West Coast Music Releases Highlights from Year 2023

The West Coast AOR music is still popular and new releases, reissues and compilations.

At Blue Desert we always try to write about what is new and interesting and at the same time highlight some of the classic masterpieces. Some years a lot of material is released and other time less.

Here are some of the highlights that was released in the year 2023:

Sometimes Late At Night

Iconoclassic Records 2023

Tracks: Prologue, I Won´t Break, Just Friends, Tell Her, Somebody´s Been Lying, On The Way To The Sky, You And Me (We Wanted It All), Sometimes Late At Night, Wild Again, Easy To Love Again, Stronger Than Before, You Don´t Know Me, Reprise, Conversation With Carole And Burt, Stronger Than Before (Single Version), Conversation With Carole And Burt, Easy To Love Again (Single Version) & Conversation With Carole And Burt.

Musicians on the Sometimes Late At Night album: Carole Bayer Sager, Jeff Porcaro, Lee Sklar, Lee Ritenour, Michael Lang, Burt Bacharach, Ed Walsh, George Young, Richard Page, Steve George, Jim Keltner, Reinie Press, Paul Jackson, Michael Jackson, David Foster, Paulinho Da Costa, Franne Golde, Joann Harris, Tim May, Fred Tackett, Ian Underwood, Dennis St. John, Neil Diamond, Richard Bennett, Doug Rhone, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren, King Errisson, Vince Charles, Melissa Manchester, Bruce Roberts, Warren Luening, Vennette Gloud.

Greatest Christmas Hits

Rhino Records 2023

Tracks: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, All Over The World, White Christmas, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Sleigh Ride 2019, Winter Wonderland, Here We Come A Caroling (Traditional), Rudolph The Red - Nosed Reindeer, Merry Christmas I Love You (R&B Version), (Because) It's Christmastime, Wonderful Christmas Time, The Christmas Song & Christmas Time Us Here.

Musicians to the Greatest Christmas Hits album: Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow, Walter Parazaider, Bill Champlin, Jason Scheff, Tris Imboden, Keith Howland, Lou Pardini, Ray Herrmann, Walfredo Reyes Jr., Neil Donell, Brett Simons & Ramon Yslas.

Steve Eaton

P-Vine Records 2023

Tracks: Got Me Moanin', Rakin' Leaves In The Wind, All In Love Say "I", Hurricanes And Tornadoes, Where Do I Fit In. Old Smart Big And Kind, Without You, Never Knew A Pain, Friendly Stealer, You're Not A Hero, Long Overdue, Million Dollar Blues, No Man's Land, Took Me By Surprise, All You Get From Love Is A Love Song & Rag Doll.

Musicians on the Steve Eaton album: Steve Eaton, Leland Sklar, Matt Marshall, John Ferraro, Mike Baird, Jim Gordon, Steve Lukather, Phil Marshall, Jai Winding, Jim Cos, Michael Omartian, Larry Knechtek, Craig Buhler, Steve Forman, Sandy Marutinez & Cindy Fee.

Legendary Captain

Private 2023

Tracks: Legendary Captain, Carry On, Whislin' Slow, Idolizer, Dak Tree, Where'd He Go Now, We Need A Solution, Irish Sea, I Hear The Music, The Pilot & Used To You.

Musicians on the Legendary Captain album: England Dan Seals, John Ford Coley, Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon, Ron Tutt, John Guerin, Jeff Porcaro, Russ Kunkel, Joe Osborn, Max Bennett, Louie Shelton, Jim Seals, David Paich, Larry Knechtel, Clarence McDonald, Tommy Morga & Marty Paich.

Live

JKTM 2023

Tracks: Tour's End / Favor, Coming Home, I Got You, Are You Real?, You Belong To Me, Two Hearts, Come Away, Walkin' On Air & Hearts In Phase.

Musicians on the Live album: Tomi Malm, Tiku Kovalainen, Henri Lintula, Tony Olsen, Tobias Schenck, Viljami Heikkinen, Sauli Rantakeisu, Nuutti Tossavainen, Anni-Leena Tulokas, Tuomas Salminen & Unna Kortehisto.

