Airplay: 25th Special Edition [Import, Special Edition]

Airplay | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Special Edition
• Label: Bmg Japan
• ASIN: B0009S8EVU
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,827 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Stranded

2. Cryin' All Night

3. It Will Be Alright

4. Nothin' You Can Do About It

5. Should We Carry On

6. Leave Me Alone

7. Sweet Body

8. Bix

9. She Waits for Me

10. After the Love Is Gone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars lots of over-the-top fun; fans of early '80s Toto will dig this, October 3, 2005

By 

Dave "missing person" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Airplay: 25th Special Edition (Audio CD)

It's hard to review this album without mentioning Toto. Much like Toto, this self-titled 1980 album from Airplay is the pet project of two guys who'd already made huge names for themselves as session musicians in California during the '70s: David Foster and Jay Graydon. Additionally, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, and David Hungate all appear on this album, all of whom were members of the original Toto lineup.

It should come as no surprise then that "Airplay" sounds very Toto-esque indeed. Foster and Graydon produced and arranged the album, and it leans toward the hard rock end of things, with a really slick, arena-rock sound. It's frequently over-the-top, with sudden blasts of dynamics, and exaggerated horn parts and vocals.

The thing though is that the guys clearly have their tongues firmly in cheek. Song after song has undeniably catchy hooks, and there are also some riotously fun, ingeniously crafted lyrics, particularly on "Leave Me Alone" and "Bix".

In the end, the album offers a real blast of dumb fun. The best example of this is the insanely catchy "Bix"--with its brass-heavy arrangement, from-the-gut vocals, devastatingly sinful lyrics, and syncopated piano-laden groove, it kinda sounds like Elton John on crack, and it's an absolute hook-fest. "Cryin' All Night", "Leave Me Alone", "Sweet Body", and the ear-splittingly loud album opener "Stranded" are all really fun songs as well. The bouncy pop-rocker "Nothin' You Can Do About It" is relatively calm and collected, but it's ultra-catchy in its own right.

They do throw in a few ballads. The achingly bittersweet "Should We Carry On" is a wonderfully melodic gem that sounds like an honest-to-god hit that never was, and I mean that as a compliment. "It Will Be Alright" is well-written and pleasant in its own right, although Dan Seals also did a version of this song on his 1982 "Harbinger" album, and I think Dan clearly wins out in the lead vocal department in his version compared to the one here. They end the album with a really nice remake of "After The Love Has Gone" which was a huge hit for Earth, Wind & Fire in 1979.

So, maybe not quite a proverbial 'lost masterpiece' of an album, but it does have some great songs, and it is really fun and is rather unique. If you're up for hearing a 'letting-our-hair-down' high-energy take on early '80s AOR , don't pass this album by.

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love This Sound, October 12, 2011

By 

Scott Marks ""keysman"" (Griffin, GA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Airplay: 25th Special Edition (Audio CD)

This is one of the first endeavors of David Foster and Jay Graydon. This music is new to me I had heard of the players and heard other projects. but this 25 year old CD is really good. You can see some cuts on "You-Tube" or just be brave and buy it from Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars lost masterpiece? no, pop-bliss? yes, September 26, 2011

By 

Jared Jennings - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Airplay: 25th Special Edition (Audio CD)

this album is great. I'm a big power pop fan, new wave fan, and this has that plus that 70s style songwriting that shows real talent in the chord changes, a la 10cc. I prefer the upbeat songs, but that's just me. this is a fun album. The price may turn people off, but those that even know of this album will either spend the money or find it elsewhere. it is really enjoyable, it has a steely dan sophistication, with the power pop energy they lack, and I guess toto, though I've never really liked what I've heard of them. this is good stuff!