Bill LaBOUNTY
THE RIGHT DIRECTION - The success of any musical endeavor begins with effective, emotional song writing, and Bill LaBOUNTY has based his multi-faceted career as an artist and composer on the magical marriage of music and lyrics. In addition to his renown as a top-flight songwriter with an all-star resume, he took center stage in the late Seventies an early Eighties with 4 solo albums. Now, after a decade concentrating on his work behind the scene, LaBOUNTY re-establishes his won voice on THE RIGHT DIRECTION, his Noteworthy debut.
- "I have always gotten the most gratification out of being a songwriter, but I enjoyed recording my own songs again because unlike with my previous albums, I had control as a co-producer," says LaBOUNTY of the new collection, which features the rhythm section of John ROBINSON (drums) and Neil STUBENHAUS (bass), as well as all-star contributions from Larry CARLTON, Robbie DUPREE and Tata VEGA.
- "Often outside producers cater more to themselves than to their artists, but this time, I could make sure my performance was up to my standards" he adds.
- "This was a fun record to make, everyone had a great time in the studio, and you can hear the enjoyment. A lot of the playing is live, so the tracks sound a little more spirited than most of my old tunes in a very exciting way."
- LaBOUNTY shared production duties with long time associate Robbie DUPREE. "Bill's artistry and my career have been entwined since 1980 and every record I have done he has been a part of," says DUPREE, whose hit Hot Rod Hearts was written by LaBOUNTY. "THE RIGHT DIRECTION is rich with emotional portrayal. No one can do a Bill LaBOUNTY song like Bill LaBOUNTY."
- The tunes on THE RIGHT DIRECTION reflect LaBOUNTY's penchant for exploring Matters of The Heart. The soulful fund of Good Life introduces us to his raspy, passionate method of up-tempo seduction, while the romantic title cut (featuring DUPREE's magnificent harmonica solo) shows a lower-key, charming side of his personality.
- The punchy, hooky Mr. O (co-written with Robbie DUPREE and Jay GRAYDON) sizzles with CARLTON electric guitar solo, leading us back to NAC-pop fell on the breezy ballads Emily.
- Holding Out and Burn Down The Night are powerful, guitar driven emotional statements, the latter featuring a fiery Jim HORN sax solo. The next tracks, Be There and Time Starts Now simmer down towards tenderness and candlelight in a very Bobby CALDWELL-like fashion. Tata VEGA's lush harmony vocal spruces up Time Starts Now.
- The final tunes, keyboard-focused bonus live tracks entitled Drops Of Water and This Night Won't Last Forever, kick up LaBOUNTY's sense of spirit and rhythm with a bluesy edge.
- Bill LaBOUNTY's musical direction was clear since his teenage years, when he played in bands all over the western United States. He scored his first breakthrough as lead singer of FAT CHANCE, which was signed to RCA. The Northwest native then took his act solo, recording one album for 20th Century Fox Records, followed by 3 albums for Warner Brothers Records, splashing onto the charts with Never Gonna Look Back and Livin' It Up, which hit biggest in Europe.
- He also established himself as a songwriter for other artists, with successes that span almost 2 decades. Over the years, his hit-filled resume includes cuts by a dazzling array of Pop and Country stars: James TAYLOR, Jennifer WARNES, Patti LaBELLE, Robbie DUPREE, Michael JOHNSON, Steve WARINER, Ronnie MILSAP, THE TEMPTATIONS, THE JUDDS, BROOKS & DUNN, Tanya TUCKER, OAK RIDGE BOYS, Jimmy BUFFETT, Conway TWITTY and Gino VANNELLI, among others.
- LaBOUNTY has collaborated with countless songwriters over the years, with one of the most significant being his wife, Beckie FOSTER. LaBOUNTY and FOSTER's first cover together was Sawyer BROWN's Heart Don't Fall Now, which led to a lucrative joint career (in both Nashville and L.A.) in the country, pop and soundtrack markets. Among their movie song highlights was Peter CETERA's "No Explanation" from "Pretty Woman".
