Saturday, July 4, 2020

ALI THOMSON · SONGS FROM THE PLAYROOM

Label: P-Vine Records Japan
June 19, 2020

La trayectoria de Ali Thomson como artista de grabación nos hace trasladarnos cuarenta años atrás. Estamos en 1980 y un jovencísimo Ali Thomson ficha por A&M y publica su primer álbum “Take a Little Rhythm” que incluía el hit del mismo título, el cual llegó a a estar en el Top 10 en Estados Unidos, Japón, Canadá y otros países.

Un año más tarde, Ali lanza “Deception is an Art” muy bien recibido por la crítica. Desde el lanzamiento “Deception is an Art” han pasado 38 años hasta la llegada de su nuevo álbum “Songs From My Playroom”. Sin duda un paréntesis muy grande en el tiempo, y esto fue debido a que después de su segundo álbum, su fama estaba creciendo demasiado y ante eso, decidió dar un paso a un lado y pasar a convertirse en compositor.

El tiempo ha terminado por dar la razón a ese cambio, Ali Thomson pasó de ser una estrella de masas para convertirse en un gran compositor, llegando a ser galardonado con varios premios Grammy y Emmy. Sus canciones e los últimos 30 años han sido grabadas por muchos artistas, llegando convertirse muchas de ellas en hits.

Ahora, cuarenta años después descubrimos con "Songs From the Playroom" que Ali Thomson todavía tiene mucho que decir musicalmente. En esta versión lanzada en Japón por el sello P-Vine encontramos 11 canciones, dos más que en su versión digital. Creaciones de un gran compositor de sobrada experiencia.

Desde el principio con Aqua Blue, Black Comedy y Song for a Broken Heart nos da idea de lo que Ali nos ofrece en este álbum, sin olvidar otras canciones como “Dark Matter” “Easy Love”, “Hercules” (canción creada en exclusiva para el lanzamiento en Japón) y el final del álbum, bonus track para el álbum japonés con la canción que daba título a su primer álbum “Take a Little Rhythm”.

Han pasado muchos años, pero la espera ha merecido la pena para este álbum superclase.

Javi Martin




Ali Thomson's career as a recording artist brings us back forty years ago. We are in 1980 and a very young Ali Thomson signs for A&M and releases his first album "Take a Little Rhythm" which included the hit of the same title, which was in the Top 10 in the United States, Japan, Canada and other countries.

A year later, Ali released "Deception is an Art" very well received by critics and fans. 38 years have passed since the release "Deception is an Art" until the release of their new album "Songs From My Playroom". Without a doubt a very big parenthesis in time, and this was because after his second album, his fame was growing too much and before that, he decided to step aside and go on to become a composer.

The time has come to give reason for that change, Ali Thomson went from being a star of the masses to becoming a great composer, getting to be awarded several Grammy and Emmy awards. His songs have been recorded in the last 30 years by many artists, many of them becoming hits.

Now, forty years later we discover with "Songs From the Playroom" that Ali Thomson still has a lot to say musically. In this version released in Japan by the P-Vine label we find 11 songs, two more than in its digital version. Creations of a great composer with plenty of experience.

From the beginning with "Aqua Blue", "Black Comedy" and "Song for a Broken Heart" it gives us an idea of what Ali offers us on this album, without forgetting other songs like "Dark Matter" "Easy Love", "Hercules ”(Song created exclusively for the Japanese release) and the end of the album, bonus track for the Japanese album with the song that gave title to their first album“ Take a Little Rhythm ”.

Many years have passed, but the wait was worth it for this top-class album.

Javi Martin




1. Aqua Blue
2. Black Comedy
3. Hercules (New song – Bonuys Track for Japan)
4. Song for a Broken Heart
5. Avalon Street
6. Dark Matter
7. Ride the Wave
8. Be the One
9. The Reason Why
10. Easy Love
11. Take a Little Rhythm (Exclusive Version-Bonus Track for Japan)

All tracks produced, engineered and mixed by Ali Thomson

Electric and acoustic guitar: Robbie McIntosh
Bass: Robin Mullarkey
Keyboards and horns: Peter-John Vettese
Backing vocals: Ali Thomson, Andy Caine and Peter-John Vettese. Katie Holmes-Smith
Horns: Triple H Horns, Sarah and Adam Baxter
Sax: John Anthony-Helliwell
Additional keyboards, bass, vocals, drums and percussion: Ali Thomson