Michael
Thompson is one of the leading guitar players of the world. He was awarded the
"Distinguished Alumni" award from his alma mater Berklee College of
Music to commemorate his contributions to the music industry. Berklee's program
for the event noted that "he is widely regarded as being among the
elite studio session players, and his amazing list of credits includes such
prominent names as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, 'N Sync, Toni
Braxton, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, the Scorpions, Vince Neil, Christina Aguilera,
Michael Bolton, Mariah Carey, Bette Midler, Madonna, Babyface, En Vogue, Gloria
Estefan, Stanley Clarke and Ricky Martin." Quite a list of luminaries
to perform with/for!
Originally from New York, Michael moved to Los Angeles in 1979 to begin a studio musician career. In 1988, after working to try and get a deal with his band Slang, he finally got signed by Geffen Records to release one album entitled "How Long", under the Michael Thompson Band (M.T.B.) monicker, and is one of the best examples of AOR/Westcoast from that era (or any era!), and it was reissued in 2007 with 3 bonus tracks
On "How Long" more great studio musicians appeared as guests, in particular drummer-maestro Terry Bozzio, singer Moon Calhoun (ex The Strand), Pat Torpey (later to be drummer with Mr Big), bassist Jimmy Haslip, John Elefante (Kansas), Toto's Bobby Kimball and Great White associates Michael Lardie and Wyn Davis (who also produced the album). Songwriters would include, among others, AOR luminaries such as: Jeff Paris, Mark Spiro, Billy Trudel and Brett Walker.
For ‘Future Past’ Michael has teamed up with singer Larry King from the band Soleil Moon. Larry brought a new and more rocking approach to the MTB sound but certainly the trademark elements of songwriting and melodies are still to be found in the new album “Future Past”. In fact the album plays on the up tempo sound of Toto, and the first Giant album, so that cant be a bad thing
Originally from New York, Michael moved to Los Angeles in 1979 to begin a studio musician career. In 1988, after working to try and get a deal with his band Slang, he finally got signed by Geffen Records to release one album entitled "How Long", under the Michael Thompson Band (M.T.B.) monicker, and is one of the best examples of AOR/Westcoast from that era (or any era!), and it was reissued in 2007 with 3 bonus tracks
On "How Long" more great studio musicians appeared as guests, in particular drummer-maestro Terry Bozzio, singer Moon Calhoun (ex The Strand), Pat Torpey (later to be drummer with Mr Big), bassist Jimmy Haslip, John Elefante (Kansas), Toto's Bobby Kimball and Great White associates Michael Lardie and Wyn Davis (who also produced the album). Songwriters would include, among others, AOR luminaries such as: Jeff Paris, Mark Spiro, Billy Trudel and Brett Walker.
For ‘Future Past’ Michael has teamed up with singer Larry King from the band Soleil Moon. Larry brought a new and more rocking approach to the MTB sound but certainly the trademark elements of songwriting and melodies are still to be found in the new album “Future Past”. In fact the album plays on the up tempo sound of Toto, and the first Giant album, so that cant be a bad thing
‘High
Times’ picks up where ‘How Long’ left off, as an up tempo rocking number full
of an instantly catchy chorus and a great riff. ‘Can’t Be Right’ continues in a
similar vein and shows why MT picked King as his vocalist of choice. ‘Future
Past’ is a smooth as a velvet glove and really highlights Thompson’s guitar
prowess. ‘When You Love Someone’ is just a delight of an emotional ballad and
is swallowed whole by the excellence of ‘Here I am’
I have to
mention the reworked ‘Can’t Miss’ from the 89 debut as I’m running out of
superlatives for all the other tracks. It’s still a great song, and Karry King
runs the original very close, but I will always prefer the original version.
That said, ‘Future Past’ is a strong enough album without this reworked classic
On its
first listen I wasn’t exactly over enamoured with it. However after living with
this thing for a couple of weeks, it’s probably one of the finest AOR albums
you (and me)will hear all year (and its only Feb). If I had to pick a winner
between the Sunstorm and MTB albums, ‘Future Past’ delivers the goods in
abundance
90/100
MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND
Michael Thompson Guitars & Keys
Larry King Vocals
Khari Parker Drums
Alan Berliant Bass
Guest Performers
John Blasucci – Keys
Dave Hiltebrand – Bass – When You Love Someone, Beautiful Mystery, Future Past, Here I Am & Break Me Down
Matt Walker – Drums – High Times
Sahara Thompson – Background Vocals – Can’t Miss
J.P. Delaire – Keys, Background Vocals, Sax – Can’t Miss
Produced By : Larry King & Michael Thompson
MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND
Michael Thompson Guitars & Keys
Larry King Vocals
Khari Parker Drums
Alan Berliant Bass
Guest Performers
John Blasucci – Keys
Dave Hiltebrand – Bass – When You Love Someone, Beautiful Mystery, Future Past, Here I Am & Break Me Down
Matt Walker – Drums – High Times
Sahara Thompson – Background Vocals – Can’t Miss
J.P. Delaire – Keys, Background Vocals, Sax – Can’t Miss
Produced By : Larry King & Michael Thompson
Tracklisting:
High Times;
Can't Be Right;
Future Past;
When You Love Someone;
Here I Am;
Beautiful Mystery;
Break Me Down;
End Game;
Gypsy Road;
Can't Miss 2012;
Fight For Your Life.