- After his final Warner's release in 1983, LaBOUNTY met FOSTER and the two decided to focus their time and creative efforts on writing hits for Nashville. As years have gone by, he has missed the performing aspects of his career, and feels that the new album will point him in THE RIGHT DIRECTION as a recording and touring artist.
- "I wanted to make a natural feeling album with a great rhythm section to feature and still have the availability of synths and modern processing that exists in a state of the art studio," LaBOUNTY says.
- "I wanted to achieve honest musical emotion and satisfy myself with my vocal performances. As a producer, this time I was able to be my own judge on such matters."
- This last year, LaBOUNTY has performed in both Europe and Japan and looks forward to touring in the U.S. in suppport of the new collection. His songs have touched the hearts of millions for many years behind the scenes, and now, it's time for his solo career to one again focus in THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THE RIGHT DIRECTION (Ad sheet) Bill LaBOUNTY is back on the scene with his first release for Noteworthy Records. THE RIGHT DIRECTION features an all star guest list including Larry CARLTON, Robbie DUPREE, Tata VEGA and John ROBINSON. With it's breezy feel and tightly crafted songs, THE RIGHT DIRECTION is certain to gain strong NAC/AAA airplay and repeat the success of his last solo album which produced the A/C radio hits Never Gonna Look Back and Livin' It Up.
Best known for his extraordinary song writing talents, LaBOUNTY has delivred the hit songs Hot Rod Hearts for Robbie DUPREE, and She Loves My Car for Ronnie MILSAP. His work has also been used by Peter CETERA, Brenda RUSSELL, Patti LaBELLE, Bobby CALDWELL, Don JOHNSON, THE TEMPTATIONS, Jimmy BUFFETT, Bill MEDLEY and THREE DOG NIGHT. Also an accomplished keyboardist and synthesist, LaBOUNTY has worked in the studio with such artists as Patti LaBELLE, James TAYLOR, Jennifer WARNES, etc.
Currently he and his wife Beckie FOSTER, have co-written a string of hits for country artists like Steve WARINER, THE JUDDS and HIGHWAY101.
DISCOGRAPHY (Albums) - Promised Love (1975) - 20th Century Fox Records USA (studio album - only in vynile format) - Track-listing: Lie To Me, Together, Crazy, I Hope You'll Be Very Unhappy, Without Me, Always Be Near, Take A Step (Yesterday Waltz), Pretty Little Angel, Open your Eyes, Another Drunk.
- This Night Won't Last Forever (1978) - Curb Records USA (on CD format too) - Track-listing: This Night Won't Last Forever, Room 205, In 25 Words Or Less, Open Your Eyes, Little Girl In Blue Jeans, Lie To Me, Who's Gonna Hold You, Crazy, A Tear Can Tell, I Hope You'll Be Very Unhappy Without Me.
- Rain In My Life (1979) - Curb Records USA (on CD format too) - Track-listing: Dancin' Tonight, Trail To Your Heart, Isn't It A Cry, Drop Of Water, I'm Hurtin', Sometimes Love Songs Make Me Cry, What About You, Clap Me In Irons, To Hear The Band, Little Rivers.
- Bill LaBounty (1982) - Curb Records USA (on CD format too) - Track-listing: Livin' It Up, Didn't Want To Say Goodbye, Dream On, Slow Fade, Comin' Back, Look Who's Lonely Now, Never Gonna Look Back, It Used To Be Me, Nobody's Fool, Secrets.
- The Right Direction (1991) - La Califusa Records France (on CD format only) - Track-listing: Good Life, The Right Direction, Mr. O, Emily, Holding Out, Burn Down The Night, Be There, Time Starts Now.
- The Right Direction (1994) - Noteworthy Records USA (on CD format only) - Track-listing: Good Life, The Right Direction, Mr. O, Emily, Holding Out, Burn Down The Night, Be There, Time Starts Now, Drops Of Water (live), This Night Won't Last Forever (live).
© Noteworthy Records - September 1994
