Making Records with the World's Biggest Stars

What do the following legendary musical artists all have in common? Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Sting, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Gloria Estefan, Karen Carpenter, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Quincy Jones, Art Garfunkel and dozens more. They are have worked with producer Phil Ramone. 

The now deceased genius producer and artist goes behind the scenes of American Popular Music and reveals stories about the creation of one iconic song after another. How he did it and how he worked with some of the most gifted writers, musicians and singers to walk the planet. He'll mention the exciting work behind something like Still Crazy After All These Years, and the reader needs to turn on the record to hear what was put into it.

Who is the artist Phil said was most open to feedback? Who was terrified to meet Ray Charles and why? What song took over a decade to complete and which were written in a matter of minutes? 

Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music is a fan's dream book! Phil and co-author Charles L. Granata make this one a must-read... and a must listen to.

Olivia Newton-John and Paul Anka Make Beautiful Music

Reminiscent of Art Garfunkel's mid-70s hit, I Only Have Eyes for You, the talents of singer/songwriter Paul Anka and Olivia Newton-John make his Put Your Head on My Shoulder even more beautiful than his original. It's a song seemingly written for one of my favorite singers to record. You've just got to hear it!

Another Tennessee Christmas

Clearly, Amy Grant loves Christmas- and why wouldn't she? As a Christ follower, the season is a celebration of Jesus coming to earth in the form of a baby to die on a cross for the sin of man. In our place, paying a price we can't pay.

As a singer, this has to be like Amy's 7th or so collection of songs both sacred and secular. The rarest being a collection recorded with Art Garfunkel in about 1986- hard to find but worth it. 

The first of many Amy Grant Christmas albums.

This album contains her update on the classic Tennessee Christmas, recorded first in 1983 and written by Amy and ex-husband Gary Chapman.  There's also her take on Baby, It's Cold Outside with husband Vince Gill, and finally a version of White Christmas. 

There are many, many songs I love from her multitude of albums, but Christmas Lullaby (I Will Lead You Home) from A Christmas to Remember probably ranks as my favorite ever. Akin to the classic  I'll Be Home for Christmas, there's a tender sweetness and innocence to the lyric and melody that makes it instantly memorable.

Don't misunderstand: Tennessee Christmas has a charm all its own. But it's a charm that comes from years of living through both good and hard times, a sweet melancholy that this new grandmother (!) now understands at a level her younger self never did. Bless you, Amy- and thanks for another special recording.

Eyes Still Sparkles

After a day like yesterday, I knew I had to blow off some steam...

So, today, I went out for a little exercise. What should come on my i-pod? An old favorite- Art Garfunkel's remake of the classic "I Only Have Eyes For You". I hadn't heard this sentimental favorite in awhile. My wife and I love this song! It sounded so perfect, so nuanced, no sensual, with its delicate lead vocals, doublemint guitars, and ethereal orchestration. The layers of background vocals (all Artie) just make it a perfect love song for a starlit night with your lover. Beautiful.

Oldies but Goodies

Oldies for a not-so-snowy day in Denver...

1. Ordinary Fool- Carpenters 2. Nothing Bout Me- Sting 3. This Time I Know It's For Real- Donna Summer 4. House of Love- Amy Grant 5. I Only Have Eyes for You- Art Garfunkel 6. How Can I Fall? -Breathe 7. If We Were Lovers- Gloria Estefan 8. Have I Told You Lately- Rod Stewart 9. Someone Like You- Van Morrison 10. I Believe In You and Me- Whitney Houston 11. What's On Your Mind- Information Society 12. Freeway of Love- Aretha Franklin 13. Day Tripper- Beatles 14. Good Vibrations- Beach Boys 15. I'll Be There for You- Rembrandts 16. Friends- Michael W Smith 17. Deeper Than A River- Olivia Newton-John 18. Someday We'll Be Together- Supremes 19. We Must Be Loving Right- George Strait 20. When Love Finds You- Vince Gill 21. It's Impossible- Perry Como 22. Night and Day- Temptations 23. We Can Work it Out- Chaka Khan 24. If You Leave Me Now- Chicago 25. How Sweet It Is to be Loved By You- James Taylor 26- Rock with You- Michael Jackson 27. Home- Michael Buble 28. One Hundred Ways- James Ingram 29. Through the Years- Kenny Rogers 30. For All We Know- Barbra Streisand 31. Cry- Crystal Gayle 32. Sunday Kind of Love- Reba McEntire 33. What If I Loved You- Joey Gion 34. September- Earth Wind and Fire 35. Show Me the Way to Your Heart- Scott Grimes 36. Last One Singin the Blues- Karen Carpenter 37. The Very Thought of You- Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt 38. Beyond the Sea- George Benson 39. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning- Chris Botti 40. Fly Me to the Moon- Frank Sinatra 41. Unforgettable- Natalie and Nat King Cole 42. Honky Cat- Elton John 43. What A Wonderful World- Louis Armstrong 44. It Takes Two- Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell 45. You Cant Hurry Love- Phil Collins 46. Hello Again- Neil Diamond 47. Come in From the Rain- Captain and Tennille 48. Rise- Herb Alpert 49. Poor Side of Town- Johnny Rivers 50. Cant Help Falling in Love with You- Elvis Presley 51. Biggest Part of Me- Ambrosia