DAVID ROBERTS – All Dressed Up… [Japan SHM-CD remastered] Out Of Print 2016, MP3+FLAC

This is a welcome (albeit fairly expensive) limited edition CD issue of a great album from 1982. It’s long been near the top of my ‘got it on vinyl but want it on CD’ list.

As requested, DAVID ROBERTS‘ AOR classic album “All Dressed Up…“, in its Avenue Of Allies Music remastered version, a really good label unfortunately disappeared.
David Scott Roberts was born in Boston and raised in Toronto, Canada, writing and recording songs for over 30 years. In his luggage songs recorded by Diana Ross, Starship, Bad English, Jimmy Barnes, John Waite, House Of Lords, Ramsey Lewis, Nancy Wilson, etc.
In the late 70’s Roberts sent a demo to a radio contest, received a prize – a recorded 3 songs in the studio. And this tape fell into the hands of representatives of the Canadian company A&R WEA, bringing with David signed a contract to record a LP.

In 1982, “All Dressed Up” released. Alongside the excellent songwriting (all by Roberts) this album is remembered for the people who contributed on it. The cream of the LA Session crew is here, including the unique Steve Lukather (guitars), Jeff Porcaro (drums) and Mike Porcaro (bass) of Toto, Bill Champlin (Chicago), David Foster, Jay Graydon (Airplay), keyboardist Greg Mathieson (who also produced with a pristine sound) and more.

‘All In The Name Of Love’ kicks things off, an upbeat pop-rock anthem with a catchy chorus with Steve Lukather’s chugging guitar driving the track along. It’s followed by the smooth mid-tempo ‘Too Good To Last’, complete with another big chorus.
Although Roberts wrote and arranged all of the tracks, there’s a big Toto feel to a few of them, such as the classy ‘Never Let You Go’ and ‘Wrong Side Of The Tracks’, and when you hear the staccato piano of ‘Someone Like You’ you will immediately think of ‘Hold The Line’!

“Boys Of Autumn” is a beautiful midtempo AOR tune, where the drums give the subject a delightful cadence and the melody is like a river flowing peacefully on the ear canals. “She’s Still Mine” is one of the album’s highlight close to same line as “All In The Name Of Love”, with a powerful, catchy chorus and a harmony rhythm to played loud.

There’s an elegant midtempo in “Midnight Rendezvous”, while “Anywhere You Run To” is another beautiful piece in ballad form with a certain air of Chicago and Christopher Cross, especially in the vocal work. The chorus is catchy with a radio-ready feel. The song was covered by Diana Ross later.
The album end with “Another World”, a sweet and pleasant song in the slow style of Ambrosia, with stupendous instrumentation / arrangements.

DAVID ROBERTS’ “All Dressed Up…” is an ’80s AOR classic, considered one of the masterpieces of the Westcoast sub-genre. The who’s who play here, and if you love classic Toto you need this gem in your collection.
A CLASSIC

1 All In The Name Of Love 3:32
2 Too Good To Last 3:49
3 Someone Like You 3:37
4 Boys Of Autumn 4:12
5 She’s Still Mine (That’s My Girl) 3:32
6 Wrong Side Of The Tracks 3:54
7 Midnight Rendezvous 3:56
8 Anywhere You Run To 3:49
9 Never Gonna Let You Go 3:45
10 Another World

turbo FLAC