BACK TO BLUE-EYED SOUL

December 2001

Back to Blue-Eyed Soul is the Basement Tapes of high-pitched heartbreak. The great falsetto singer David Lasley, best known for backing James Taylor, put this together by rummaging through his 35-year career. It features Detroit doo-wop, an Aunt Jemima jingle, obscure singles and previously unreleased material. Call it the best Smokey Robinson CD of the 21st century.

Dave Marsh

February 17, 2001

DAVID LASLEY
Back To Blue-Eyed Soul -- Collected Works/1966-1999
Zacoda 001
Genre: POP
Originally reviewed for week ending 2/17/01

You may not instantly recognize David Lasley's name, but you certainly will recognize the enduring tunesmith's repertoire of hit songs. Over the past 30-plus years, he has written such gems as "Lead Me On" (for Maxine Nightingale), "Jojo" (Boz Scaggs), and "Roll Me Through The Rushes" (Bette Midler's the Harlettes).

Now, Lasley delves through his vast catalog, breathing new life into 21 of his finest tunes. Perhaps the most engaging aspect of this project is that Lasley neither mimics the original versions of his hits nor succumbs to the temptation to recast his material with trendy rhythms. Rather, he slides into a plethora of classic funk and old-school soul grooves, which perfectly suit his candy-sweet falsetto.

Lasley's stylistic choices may not make for the most competitive pop recording in the marketplace, but they certainly render this one of the more refreshing collections you're likely to hear in the coming months.

May 2001

excerpts....

AMG EXPERT REVIEW
by Richard Ginell

David Lasley has had a long career in the most commercial and most obscure byways of the music business, always finding work somewhere as a session singer, songwriter, or both. Thus, a collection of Lasley's work spanning his entire career — as this CD purports to be — is bound to be a sweeping tour of whatever style was selling over a 35-year span of American popular music.

He seems to have tried almost everything — imitation '60s Motown, a cappella vocals with congas, soul, reggae, soft rock, sentimental ballads with strings or not, various incarnations of R&B, disco, techno-pop, techno-soul, advertising jingles, movie toons, and so on.

Yet this is not really a chameleon who merges anonymously into every idiom, for Lasley has a signature that ties most of this stuff together, a sturdy falsetto not unlike that of the Saturday Night Fever-era Bee Gees. His only charted single, "If I Had My Wish Tonight," a totally commercial power ballad that oozes 1982 from every drum stroke and guitar fill, turns up early on, and you wonder why there weren't any more, for most of the tunes here — even the demos — sound calculated to find a spot somewhere on radios of the time.

For your listening pleasure, there are even some jingles that Lasley made for Aunt Jemima and Seagram's and a 52-second home recording with his sister at age 16.

May 18, 2001

REISSUES NEWS COLUMN

BACK TO BLUE-EYED SOUL is a retrospective of the career of singer/songwriter and falsetto fave David Lasley, who has written hits for artists such as Whitney Houston, Boz Scaggs, Crystal Gayle, Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle, Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, Oak Ridge Boys, Dionne Warwick, and Herb Alpert, among others, and has worked with James Taylor for close to 25 years.

This 21-track set features hard-to-find songs from Lasley's 1960s group, The Utopias ("Look at the Clock," "Back In The Woods," and "Girls Are Against Me"), on up through his work in the 1990s and a star-studded cast of guest vocalists and musicians including Dusty Springfield, Luther Vandross, Bonnie Raitt, David Benoit, and Don Was." may not instantly recognize David Lasley's name, but you certainly will recognize the enduring tunesmith's repertoire of hit songs. Over the past 30-plus years, he has written such gems as "Lead Me On" (for Maxine Nightingale), "Jojo" (Boz Scaggs), and "Roll Me Through The Rushes" (Bette Midler's the Harlettes).

June 8, 2001

This compilation of singer David Lasley's previous solo works reveals a rich falsetto voice (he has a four-octave range) with a flair for emotional ballads delivered with restraint and creamy tones. The singer-songwriter has written hits for Boz Scaggs, Anita Baker, Crystal Gayle, Dionne Warwick and many others and has sung backup vocals for James Taylor for more than 20 years. If any of the Bee Gees' Gibb brothers retire, or if they want a fourth, they should recruit Lasley pronto. His rich falsetto would fit right in.

February 2002

AMG EXPERT REVIEW
by Jonathan Widran

In the liner notes to this collection, Lasley gives thanks to just about every well-known backup singer in the business. As one of the better-known of these, he well knows that some of the world's best voices toil in general obscurity while sweetening our favorite pop recordings.

A strong response to his small catalog of solo recordings and his website led him to compile these 13 songs, which are largely demos of songs he did for other writers or for songs he wrote himself to present to others. Sonically, most have that warm, simple '70s or early-'80s sound, though they're newer than that.

All are hooky and certainly follow the classic formulas, and some (such as the title track) even soar with a fiery passion. But even on the blander tracks ("Good Magic"), it's Lasley's unique voice that shines through.

For those unfamiliar with his style, imagine that the Stylistics lost their lead singer and wanted a long-haired blond guy to fill the position. The photo might look different, but the voice is the same, all high-toned, almost feminine soulful sweetness.

If the smooth jazz format was interested in playing lesser-known vocalists, many of these songs would be perfect fits. Piano master David Benoit adds an impressive presence here, particularly with his graceful harmonies on "Love's Forever."