Celebrate

Warner Music 2023

Tracks: Celebrate, In Your Eyes, Let Me Love You, Lonesome, Midnight Summers Vibe & Too Many Wrongs.

Musicians on the Celebrate album: Søren Sko, Palle Torp, Kristian F. Torp, Søren Mikkelsen & Heidi Degn.

B´s Flame

Victor 2023

Tracks: DISC 1: What You Won't Do For Love, Coming Down From Love, Special To Me, My Flame, I Don't Want To Lose Your Love, Words, Sherry, Loving You, Jamaica, Open Your Eyes, Come To Me, All Or Nothing At All, Janet, Heart Of Mine, Next Time (I Fall), Where Is Love, Walk On By, Back To You & Stay With Me. DISC 2: What You Won't Do For Love (After Dark), Fly Me To The Moon, (I've Got You) Under My Skin, Beyond The Sea, Merry X'Mas, Stuck On You, It's All Coming Back To Me Now, Blue (Featuring Dave Koz), Call Me Up, Where Is The Love (Duet with Deniece Williams), Don't Ask My Neighbor, Real Thing, What About Me, Endlessly, Break Away (Featuring Jessie Ware), Never Knew Love Before, Breaking Up (Featuring Deniece Williams & Eric Biddines), Game Over (Featuring Mayer Hawthorne) & Smile.

Musicians on the B´s Flame album: Bobby Caldwell and others.

Bridges

Mascot Music Productions 2023

Tracks: Far From Over, Not My Kind Of People, Someone, All Forevers Must End, When I See You Again, Take My Love, Burning Bridges & I'll Never Know.

Musicians to the Bridges album: Steve Lukather, Trev Lukather, Simon Phillips, Joseph Williams, Leland 'Lee' Sklar, David Paich, Shannon Forrest, Jorgen Carlsson & Steve Maggiora.

Carrie

Black Lodge Records 2023

Tracks: Carrie, Fly Away Now, The Last Unbroken Heart, Carry On (Demo), Time Never Stops & Pamela (Live).

Musicians on the Carrie album: Bill Champlin, Joseph Wiiliams, Peter Friestedt, Jason Scheff, Tomi Malm, Eirik-Andre Rydningen, Lars Säfsund, Tamara Champlin, Per Lindvall, Johan Granström, Janne Peltoniemi, John 'JR' Robinson, Stefan Gunnarsson, Herman Matthews, Per Mathisen & Anders Öjebo.

1980-2023

Norske Albumklassikere 2023

Tracks: CD1 (Lava): Larry Lee, White Horses, Journey, Anna, So Many Times, Veronica, Rustic & Songs For A Broken Heart. CD2: (Prime Time): Hard Times, Juliet, Empty Shadows, 2.12, Prime Time, Late At Night, Tea Beat & Holiday. CD3 (Crusin´): Take Your Time, Give It Up, Sunday Morning, Hideaway, The Ratter, Crusin´, Easy Come Easy Go, Sky Rocket & Tears In You Eyes. CD4 (Fire): Sophie, Fake, Something, Streetgirl, Loosing You, You, The Woman I Want, Wait For Me, I´m In Love & Indian Summer. CD5 (The Rhythm Of Love): Somebody Like You, You`re Taken My Heart Away, The Rhythm Of Love, Transition Man, Artificial Love, Heartache, Lovers United, Take A Look At These Eyes, She`s The One & I Guess You Broke My Heart. CD6 (Polarity): Aquilo Blow, Fly Like An Arrow, Black Rain, Shine A Little Light, Boogie Down, Another Yesterday, Emergency, So Many Nights, Bit By Bit, Get Somebody, Green Fee & Sometimes. CD7 (Alibi): Closet, Cover Me, Tears Are Not Enough, Alibi, A Matter Of Time, Dangerous Game, Lonely Planet, Change, Breaking Away, Missing You & Wendy´s Paiting Pictures. CD8 (Symphony Journey): Disc 1: Empty Shadows, Closet, The Rhythm Of Love, Cover Me, I Guess You Broke My Heart, Shine A Little Light, Aquilo Blow, Breaking Away, Hard Times, Take Your Time, Losing You, Journey, Transition Man & You. CD9 (Water): Perfect Crime, True Diamond, Double Vision, Water, Falling Down, All Or Nothing, Peter Pan, Velvet Eyes, What Can I Do, Every Beat Of My Heart, Tell Me & Wishing Well. CD10 (X): Somebody Who Knows, Jackie O, In Pieces, Blackbird, We Stand Alone, Drug To Me, Say It Isn't So, As Far As We Can Go, So Strong, Take Your Pride And Run & Adam & Eve. CD11 (Bonus Disc): Rustic (Alternative Mix), D.J. (Short Version), D.J. (Long Version), Hold On, Take Me To The Water, Sophie (Alternative Version), Hold Out For Love, Aquilo Blow, Tears Are Not Enough, Spelemannsblod, Learning Love, Aquilo Blow, Fly Like An Arrow & Sophie.

