Before he became the charismatic lead singer of Hiroshima, Terry Steele was making a name for himself as a songwriter, specifically the Luther Vandross hit "Here and Now" that he co-wrote with David Elliott. NEW ON CD
Hiroshima singer’s
debut solo effort sparkles
"Day by Day"
Terry Steele
JTS Records
That song kicks off his debut solo album, this time in a mellow and romantic acoustic version. Much of the album is in that same vein, with many of the succeeding songs being perfect midtempo, "smoochy" mood setters. His Hiroshima bandmates are on hand to help Steele with his album, with Kimo Cornwell, Dan Kuramoto, June Okida Kuramoto and Fred Schreuders taking part. Cornwell wrote and orchestrated the lustrous instrumental intro "Yesterday's Dreams" that segues into the album's big ballad, "Say Goodbye." Cornwell is also responsible for the lively title song's arrangement, filled with positive-sounding, overdubbed harmony doo-wop vocals.
There are also some more contemporary-styled numbers; "By Saturday" is reminiscent of the current British two-step stylings of Craig David, and "My Good" features the rap and hip-hop work of Hyphen Trade.
My only reservation lies with a duet with Patti LaBelle on a remake of the Stylistics' classic "You Are Everything." It's a slow-burn version that tries to squeeze out every possible emotional nuance out of the song; by song's end, there's nothing left to wring out! Otherwise, Hiroshima fans should enjoy this album.
ALSO NEW: "Let It Rain," Tracy Chapman; "El Cool Magnifico," Coolio; "Cry," Faith Hill; "Always Let Me Go," the Keith Jarrett Trio; "The G Spot," Gerald Levert; "X," LL Cool J; "Lift Every Voice," Charles Lloyd; "On the Road," The String Cheese Incident; "Sound Event," Rob Swift (of the X-ecutioners) and "Red Hot + Riot!," a multi-artist tribute to African icon Fela Kuti that benefits the Red Hot Organization's fight against AIDS in Africa.
Gary C.W. Chun
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