Trivia Corner: Mr. Mister Cher

In the mid to late 80s, Cher was cranking out a healthy dose of pop rock and AOR with the help of some big league players in game at the time. Her 1991 effort "Love Hurts", for example, features songs by Diane Warren and Desmond Child and production by Richie Zito and Bob Rock, staples of many a hairband.

Other familiar guests to melodic rockers will recognize the work and backing vocals of Richard Page (Mr. Mister) on the hit track "Save Up All Your Tears" and her duet, "One Small Step". "World Without Heroes" has songwriters as diverse as Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons (Kiss) and Lou Reed, with Steve Lukather on guitar (Toto) and Richard Marx on backing vocals - can you imagine all those folks in the same studio at the same time? Steve actually lends his guitar talents to many tracks on this CD. AOR master Kevin Chalfant is also credited for the track "Who You Gonna Believe".

Finally, we have a cover of the Nazareth classic, "Love Hurts" featuring Gunnar Nelson on backing vocals and Jeff Porcaro on drums. If you were a fan of Heart or any other artist/songwriter here, this CD might be worth a second listen.

Trivia Corner: Kenny the Wet Sprocket

Back in 2003, a lot of people were picking up the phone and replying, "Kenny who? Loggins? No kidding? Sure I'll meet you halfway and do a song with you!"

Soundtrack god and AOR mastermind Kenny Loggins released "It's About Time" later that year, trying to redeem himself from the gut-wrenchingly awful "The Unimaginable Life" from 1997. Not quite the return to form that would be "How About Now" (read our review here), "It's About Time" ain't half bad and boasts a surprising number of diverse collaborators of songwriters and performers I have enjoyed over the decades.

First up, 70s singer/songwriter Michael McDonald joins in on the title track, trying to recapture a little of the soulful feel of their previous work together, 1979's "This Is It" and 1982's "Heart To Heart".

Then enter 80s singer/songwriter Richard Marx, who works with Loggins on plenty of the ballads (surprise). They actually sound good harmonizing together, and I did not need the linear notes to tell me that Marx was doing back up vocals. His distinctive rasp sounds great on these tracks - I just wish he could remember how to write an uptempo song.

Next up we have 90s singer/songwriter Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket helping out with a track called "This Is How My Song Goes". I would never have guessed this match up, but it was a pleasant surprise to see them working together. I don't like the song too much, though.

And appropriately, we have Clint Back helping out with the country-flavored track, "Alive N' Kickin'".

Curiously, all of these guests are thanked in the linear notes EXCEPT Glen Phillips. What's up with that, Ken?

Trivia Corner: Goo Goo Dolls & Westerberg

1993's "Superstar Car Wash" remains my favorite album by The Goo Goo Dolls, a band who, in the early days, was considered a Replacements knock-off. This comparison seemed to be solidified when John Rzeznik asked Paul Westerberg (of the Replacements) to write the lyrics to the song "We Are The Normal", one of the singles from the classic "Superstar Car Wash" CD.

Lyrics here.

Trivia Corner: Kevin DuBrow and Starship

Kevin DuBrow, fresh off the wild success of Quiet Riot's "Mental Health", contributed his trademark wail and backing vocals to the track, "Rock Myself To Sleep" on Starship's 1985 smash record, "Knee Deep in the Hoopla".

Trivia Corner

1986 saw this debut release by Matthew Sweet, "Inside". "This Above All" is a track that features Aimee Mann on prominent backing vocals, fresh off the heels of her successful smash with 'Til Tuesday's "Voices Carry". Being in Athens, Sweet was also buddies with R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, which explains why Scott Litt produced and/or mixed a number of the better tracks on the record.

Trivia Corner

Richard Marx was one of the backing vocalists on this 1985 release by Christopher Cross, "Every Turn of the World". Watch for the long awaited reissue out October 7, which will be available as a 2CD set with 1988's "Back of My Mind": get it here.