are lying about their age.

terje · 1 year ago

I'm good, though, wouldn't you say? 6 of 14...

rwcass · 1 year ago

Nobody does it better.

Sara · 1 year ago

Wrong, Peter Allen was the original Boy From Oz and his songs were huge hits Down Under. The trouble was many of his songs contained references to the fact he was gay (or "teasing metaphors") Bi-Coastal was a successful album despite the confusion of the title ("Bi-Coastal"- Bi-Sexual get it?)
The song "Simon" was originally recorded by Liza Minnelli in the late 1960s so he was paying tribute to her but still denying the fact he was openly gay.
He tried a few more times but succumbed to AIDS before he could be a huge star

terje · 1 year ago

Yeah, I know, Udo Lindenberg is huge, too... in Germany. C'mon, Sara, Peter Allen sold a few records worldwide, sure, but the Bi-Coastal album, peaked at #123 on Billboard's pop charts - and it was his most successful album. Hardly a smashing success.

I think you're right about his double entendres, though: it probably didn't do him any favors on the charts.