Debby Boone – Midstream; Debby Boone / Real Gone Music Audio CD 2018 / RGM-0693

UPC 848064006930

Midstream (1978) is the second studio album by Debby Boone. The album's title refers to the change in producers "midstream" on the album. The first seven songs were produced by Brooks Arthur; the remaining five songs were written and produced by Joe Brooks who was responsible for Boone's "You Light Up My Life." Brooks' songs were all written for his film, If Ever I See You Again. On the film's soundtrack, Boone was only featured on the track, "California". Another Midstream track, "When You're Loved," was one of three songs recorded by Boone for The Magic of Lassie soundtrack.

On the strength of #1 hit "You Light Up My Life," one would think that for her 1978 follow-up Midstream Debby Boone would have been immediately able to exert artistic control but the process was gradual. Debby discovered that "Light" writer/ producer Joe Brooks was contractually guaranteed to participate in her sophomore solo album. However, Debby was ready to expand her musical range into a more mature, sophisticated direction. Accordingly, halfway through the sessions, Debby changed producers from Joe Brooks to Brooks Arthur (which prompted the album's title, changing from one "Brooks" to another "Midstream" - get it?). Though Midstream failed to match the gargantuan success of You Light Up My Life, it demonstrated that Debby had grown up by spotlighting such great performances as "God Knows" (a country/adult contemporary hit) and "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love." Also including the pop/AC charter "California," Midstream remains a fan favorite and a fine record in its own right. Fortunately, Brooks Arthur was firmly behind the controls for Debby's next record, her self-titled outing from 1979. With a crack band behind her, and unerring choice of material, like the Miracles flipside "Choosey Beggar" and the beautiful "I'd Rather Be Alone," Debby Boone is probably the most overlooked and important album in her early pop career canon; though it does include two hit country singles, "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" and "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart," lack of promotion doomed its sales prospects even as her artistry reached new heights. A pair of CD debuts for both original albums on this 23-track twofer...and, just like our reissue of You Light Up My Life, we are releasing this in a beautiful digipak featuring liner notes by Joe Marchese peppered with quotes from Debby herself!

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