MARIA VIDAL – Maria Vidal (1987) [Japan CD version / Rare] + extras

As requested here’s the hard to find CD version of MARIA VIDAL 1987’s album “Maria Vidal“, never reissued and with used copies being sold for over $100. Oddly, this Japanese CD pressing is the easier to find.

MARIA VIDAL is of course the Desmond Child alumni, one of the voices of his “Desmond Child & Rouge” band / album. Of course Desmond Child contribute here with the song / single ‘Do Me Right’, with songwriting, keyboards, backing vocals and producing.
Speaking of producers, the personnel involved in this album is like a Who’s Who of top studio technicians, and the session musicians top class including Michael Landau, Bruce Kulick, Dweezil Zappa on guitars, Jeff Bova on synthesizers, Russ Kunkel on drums, and many more. Super talented Chas Sandford wrote the song and performs all instruments on ‘Make Believe’, a highlight. It should be noted that Vidal co-produced most the songs.
This is sophisticated stuff with a genuine pop/rock feeling propelled by scintillating dance beat. A couple of tracks are too much poppy, but there’s some really good ’80s songs with biting rhythm guitars and sharp solos.
always give you more, and as extra we have MARIA VIDAL’s 1984 title track / single for the movie ‘Body Rock’, No.48 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the two Vidal contributions for the 1985 movie ‘Once Bitten’ soundtrack.

After Desmond Child & Rouge disbanded, Maria kept herself busy doing backing vocals for other artists and dabbling in songwriting, still associated with Desmond.
In 1984, she was tapped to record the theme song to the Lorenzo Lamas movie ‘Body Rock’. Though the movie tanked, the song was an instant hit, reaching the top 10 of the Billboard dance charts. Defining all good titular soundtrack songs, Vidal’s powerful, throaty vocals was praised, and it had a mighty chorus that was catchy enough to make people sing it the moment the movie’s name was mentioned.

With the single success, Maria Vidal made a name for herself worldwide, however, the full album she began working on with Jellybean was shelved, so Maria went back to session work and songwriting, contributing to songs by Stevie Nicks and John Waite, among others – and contributing 2 songs for other movie, the successful ‘Once Bitten’ in 1985.

Then, in 1987, A&M Records decided to sign her on for an album deal. This self-titled mixing rock and dance music to create a synth-pop sound. The album sold well but the singles didn’t explodes, and her deal with A&M was over.
But Vidal retained close ties with Desmond and her other producers, Robbie Seidman and Rick Nowels (who she later married). With their help, Maria once again went back to session singing with even greater success, appearing on albums by acts as diverse as Cher, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, The Smithereens, Seal, Clay Aiken, Kiss and Real McCoy.
She also continued to write songs, and was responsible for Belinda Carlisle’s hit “Summer Rain” and Ace Of Base’s “Everytime It Rains”. Maria recorded some solo albus too in the last 25 years.

”Maria Vidal” is a pop/rock album first and foremost, and memorable tunes like “Do Me Right” (which Child wrote and produced), “Sleep Won’t Come,” and the charming “I Am a Girl in Spain” are obviously aimed at pop/rock audiences.
But urban contemporary is a definite influence on the funky “The Real Feel,” and there’s true rock bite on ”Sleep Won’t Come” with Dweezil Zappa’s sharp riffage.

Unfortunately, the word “hit” eluded the album, which didn’t do nearly as well as it should have. Nonetheless, ”Maria Vidal” is recommended to fans of second half of the 80s pop/rock if they’re able to track down a copy.
Highly Recommended

01 – Bridges Of Innocence
02 – The Real Feel
03 – Do Me Right
04 – I Am A Girl In Spain
05 – House Of Love
06 – Angel (In The Sway Of Those Summer Nights)
07 – Soul Love
08 – Sleep Won’t Come
09 – Make Believe
10 – Life On The Train
Extras:
11 – Body Rock [1984 single]
12 – Hands Off [Once Bitten soundtrack 1985]
13 – Just One Kiss [Once Bitten soundtrack 1985]

Maria Vidal – lead and backing vocals
Michael Landau – guitars (1–2, 4, 6, 10)
Bruce Kulick – guitar (3)
Dweezil Zappa – guitars (8)
James Harrah – guitars (5)
Dean Parks, John McCurry – guitars (7)
Desmond Child – keyboards (3), backing vocals (3)
Jeff Bova – synthesizers (7)
Rick Nowels – acoustic guitar, keyboards
Marty Walsh – guitars (2)
John Putnam – guitars (3), bass (3)
Larry Klein – bass (4)
Neil Jason – bass (7)
Patrick O’Hearn – bass (10)
Russ Kunkel – drums (7)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (4, 10)
Chas Sandford – all instruments (9)
Charles Judge – synthesizer
Robbie Seidman – additional keyboards, backing vocals
Stevie Nicks – backing vocals (10)

MP3 FLAC