Musicians to the 1980-2023 Box: Rolf Graf, Per Hillestad, Svein Dag Hauge, Egil Eldøen, Geir Langslet, Per Kolstad, Sigurd Køhn, Kjell Hestetun, Stein Eriksen, Knut Riisnæs, Svein Gundersen, Olav Stedje, Marius Müller, Bruce Rasmussen, Jan Erik Aasland, Nina Askeland, Sidsel Endresen, Terje Bakke, Tor Vister, Torbjørn Sunde, Ole Edvard Antonsen, Jens Petter Antonsen, Petter Kateraas, Jarl Johansen, Arne Frang, Nils Petter Antonsen, Per Lindvall, Randy Crawford, Elisabeth Moberg, Kari Iveland, Eythor Gunnarsson, Ron Rose, Jens Burge Wesseltoft, Robert D, Sigvard Dagsland, Kåre Kolve, Hans Olav Solli, Per Øystein Sørensen, Stein Austrud, Chris Thompson, Jorun Irene Erdal, Åse Karin Hjelen, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Petter Wettre, Jørgen Gjerde, Marius Haltli, Frank Ådahl, Anne Grethe Orvik, Knut Koppang, Marius Haltli, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Mariann Lisland, Jonny Sjo, Frode Østand Mangen, Stian Joneid, Per Christian Indrehus.

Highlights From The Last Parade

MelodicRock Classics 2023

Tracks: Disc 1 (HIGHLIGHTS): Still A Dream Away (Demo Version), Branded, Bad Time For Goodbye (Alt Mix), Crossroads Motel (91-93 Demo), Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of, After The Tears Have Gone, American Dreamer (Rock Version), A Little Too Late, Fools Paradise, Catchin' On, Heaven Stops The Rain, Always A Place, Everything I Want To Do (Piano Ballad Version), Don't Turn Out The Lights (Guitar Mix), On The Train Again, Higher Ground (Revision) & Last Parade. Disc 2 (SPOTLIGHTS) (Previously Unreleased): Midnight Angel (Early Demo), Quicksand (Early Alt Mix), No Reasons Of The Heart (Alt Mix), Living On The Moon (Remix), It's A Good Thing (First Mix), Didn't Mean To Say Goodbye (91-93 Demo), Give A Little Love (91-93 Demo), Don't Mean Much (Demo), A Far Cry From Love (Slower), I Could Be Wrong (Alt. Version), Rain Dance (Alt Mix), Hard Dark Music (Instrumental), It Looks A Lot Like Rain (Instrumental), Don't Come Back Crying, Solo Piano (Freeform 2) & Last Parade (Early Demo).

More To This Life

Benoit Music 2023

Tracks: So Far Back in Time, More To This Life, I'm Givin' My Heart, Who We Long To Be, The Art Of Letting Go, Nothing's Sacred Anymore, Keep On Lovin' You, Lay Down My Arms, Tonight (I Will Dance With You), Hasn't Happened Yet, What You Believe, I Just Don't Get It, If It Was You & Winnie's Song.

Musicians on the More To This Life album: Bernie Chiaravale Dan Needham, Shannon Forrest & Mark Douthit.

It´ll Never Happen Again

Melody Place LLC 2023

Tracks: Reason To Believe, It'll Never Happen Again, If I Were A Carpenter, Don't Make Promises, Mysty Roses & How Can We Hang On.

Musicians on the It´ll Never Happen Again album: Jeff Larson, Gerry BeckleyJonathan Zwartz, Rick Braun, Brian Eichenberger, Joachim Cooder, Matt Combs, Nathaniel Murphy, Matt Beckley, Jim Hoke, Austin Hoke & Kristin Weber.

Waiting For The Sun To Rise

Cafe Records 2023

Tracks: Last Buffalo, Best Day Of My Life, Coltrane Plays The Blues, Waiting For The Sun To Rise, Frontier, Rio Grande, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Tell Me Where It Hurts, The Moon's A Harsh Mistress, Bad Time To Say Goodbye, The Downtown Lights & Cradle To The Grave.

Musicians on the Waiting For The Sun To Rise album: Marc Jordan, Scott Alexander, Bruce Gaitsch, Marc Rogers, Lou Pomanti, Ezra Jordan, Mark Kelso, Paul Leim, Kevan MacKenzie, Doug Yowell, Rory Platt, John Johnson, Prague Smecky Orchestra, William Carn, Randy Brecker & Tony Carlucci.

The Sony BMG A´s and B´s

BGO Records 2023

Tracks: Disc 1: Pickin' Up The Pieces, First Love, My Kind Of Love, Hard Luck, You Better Think Twice, Anyway Bye Bye, Keep On Believin', C'Mon, I Guess You Made It, Just For Me And You, O'l Forgiver, Railroad Days, You Are The One, A Good Feelin' To Know & Early Times. Disc 2: And Settin' Down, Go And Say Goodbye, I Can See Everything, Here We Go Again, Fool's Gold, Magnolia, Blue Water, Faith In The Families, Rocky Mountain Breakdown, High And Dry, Bitter Blue, Call It Love, Lovin' You Every Minute, Nothin' To Hide, If It Wasn't For You, The Nature Of Love & When It All Began.

Musicians on the The Sony BMG A´s and B´s album: Richie Furay, Jim Messina, Randy Meisner, Timothy B. Schmit, Rusty Young, Paul Cotton, George Grantham and others.

Black Swan

Ca Va? Records 2023

Tracks: Black Swan, I Don't Play With Strangers, Ballad Of Birmingham, The Party Is Over, Cool Water, Candy Cigarettes, I Lose You, Provide, Youngblood, I Stopped Breathing, Drag The River & Hold On.

Musicians on the Black Swan album: Larry John McNally, Peter Gallway, Michael Ruff, David Schwartz, Lucy Schwartz, Walter Areia  & Ignacio Orona.

Everlasting

Frontiers Records 2023

Tracks: And Now The Magic Is Gone, The Rules Of The Heart, I Won't Walk Away, The Mistakes We Make, These Times Are For Heroes, Your Walls Are Crumbling Down, Everlasting, Falling, Endless Days, Living In Fear & Your Way.

Musicians on the Everlasting album: Joe Vana, Sven Larsson, Mitia Maccaferri, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Jacopo Martignoni, Tommy Denander, Christopher Börjars, Stefano Lionetti, Vivien Lalu, Stefano Mainini & Pete Alpenborg

How Fragile We Are

P-Vine Records 2023

Tracks: Unchain My Heart (Previously unissued 2023), Fools Cry, Aphasia, Illinois (Previously unissued 2023), Haunt Me Tonight, Thursday Next, Extraordinary Girl, Rattlesnake Canyon (Previously unissued 2023), The African Prince, Two Kinds Of Love, The Philadelphian & Fragile.

Musicians on the How Fragile We Are album: Bruce Gaitsch, George Hawkins Jr., John Patitucci, Ruggero Robin, CJ Vanston, Jim Beard, Joey Kramer, Billy Ward, Nick Newman, Marc Russo, Randy Howard, Randy Waldman, Paulino Da Costa, Fee Waybill, Bill Champlin, Richard Marx, Marc Jordan, Michael Sembello, Janey Clewer & Tamara Champlin.

Ticket To Japan

P-Vine Records 2023

Tracks: Borderline, Waiting Heart, The Ocean Side, Borderline (Dance Remix), Moments Of L.A., Better Run, Moments Of L.A. (Smooze Version), Live It Up, You Let Me Fly & Live It Up (Radio Edit).

Musicians on the Ticket To Japan album: Stefan Brunkhorst, Damiano Libianchi, Søren Reiff, David Garfield, Sam Porcaro, Rick Latham, Lenny Castro, Björn Höhler, Johannes Zetterberg, Martin Verdonk, Tommy Denander, Guido Bungenstock, Rick Keller, Mikel Allen, Luis Conte, Alex Ligertwood & Arne Röstermundt.

Quintessential

Quint Starkie 2023

Tracks: Just Like You, Hollywood, Beautiful Thing, Gotta Give It Up, Mr. Maxwell, Caught Up In The Middle, Home Again, Fear Of Flying, Endless Summer, The Gardener And The Flower, Falling For The First Time & Something I Couldn't Be.

Musicians on the Quintessential Album: Quint Starkie, Francis Dunnery, Toshi Yanagi, Jule Wiegand, Tania Doko, Peter Jones, Dorie Jackson, Björn Fryklund, Lars Olsson, Johannes Zetterberg, Jonathan Lundberg, Mikael Wikman, Kjell Gustavsson, Michael Kleimert, Juna Serita, Mats Nilsson, Per Hansson, Petter Andersson, Mats Byström, Jan Blomgren, Pete Whitfield & Göran Eriksson.

Innocent Days

Fenix Music 2023

Tracks: Innocent Days, Kings Of Broken Dreams, Right There, Time Is On Our Side, Living It Up & Sky Falls Down.

Musicians on the Innocent Days album: Göran Edman, Richard Stenstrom, Lars Hallbäck, Anneli Axon, Felix Lehmann, Andreas Ekstedt, Johan Granström, Wojtek Goral, Peter Johansson, Magnus Johansson, Fat Cat Strings, Mirko De Maio & Jenny Lander.

Sacred Ground

Bruce Gaitsch 2023

Tracks: Black Hills, Albuquerque, Illinois, Monument Valley, Asheville, Rattlesnake Canyon, Busse Woods, Devils Tower, San Antone, Badlands & St Louis.

Musicians on the Sacred Ground album: Bruce Gaitsch.

The Love Goes On

Frontiers Records 2023

Tracks: The Love Goes On, Whispers And Dreams, War Of The Hearts, In Your Arms, All Of It, Just What It Takes, My Forever June, Higher, Out Of Nowhere, What Keeps You Alive, A Picture Of You & Wheelchair.

Musicians on the Love Goes On album: Michael Thompson, Moon Calhoun, Tom Croucier, Michael Heart & Annas Allaf.

The Man With The Red Shoes

MDB 2023

Tracks: Far From Over, Gifts Of Life, Shelter Me, Nothing I Wouldn’t Do, If The Darkest Night, Affinity, Once In A Lifetime, Surrender, To You & I’d Rather Be A Fool.

Musicians on the Man With The Red Shoes album: Mike Della Bella, Daniele Trissati, Mauro Scardini, Robbie LaBlanc, Nanà Petrossi, Mashanda Favors, Jesús Espín, St. Paul Peterson, Fran Alonso, Peter Friestedt, Nathan East, Will Lee, J-Rod Sullivan, Shannon Forrest & Bill Champlin.

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