Airplay (album)

In a 2005 interview, David Foster recalls: "We started working together. I think it's actually Jay's idea to do an album. Back in the '70s, we were both studio musicians. And Jay figured out before I did that we can be more than just studio musicians. So it was his idea that we should do an album together. And that was even before we had a singer. You were gonna be the only singer in the beginning." Graydon added: "There's more than that. We were on a date with Maurine McGovern, I think, at the Dawn Breaker studios. David came up with the start for "Should We Carry On," and as soon as the session was over, we went over to my house. I can't remember if it was 8 tracks or 16 tracks. I don't remember. Anyway, we demoed the song up." Foster continued: "I can only speak for myself, but I never felt myself as an artist. Even with Airplay, it felt like just 2 musicians making a record. And we had no idea that we would have any impact really. I never really believed that we would be successful as artists. Even when we were shooting the album cover and all that, It felt weird that we were actually trying to be the real artists." Graydon noted that they were highly influenced in their decision to form the group by Toto, who, as session musicians, had formed a similar group a few years earlier in 1977 (members of Toto also contributed to this album). He notes: "Yeah, it made us jealous. We wanted the same thing they had. They were studio guys, why can't we have that? [But] they had more accessible tunes. We got too musical." == Production ==

"Stranded" In the same interview, background vocalist Tom Kelly recalls: "Jay played me the track for "Stranded" when I was at his studio singing background vocals for one of his projects. He explained that he and David had written this power track and asked if I could finish the song by coming up with a melody & lyrics. I remember Jay had one line he wanted in the song..."and I don't know how I'll ever survive.” OK, here's a challenge... I was a budding songwriter at the time, but I had never written a melody and lyrics to a track. I always wrote melodies and chords together. Later with Billy Steinberg, I wrote melodies and chords after he started a lyric, but I had never started with a track. It was such a strong, driving track that I immediately got inspired and wrote the whole thing very quickly. The boys were pleased, and Tommy Funderburk and I sang the vocals soon after. Those were fun, productive times." "Nothin' You Can Do About It" Graydon recalls Jeff Porcaro's drum part on the track: "Absolutely. Nobody could play that groove. Jeff thought he couldn't play a shuffle. I mean it's a funk shuffle, but still a shuffle." Foster asks about the horns on the track, to which Graydon responds: "We started at midnight and went until 6 am. That was the only time with Jeff. 3 trumpets and 3 trombones. [I programmed an] ARP 2600. I didn't use the click. I'm sure we didn't." American vocal group The Manhattan Transfer recorded a version of the song on their 1979 album Extensions, produced by Graydon. In reference to their version, Graydon notes: "You know it's funny, I think I sounded way better than Alan [Paul], and he's a singer. I gave the arrangement with Greg and they used synth horns." == Cover art ==

Graydon talks about the cover art and photoshoot in the same interview: "First of all, here we are making a record. And the pictures was a perfect example. It was 110°F out in middle of the summer. My hair melted. I didn't have a comb or mirror, and I let it slide. l let the picture go on there as weird as it was, because I thought, "Who would give a shit. Whatever." You know? And yeah, I wouldn't fly back then, so how were we going to promote the thing being scared to death about flying. It was a joke." They shot the photos at the Hollywood Burbank Airport and used Earth, Wind & Fire's Bicam airplane that was used on their tours. == Track listing ==

Airplay • David Foster – keyboards, backing vocals (9), horn arrangements (5) • Jay Graydon – guitars, guitar solo (1), lead vocals (2, 4, 5, 9) • Tommy Funderburk – lead vocals (1, 3, 6–8, 10), backing vocals (2, 4) Additional musicians and vocalists • Steve Porcaro – synthesizer programming • Peter Robinson – synthesizer programming • Ray Parker Jr. – rhythm guitars (4), backing vocals (4) • Steve Lukather – rhythm guitars (6) • David Hungate – bass • Jeff Porcaro – drums (1, 2, 4, 5, 8–10) • Mike Baird – drums (3, 6, 7) • Charlie Loper – trombone • Lew McCreary – trombone • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone • Gary Grant – trumpet • Jerry Hey – trumpet, French horn, horn arrangements (4, 8, 10) • Steve Madaio – trumpet • Max Gronenthal – backing vocals • Tom Kelly – backing vocals (1, 8) • Bill Champlin – backing vocals (9), lead vocals (10) == Production ==

• Jay Graydon – producer, mixing, overdub engineer, synthesizer overdubs • David Foster – producer, second mix engineer, second overdub engineer • Humberto Gatica – basic track engineer • Keith Olsen – basic track engineer • David DeVore – second basic track engineer • Mark Linett – second basic track engineer • Bernie Grundman – mastering at A&M Studios (Hollywood, California) • Bobette Graydon – studio manager • Marge Meoli – A&R coordination • Tim Bryant – art direction, design • Bob Seidemann – photography ==References==