While some of his material could use a hipper sound, Lasley's voice is one that deserves to be heard more in the forefront.

December 2, 2001

David Lasley, a longtime backing vocalist for James Taylor, returns with another smooth-jazz, pop and R&B offering showing off his four-octave range and clear falsettos. This album, mostly comprising songs co-written by Lasley, made a splash on jazz radio in Great Britain when it was released there last year.

March 9, 2001

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David Lasley's name will probably be familiar to you if you are an avid reader of liner notes. Lasley has sung back-up for Cher, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and James Taylor, among many others. His distinctive falsetto is his trademark.

Also a gifted songwriter, his songs have been covered by Patti LaBelle, Anita Baker, Boz Scaggs, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner and Natalie Cole, to name a few. Lasley released a couple of major-label albums during the mid-1980s but never achieved the fame he deserved.

On Expectations of Love, his first album of new material in ten years, Lasley hasn't lost his knack for writing and performing timeless and soulful R&B ballads and pop tunes. Standout tracks include "What's It Gonna Take," "Revelations," "Dancin' On The Smooth Edge" (previously covered by Whitney Houston), "Joey (I Believe in Our Love)," and the gorgeous "Love's Forever."

To complete the David Lasley experience, it is well worth getting hold of Back to Blue-Eyed Soul, which compiles 21 tracks, many of which are out of print, from over the course of Lasley's remarkable career.

January 2002

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Reviewed by Chris Mann

This is Lasley’s fifth solo album and like Demos, originally recorded nearly twenty years earlier, it’s a selection of work (much of it co-written by him) which sets out to showcase his range. His writing talents can be heard on “You Bring Me Joy” by Anita Baker and on tracks by Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin and Boz Scaggs, to name just a few…

The alternately lilting and passionate "What’s It Gonna Take" is the perfect showcase for Lasley’s soaring falsetto. The title cut is in the same vein, and I loved the classy background vocals too. Strings are arranged by Eduardo del Barrio – one of the leading arrangers in contemporary jazz.

So pretty is "Good Magic," a really sexy ballad. It has a smooth backbeat and lush keyboard chords. This guy’s a soul singer – no doubt about it. On an album by a big-name singer, this tune would be hailed as a classic. "Meant For You" is a very 70’s-sounding track, and David Benoit sprinkles some lovely keyboard work on this little soul delight!

If the record company is looking for a single, "Revelations" has to be it. It’s moody with a strutting backbeat. Could have been a Smokey Robinson song – the backing vocals smoulder, more than the lead even! My favourite song. Spine-tingling and blissful.

There’s a dramatic whispered vocal at the start of "Will To Survive." It’s a strong lyric too. Close your eyes and Philip Bailey’s voice is coming out of the speakers – ah, but no! Performed live, this song would make the hairs on your neck stand up, gospel-style.

The smooth jazz crowd should warm to "Dancin’ On The Smooth Edge," where David explores more of his four-octave vocal range. The instrumental backing is unobtrusive and the vocal shines out. The soul is dripping off the CD! "Joey (I Believe In Our Love)" is a very wistful ballad and slow paced. David Benoit does a great job on keyboards, and the harp-like sound he creates is haunting – the entire song is, in fact.

An intense atmosphere is conjured up on "Night Of Our Lives." A great song to do live – I’d love to hear it! Finger popping -- and is that a Hammond B3? -- open the slow-burning "Change All Of That." You won’t hear better background vocals than these – the liner notes give tribute to the unsung heroes of popular music, and with good reason.

Big flavours of Earth, Wind and Fire are there from the opening bars of "Love’s Forever." This song tugs at the heartstrings. The production is sparse, and the beauty of Lasley’s voice and the delicacy of Benoit’s piano are like good bread and good wine. Put them together and you have a feast!

Michael Kamen co-wrote, produced and played on "When Will I Know Love." He’s well-known for his film music, and it would only take a strong song by him with David on vocals to feature on a hit movie soundtrack to make this voice much better known. "The Right Way" is a laid-back and bluesy track and finishes the album on a classy note. This 13-song set opens and closes strongly – it’s good to the last drop.

The liner notes describe these performances as demos, and the listener is asked to allow for any “bugs.” I listened hard – as I always do – and they sound good to me. As a background singer, David Lasley is a terrific lead singer. Expectations should make him lots of new fans!

August 16, 2001

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David Lasley's latest album, Expectations Of Love, has finally been released in the U.S. after being only available in the United Kingdom when it was put out last year. So was it worth the wait? I think so.

Lasley is probably best known as one of James Taylor's back-up singers, having worked with him since 1977. He's also sung back-up for artists such as Jimmy Buffett, Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Chaka Khan and many more. He's also written songs for Boz Scaggs ("Jojo"), Anita Baker ("You Bring Me Joy"), Maxine Nightingale ("Lead Me On"), as well as Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Crystal Gayle and Rita Coolidge. His work could best be described as "blue-eyed soul," and as you can see by his track record, he is immensely talented.

Expectations Of Love is mainly a collection of demos that he has [recorded] as presentations for other artists. The production and playing are very good, so don't let the demo tag fool you. Lasley wrote 9 of the 13 tracks and shares credits with Joshua Kadison, Philip Bailey and Michael Kamen. This is a nice album of mostly ballads and mid-tempo songs. This is the kind of album to put on late at night and enjoy with a nice bottle of wine. The songs are all good including the title track, "Dancing On The Smooth Edge" and "Night Of Our Lives."

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