MARC JORDAN - Talking Through Pictures [Japan edition '91] (1987)

Canadian singer-songwriter, session musician and record producer, MARC JORDAN won the '94 'Best Producer Juno Award' (equivalent to Grammy), and has worked with the likes of Jay Graydon, Rod Stewart, Cher, Stan Bush, etc.
So as you could imagine, he's a sound perfectionist, and this "Talking Through Pictures" released in the second halg of the '80s is not an exception, immaculately produced and recorded.

"Talking Through Pictures" isn't strictly an AOR album, nor Westcoast or rock&pop, but all at the same time. How is that? The man has rounded a heterogeneous set of songs/styles, ranging from Hi-Tech, Lite AOR and WestCoast, but none in the traditional mood.
Atypical songwriting and concept, varied, and sometimes complex to keep you interested.

To give you an idea, this recording reminds me of Trevor Rabin's '80s works, solo and alongside with YES Big Genereator era - not strange 'cos Trevor plays guitars, keyboards and who knows what else here. Listen 'Seek And You Shall Find' and then tell me.
You have also other great session cats like guitar master Michael Landau, Tony Berg, super pump bass-man Stu Hamm, Stan Bush, Timothy B. Schmit, etc.
Does not 'Inside The Glass Bead' sounds a bit like an Alan Parsons mid-Eighties song? Oh yes. But all this is crafted with an elegant 'lite Aorish feel' and all kind of keyboards here and there (again; not in the traditional way).



Marc Jordan's "Talking Through Pictures" is a quite unknown album, at least from his discography, a pretty different from the usual hyped material posted here, something to refresh your ears.
There has been a recent digital reissue by a so-called Legacy Recordings, but it's poorly transferred from a dubious source. This Japanese edition appeared in 1991 it's the real deal.


01 - This Independance
02 - Kensington Garden
03 - Catch the Moon
04 - I Ching
05 - Talking Through Pictures
06 - Soldier of Fortune
07 - Seek And You Shall Find
08 - Inside The Glass Bead
09 - Human Race
10 - I Was Your Fool

Marc Jordan: Vocals, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Trevor Rabin: Guitar, Keyboards
Michael Landau, Tony Berg : Guitar
Stu Hamm: Bass
Tony Braunagel: Drums
Stan Bush, Timothy B. Schmit, Graham Nash : Backing Vocals
and many more...


MARC JORDAN Talking Through Pictures [Japan edition '91] (1987)
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MARC JORDAN - C.O.W. [Conserve Our World] (1990)

I already featured here one album from Canadian singer-songwriter MARC JORDAN, the elegant Talking Through Pictures (1987). While composing, producing or playing as session musician for others, during the Eighties / Nineties Jordan managed to release a solo album every 3 years, more or less.

On his 6th album "C.O.W. [Conserve Our World]" issued in 1990, Jordan changed a little his West Coast smooth melodies in favour to a more poppy, light AOR sound akin Mr. Mister. So between the extensive session musician list it's not strange to see guitarist Steve Farris, drummer Pat Mastelotto and Richard Page doing backing vocals, all from Mr. Mister.
Just check opener "Big Love" or one of my favorites, "Edge Of The World" (featuring a great guitar solo by talented Bruce Gaitsch) and this seems like a Mr. Mister lost record indeed.
Other luminaries appear as guests such as Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, Timothy B. Schmit, Renee Geyer, Stan Bush and lots more.
There's some Hi-Tech on "Power", suave atmospheres on "Bridges In The Dark", and a nice, West Coast / AORish arranged version of Todd Rundgren's "Can We Still Be Friends?" including a sharp six-string solo by Gene Black (Wild Blue, Device).



While pretty poppy oriented, Jordan's vocal work on this album is one of his best in my opinion.
"C.O.W. [Conserve Our World]" is not easy to find on CD, or a good, high quality CDrip.


01 - Big Love
02 - Edge Of The World
03 - Guns Of Belfast
04 - Burning Down The Amazon
05 - Bridges In The Dark
06 - Silent Night
07 - Inside My Piano
08 - Can We Still Be Friends?
09 - Power
10 - Holding Up The Sky

Vocals, Keyboards: Marc Jordan
Guitar: Steve Farris, Stuart Mathis, Dany Jacob, Bruce Gaitsch, Gene Black, Doug Macaskill
Keyboards, Bass: John Capek
Keyboards, Bass, Producer: Kim Bullard
Mandolin: Eric Williams
Strings: Rick Sailon
Drums: Pat Mastelotto, Billy Ward
Backing Vocals: Stan Bush, Billy Trudel, Amy Sky, Renee Geyer, George Merrill, Richard Page, Shannon Rubicam, Timothy B. Schmit, Mark Lennon, Kevin Cronin




MARC JORDAN - C.O.W. CDrip
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