With their heavily orchestrated, sweet ballads, the Australian soft rock group Air Supply became a staple of early-'80s radio, scoring a string of seven straight US Top Five singles. Air Supply, for most intents and purposes, was the duo of vocalists Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell; other members came through the group over the years, yet they only functioned as backing musicians and added little to the group's sound. Hitchcock and Russell met while performing in a Sydney, Australia, production of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1976. The two singers formed a partnership and with the addition of four supporting musicians -- keyboardist Frank Esler-Smith, guitarist David Moyse, bassist David Green, and drummer Ralph Cooper -- Air Supply was born.
Love And Other Bruises and If You Knew Me, the first demos of Graham’s compositions were recorded on a tiny tape deck in a theatre orchestra pit. Everyone turned them down, but one - CBS Records who admired their unique style. They made a single in one afternoon and it shot to number one on the National charts. The duo found help from Frank Esler-Smith, Superstar’s musical director, and Air Supply’s future keyboardist. Graham and Russell settled on the named Air Supply, because it held several meanings: Air is the term used in classical music, meaning melody. At the time, it seemed as though everyone else in Australia was doing heavy metal. Ballads were a breath of fresh air. Astrologically speaking, Graham and Russell are both Geminis, which is an ‘air’ sign. In the mid-seventies,"the star sign bit was really hip, you know", laughs Graham.
For several years, the group gained no attention outside of Australia, earning one significant hit single, Love and Other Bruises (1976). Their first international exposure came in the late '70s, when Rod Stewart had them as his opening act on a North American tour. Air Supply signed a record contract with Arista in 1980, releasing their first album by the end of the year. Lost in Love, their debut album, was a major success in the U.S., selling over two million copies and spawning the hit singles Lost in Love, All Out of Love and Every Woman in the World. The following year they released their second album, The One That You Love. The title track became their only number one hit and it also featured two other Top Ten hits, Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) and Sweet Dreams. With their third album, 1982's Now and Forever, their popularity dipped slightly -- it only had one Top Ten hit, Even the Nights Are Better and the other two singles, Young Love and Two Less Lonely People in the World, scraped the bottom of the Top 40. Air Supply released a Greatest Hits collection in 1983, featuring a new single, Making Love Out of Nothing at All. The single spent two weeks at number two while the album peaked at number seven and eventually sold over four million copies.
Two years later, they released Air Supply (1985), their fourth album. It featured the number 19 single Just As I Am, but it was clear that their audience was shrinking -- the album was their first not to go platinum. Hearts in Motion (1986) was even less successful, peaking at number 84 and spending only nine weeks on the charts. The duo still released their Christmas Album (1987) and after its disappointing performance, Air Supply decided to break up. Russell started a solo career without any participation of Graham and released his first solo album, Russell Hitchcock (1987). The cover song Someone Who Believes in You (previously recorded by Carole King) was a hit in several countries.
Hitchcock and Russell reunited in 1991, releasing Earth Is..., but the album failed to make the charts, although its tracks Without You and Stronger Than The Night were being played in several countries. Two years later, they released The Vanishing Race (1993), whose single was a smash hit worldwide, except in the States. The duo released News From Nowhere (1995) and topped the world charts with Unchained Melody, another cover songs recorded previously by the American duo The Righteous Brothers. That same year, Air Supply recorded a live album during their successful tour in Asia, Now And Forever... Greatest Hits Live and More which featured a brand new studio song "The Way I Feel" and a re-recording of their old hit Now And Forever. The album was released worldwide followed by the releasings of a VCD, VHS tape and a laser disc which would offer their fans anywhere the chance of seeing the band performing live during their famous Asian tour. An interactive CD-rom called As Closes As This (1996) was also available featuring videos, music and much more about that tour. Still in the end of the decade, the due released The Book of Love (1997), which featured woman's backing vocal and a new rhythm and instruments on some songs. The same year, they also released a new compilation album called Air Supply The Ultimate Collection. Two new studio songs were included, Longer (a new cover) and The Scene, which would be released later on Yours Truly.
The new millennium marked the band's first studio album in four years, and a summer tour in support of Yours Truly (2001). Their single You Are The Reason (duet with Manhaz) had a minor hit. That would be their last studio album for Arista (BMG). The next ones would all be released by their new recording company, A Nice Pear: Celestine Travelers , The Heart of the Rose (both in 2002), The Future (2007, all Graham's solo recordings), Across The Concret Sky (2003) and their last studio album The Singer and the Song (2005). Still in 2005, the band released It Was 30 Years Ago Today (recorded live during their tour in Canada) and Love Songs, featuring their last studio recording Miracles.
The band keeps on the road, touring live across several countries, performing their greatest hits ever. They also have included some Graham's solo songs from his last album The Future and some brand new Air Supply songs which will hopefully be included on their next studio album, Zed as The River and Me, Faith in Love, Let Me Be The One and A Little Bit of Everything. They promise to release a new studio album during 2009.
Written by Stephen Thomas Erlewine for All Music Guide
Additional text by Tony
Sources:
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário