It’s hard to find a more accomplished music industry producer than Canadian-born David Foster. This much-heralded record producer, singer-songwriter and composer has been the creative force behind hundreds of hits since the 1970s. There are many such hits that most of us don’t even realize he had a hand in.
With no less than 15 Grammy Awards to his name, Foster boasts a compelling composer resume which includes the following: “Through the Fire (Chaka Khan), Unbreak My Heart (Toni Braxton), Unforgettable (Natalie Cole), I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston), I Swear (All-4-One), and Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion) just to name a few. Foster has also produced, amongst others, Whitney Houston, Josh Groban, Donna Summer, Mariah Carey, Destiny's Child, Vanessa Williams, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Al Jarreau, Natalie Cole, Yolanda Adams, Michael Bublé, and Brian McKnight.
For anyone who needs any reminding or education, David Foster’s latest project, the CD-DVD combo Hit Man: David Foster & Friends, is a must-own. However, with only nine tracks compared to the DVD’s impressive 30-song tally, the CD will probably collect a lot of dust.
I recommend going straight for the DVD. It features a live show taped at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay in May of 2008. David Foster is joined on stage by a star-studded line-up featuring Andrea Bocelli, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Josh Groban, Brian McKnight, Eric Benét, Michael Bublé and more.
Particularly gripping is Brian McKnight’s duo with Josh Groban as they sing David Foster’s 1979 hit song written for Earth, Wind and Fire, After The Love is Gone.
The 80’s nostalgics like me will also enjoy hearing the tunes from St. Elmo’s Fire and Peter Cetera’s rendition of his old hits from the Karate Kid days.
But perhaps the most startling discovery, which alone makes the CD-DVD package worth buying, is the performance of a 16-year-old Filipino girl named Charice. David Foster reveals that he got a call from Oprah Winfrey asking him to include Charice in his live showcase in Las Vegas.
As the video below demonstrates, Charice has a very bright future ahead of her!
Features
- CD Tracks:
1. Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire - David Foster, Kenny G
2. Home - Michael Bublé, Blake Shelton
3. I Have Nothing/I Will Always Love You - Charice
4. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Josh Groban, Brian McKnight
5. Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
6. Wildflower - Blake Shelton
7. Somewhere - Katharine McPhee
8. Hard to Say I'm Sorry/You're the Inspiration/Glory of Love - Peter Cetera
9. Prayer - Andrea Bocelli, Katharine McPheeDVD:
1. Intro - Andre Agassi
2. St. Elmo''s Love Theme - Kenny G
3. Can't Help Falling in Love - David Foster
4. Beauty/Man in Motion - Michael Johns
5. Mornin''/After the Love Has Gone - Brian McKnight
6. Video - Barbra Streisand
7. Somewhere - Katharine McPhee
8. Through the Fire - Reneé Olstead
9. Got to Be Real - Cheryl Lynn
10. Wildflower - Blake Shelton
11. Video/Urban Cowboy
12. Love Look What You've Done - Boz Scaggs
13. Jo Jo - Boz Scaggs
14. Chocolate Legs - Eric Benet
15. Hard to Say I'm Sorry/You're the Inspiration/Glory of Love - Peter Cetera
16. Amapola - Andrea Bocelli
17. Because We Believe - Andrea Bocelli
18. Prayer - Andrea Bocelli, Katharine McPhee
19. Asturias - William Joseph
20. Video/Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion, David Foster
21. I Swear - Babyface, Kevon
22. Feeling Good - Michael Bublé
23. Home - Michael Bublé, Blake Shelton
24. Save the Last Dance - Michael Bublé
25. Video/Bodyguard - Kevin Costner
26. I Have Nothing/I Will Always Love You - Charice
27. Alla Luce del Sole - Josh Groban
28. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Josh Groban, Brian McKnight
29. You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
30. Got to Be Real
