The Michael Zager Band Опции

[Alex_bog_13]

The Michael Zager Band

Michael Zager was born in Passaic, New Jersey in 1943. He came of age in an era when music was exploding all around him. He heard the fadings of the big band-era, the schmaltzy pop of the day and the birth of rock and roll. But it was the classic jazz sounds of the day that he gravitated to. And like most children of the 1950's piano lessons were a natural part of his childhood. Most kids outgrew the lessons like their favorite pair of KEDS, not Michael. In fact young Zager excelled at the keyboards and by his teen years was proficent enough to play weddings, bar mitzvahs and local parties.

After graduating from Miami University with a degree in communications he entered Mannes College Of Music majoring in composition and earned himself a second degree. In 1966 Zager, and longtime friend Aram Schefrin, signed up to study under Stephen Sondheim with the eventual goal of composing for the musical theatre.

By 1968 the two friends were feeling restless and decided to form their own pop group. Ten Wheel Drive was the first band to blend jazz and rock. The 10-piece ensemble featured Zager on keyboards, Schefrin on guitars and eventually Genya Raven on vocals. Bursting on the scene before Chicago or Blood, Sweat & Tears, the group recorded three albums for Polydor Records to much fanfare. When Raven left for a solo career (Zager & Schefrin produced it) Ann E. Sutton did the vocal duties for the group's last album on Capitol Records. After five years of touring and recording Schefrin exited to practice law and Zager decided to end the group.

In 1975 while disco was taking its first steps and Zager (pictured left) was pondering his future enter a chance encounter with Jerry Love. Love was the head of A&R at A&M Records and the two had met previously when Zager unsuccessfully shopped his demos to the label. They formed a partnership (Love-Zage Productions) based on Michael's talent and Jerry's business savvy. The New York-based company quickly placed it's first project with the tiny Atlanta-based label Bang Records. The label would eventually make it's mark within the disco field with the Muscle Shoals Horns and Michael Zager's Moon Band. But despite a few lucrative singles and albums the label had distribution problems and would eventually fold.

That intial single for Bang Records was "Do It With Feeling" by Michael Zager's Moon Band featuring Peabo Bryson. The song was written by Zager and future hitmaker Paul Davis and recorded as an afterthough with Bryson. Bryson, with Davis on backing vocals, just happen to be hanging around the studio and landed the vocal spot. The song did well not once but twice, charting a second time when re-released in 1978. Eventually Zager would also helm Bryson's debut album for Bang Records.

In 1975 Love-Zager also produced the "Out Among 'Em" album for Love Childs Afro-Cuban Blues Band. The duos work for other artists would often rival their own success. Over the next two years Love-Zager produced recordings for Denny Greene, Seawind and porn-star Marilyn Chambers. The 12" single of "Benihana" did well for her but couldn't rival the success that they had with "Spandisco" for Love Childs Afro-Cuban Band that same year.

1978 was Michael Zager's breakthrough year. Having inked a deal with Private Stock, Zager set about recording his "Let's All Chant" album. The album spawned two 12" singles, the title-track, "Let's All Chant" backed with the spritely "Love Express" and the effervescent "Music Fever." The album's only mis-step was the "Dancin' Disney Medley" which seemed oddly out of place with such cool disco tracks.

The confidence he earned with Private Stock execs allowed him to bring Cissy Houston (The Sweet Inspirations; Whitney's mom) to the label. The duo hit paydirt with "Think It Over" that summer. He would go on to utilize Cissy on many of his own recordings as well as producing a string of hits for her including: "Warning-Danger" and "You're The Fire." The Zager-Love team produced four successful albums for Cissy giving her some of the brightest moments in her career. That same year he also extended the shelf life of another porn queen turned disco singer with Andrea True Connection's "What's Your Name, What's Your Number." Their was no escaping Zager that year as he dominated the airwaves and clubs, either as an artist or through his clever productions.

His partnership with Private Stock was short-lived. He moved over to Columbia Records (taking Cissy with him) for his next release and her final two. 1978's "Life's A Party" served as another hit for Michael and the recording debut of a 14 year old Whitney Houston. Mother and daughter spiced up the album and Zager would have signed Whitney had mom not said "NO." The world would have to wait a few more years for Whitney's meteoric debut. The "Party" album also featured a splendid side two medley recorded on 48 tracks at London's Trident Studios. "Love, Love Love," "Still Not Over," "On And On" and "Using You" are amongst his best tracks ever recoded.

1979 was more of the same for Zager as he took on the faded career of the Spinners. He breathed new life into the group by giving them two of their biggest hits with "Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl" and "Cupid/I've Loved You For A Long Time." Another forgotten singer, Ronnie Dyson, received the Zager-Love touch when "If The Shoe Fits" was released later that year.

The following year he utilized two more heavy-hitting singers, Luther Vandross and Deniece Williams, for "Don't Sneak On Me" and "Time Heals All Wounds" (respectively) for his "Zager" album. Unfortunately the bottom had collapsed on the disco market and the tunes never saw their full potential.

1981 projects included Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "The Planet Funk." Elusion featuring Limon Wilson's "Show And Tell" and "All Toys Break" and his own M-Zee Band's "Doctor Rhythm" and "Bop Box." As his recordings began to sell less and less he moved into other areas of music and production. His credits include music for the films "Eyes Of Laura Mars," "FridayThe 13th Part 3" and "Inside Moves." The commercial jingles for MCI, Buick, Acura, IBM, Schlitz Malt Liquor (Kool & the Gang-Spinners-38 Special and Chi-Lites), Bounce (Whitney Houston), Crystal Light and hundreds of others.

In the 1990's he returned to the studio producing tracks for Did Conn and Boston Dawn. As well as appearing on hundreds of compilations. The mega-talented Zager has remained very active throughout the years dabbling in television scoring as well.

Now based in Florida, Zager has taken his knowledge and expertise to the Florida Atlantic University where he, alongside Jerry Love, head up the school's record label, teaching and guiding the new generation of music hopefuls. Our hats off to a musical genius and a man that has impacted popular music in thousands of ways...

С ранним творчеством Michael Zager'а можно познакомиться здесь...

Дискография:
1978 - Let's All Chant
1978 - Life's a Party
1980 – Zager
1987 - The Definitive Collection

Exclusive Golden Disco !

Избранные альбомы The Michael Zager Band будут выложены в APE.


Поехали...

[Alex_bog_13]

The Michael Zager Band - Let's All Chant (1978)



Исполнитель: The Michael Zager Band
Альбом: Let's All Chant
Год: 1978
Тип: Remaser Vinyl LP, Tau Analyzer - CD conclusion: CDDA, Tracks: 1, 5 - UNKN
Лейбл: Private Stock Records Ltd.
Жанр: Electronic / Disco
Формат: потрековый APE / Extra High Compression
Размер: 3 части ~ 95 + 95 + 34 Мб

1. Let's All Chant (3:07)
2. Soul To Soul (5:51)
3. Love Express (7:02)
4. Music Fever (6:37)
5. Freak (3:20)
6. Dancin' Disney: (8:01)
6.1 Heigh Ho
6.2 Give A Little Whistle
6.3 Whistle White You Work
6.4 When You Wish Upon A Star

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[Alex_bog_13]

The Michael Zager Band - Life's A Party (1979)



Исполнитель: The Michael Zager Band
Альбом: Life's A Party
Год: 1979
Тип: Remaser Vinyl LP, Tau Analyzer - 100% CDDA
Лейбл: Private Stock Records Ltd.
Жанр: Electronic / Disco
Формат: потрековый APE / Extra High Compression
Размер: 3 части ~ 95 + 95 + 57 Мб

1. Life's A Party (7:03)
2. You Don't Know A Good Thing (5:02)
3. I Wish You Would Make Up Your Mind (5:24)
4. Love Love Love (4:43)
5. Still Not Over (4:29)
6. On and On (4:24)
7. Using You (5:20)

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[Alex_bog_13]

The Michael Zager Band - The Definitive Collection (1987)



Исполнитель: The Michael Zager Band
Альбом: The Definitive Collection
Год: 1987
Тип: CD Album, Tau Analyzer - 100% CDDA
Лейбл: Private Stock Records Ltd.
Жанр: Electronic / Disco
Формат: потрековый APE / Extra High Compression
Размер: 5 частей ~ 4 * 100 + 85 Мб

1. Let's All Chant (Original version) (6:59)
2. Love Express (7:04)
3. Music Fever (6:28)
4. Traffic Jam (7:09)
5. Freak (3:17)
6. Rhythm Magic (5:38)
7. Soul To Soul (5:41)
8. Life's A Party (feat. Whitney Houston) (8:04)
9. Greased Lightning (feat. Robert John) (6:13)
10. Let's All Chant (Disco version) (6:12)
11. Can't Stop (Too Hot) (3:51)
12. Shake Your Groove Thing (4:49)

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Enjoy!

[teddybear]

Цитата: (Alex_bog_13 @ 17.6.2008, 16:09) The Michael Zager Band - The Definitive Collection (1987) 9. Greased Lightning (feat. Robert John) (6:13) 10. Let's All Chant (Disco version) (6:12)

Thanks a lot for the CD, Alex. But tracks 9 & 10 are the same. The Disco version of Let's All Chant is missing. Could you upload just this song please (track 10)?

[Jhonny]

Уважаемый Alex_bog_13!!! Обнови пожалуйста ссылочки на альбомы 78 и 79 гг.
P.S. не сочти за наглость...

[Alex_bog_13]

Цитата: (Jhonny @ 16.10.2008, 11:58) Уважаемый Alex_bog_13!!! Обнови пожалуйста ссылочки на альбомы 78 и 79 гг. P.S. не сочти за наглость...

Уважаемый Jhonny !

Все ссылки в Теме - рабочие...

Зачем мне надо их обновлять-то ?