WHAT IF (Tommy Funderburk) – What If [Japan remastered AOR CITY 1000 series] , MP3+FLAC

Criminally underrated and still unknown for many AOR fans, WHAT IF self-titled album fortunately was included in the Sony Music Japan campaign titled AOR CITY 1000 featuring a Low-priced remastered Reissue on 100 classic AOR / AC albums from their back catalog, many of them out of print or hard to find.

This is a limited offer (ending March 2017) with the incredible price around U$S 9 each CD (or 1000 Japanese Yen, hence the name of the campaign).

Gifted vocalist Tommy Funderburk shoulda been one of the most hired back-up singers since the early ’80s… Check the credits of your favorite album from the era and chances are very high to see his name on it.
To name some, Funderburk did background vocals for records of Airplay, Boston, Stan Bush, The Cult, Tim Feehan, Richard Marx, Van Stephenson, John Waite, Whitesnake, and more, and more…

Of course Funderburk was part of the classic AOR album / band Airplay, but later, around 1983, he met drummer Bob Wilson from the band Seawind and together they formed The Front.
The group recorded a cool self-titled album in ’84 that was followed by a U.S / European tour in 1985.

After a heavy schedule recording for other artists and movie soundtracks, by 1987 Funderburk & Wilson reformed the band and brought in Larry Williams on keyboards and saxophone, and changed the name to WHAT IF and released this gem on major label RCA.

The ‘who’s who’ in the AOR session world is here: Larry Klein and his pumpin’ bass sound, Casey Young, Paulinho Da Costa, Bill Champlin & Bob Carlisle providing backing vocals and the blazing guitar work from genius Michael Landau.
And if you need more, another guitar monster called Dan Huff shines on ‘Turn And Walk Away’, a terrific song co-written by another guitar maestro: Michael Thompson.

What can I say about this great album… I am Funderburk’s unconditional fan. His high multi-tone vocals and perfect modulation turns into gold everything it touches. Tommy’s performance here, as usual, is simply perfect.
‘Perfect World’ written by Glen Burtnik (and later recorded by Alias and Freddy Curci solo) is a winner of course, but there’s much more on offer here. Just listen to “One Look” vocal arrangements… amazing.
‘Ride The Hurricane’ has an awesome guitar work and ‘Love Is A Fire’ beats you with a killer tempo, even the sax is great and strong.
All tracks on “What If” are outstanding and production, first class.

This is you chance to get a Japanese remastered edition of this fantastic album for years really, really hard to find, and now sold at a really affordable price. It uses the last remastering and the manufacturing is excellent.
HIGHLY Recommended

 

ＳＯＮＹ ＭＵＳＩＣ ＪＡＰＡＮ 【ＳＩＣＰ～4844】
Ａ Ｏ Ｒ   Ｃ Ｉ Ｔ Ｙ  １０００

1 – What If
2 – If This Is Love
3 – Perfect World
4 – One Look
5 – Ride The Hurricane
6 – She Rocked My World
7 – Love Is A Fire
8 – When Right Is Wrong
9 – Turn And Walk Away

Lead & Backing Vocals – Tommy Funderburk
Keyboards, Sax – Larry Williams
Drums – Bob Wilson

Guitars – Michael Landau
Guitar on 9 – Dan Huff
Bass – Larry Klein
Synthesizer – Casey Young
Synths, Programming, Percussion – Eric Persing
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Backing Vocals – Bill Champlin, Bob Carlisle

MP3 FLAC REAL?