Michael Bolton - Timeless: The Classics

It's hard to resist the notion that Michael Bolton, who took considerable flak in the press for storming the charts with copycat reproductions of '60s soul hits -- "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay," "Georgia On My Mind," "When A Man Loves A Woman" -- felt "suddenly compelled," as he put it here in a sleeve note, to devote an entire album to cover songs after publicly confronting his critics at the Grammy Awards ceremony in February 1992. "I believe that a great song can live forever," he also noted, and it may be added that one definition of a standard is that it can survive any treatment -- there's not much you can do to "Yesterday" or "White Christmas" at this point, and those attracted to Bolton's phlegmy approach doubtless appreciated having his takes on them. On the other hand, as with his previous R&B appropriations, versions of songs like The Four Tops' "Reach Out I'll Be There" and Sam And Dave's "Hold On, I'm Comin'" only succeeded in confirming Bolton's inferiority to his predecessors. Perhaps the most appropriate matchup (and the album's hit single) was The Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody": hacks meet hack, and the result is a draw. Still, it's hard to get through an entire Michael Bolton album without pondering the question-- how long can you stay that choked up without actually asphyxiating? ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Schmidt Mixing, Engineer Al Schmitt Mixing, Engineer Alan DeVeritch Viola Angela Brinn Vocals (Background) Anne Karam Cello Armen Garabedian Violin Assa Drori Violin Berj Garabedian Violin Betty Moore Violin Bill Schnee Engineer Bob Sheppard Woodwind Brad Warnaar French Horn Brett Swain Assistant Engineer Brian Dembow Viola Brian O'Connor French Horn Brian Scheuble Assistant Engineer Buell Neidlinger Bass Calvin Smith French Horn Carla Hart Vocals (Background) Carmen Twillie Vocals (Background) Carole Mukogawa Viola Chris Fogel Assistant Engineer Christine Ermacoff Cello Christopher Austopchuk Art Direction Chuck Domanico Bass Claudia Parducci Violin Claytoven Richardson Vocals (Background) Clyde Schofield Vocals (Background) Craig Brock Assistant Engineer Cynthia Morrow Viola Dan Higgins Woodwind Dan Neufeld Viola Dana Jon Chappelle Mixing, Engineer Dane Little Cello Dave Reitzas Vocal Engineer, Engineer David Duke French Horn David Foster Producer, Keyboards, Rhythm Arrangements Dean Parks Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) Denyse Buffum Viola Dixie Blackstone Violin Don Ashworth Woodwind Don Palmer Violin Dorothy Wade Violin Ed Meares Bass Ellecia Pitts Vocals (Background) Emilio Castillo Sax (Tenor) Eric Rudd Engineer, Second Engineer, Assistant Engineer Frederick Seykora Cello Gary Cirimelli Vocals (Background), Synclavier, Programming, Sampling Gary Foster Woodwind Gary Herbig Sax (Tenor) Gayle Levant Harp Gerald Vinci Violin, Concert Master Glenn Garrett Woodwind Greg Adams Arranger, Trumpet, Horn Arrangements Greg Philinganes Organ Greg Phillinganes Organ, Piano Gwen Heller Violin Haim Shtrum Violin Harris Goldman Violin Harry Shirinian Viola, Violin Henry Ferber Violin Ian Underwood Piano Irma Neumann Violin Isabelle Daskoff Violin Jack Nimitz Woodwind James Atkinson French Horn Janice Harrison Vocals (Background) Janis Liebhart Vocals (Background) Jeff Mironov Guitar Jeffrey DeRosa French Horn Jeremy Lubbock Orchestral Arrangements, Conductor Jodi Burnett Cello Joel Peskin Saxophone, Soloist, Woodwind John "4 Daddman" Robinson Drums John "J.R." Robinson Drums Johnny Mandel Arranger, Orchestral Arrangements, Conductor Jon Clarke Woodwind Jude Johnson Cello Karen Jones Violin, Violin Kathleen Lenski Violin Kathy Garnett-Thompson Vocals (Background) Kazi Pitelka Viola Ken Moore Vocals (Background) Kenneth Day Vocals (Background) Kyle Bess Assistant Engineer, Engineer, Second Engineer Larry Bunker Percussion Larry Corbett Cello Lawrence Payton Guest Appearance Lee Thornberg Trombone, Trumpet Lee Thornburg Trombone, Trumpet Linn Subotnick Viola Lisa Johnson Violin Louis Levin Direction Manny Lacarrubba Engineer, Second Engineer Margaret Storer Bass Mari Botnick Violin Marie Fera Cello Mark Hensley Engineer, Second Engineer Marty Kristall Woodwind Mary Lloyd Vocals (Background) Matthew Rolston Photography Michael Bolton Arranger, Producer, Rhythm Arrangements, Vocals, Liner Notes Michael Ferril Violin Michael Landau Guitar Michael Markman Violin Michael Thompson ?, Guitar (Electric), Guitar Mick Guzauski Mixing Mihail Zinovyev Viola Miriam Tajonera Vocals (Background) Monalisa Young Vocals (Background) Nancy Sprague Groomer Nathan East Drums, Bass Neil Stubenhaus Bass Noel Hazen Assistant Engineer Norma Leonard Violin Pat Hawk Vocals (Background) Paula Hochhalter Cello PH1 Choir ? Portia Griffin Vocals (Background) Randy Jackson Bass Randy Kerber Organ (Hammond), Piano, Piano (Electric) Raymond Tischer Viola Reginald Hill Violin Ren Klyce Sampling, Programming, Synclavier Renaldo Benson Guest Appearance Rene Mandel Violin Rev. Patrick Henderson Vocals (Background), Arranger Richard Todd French Horn Robbie Buchanan Keyboards Robert Adcock Cello Robert Brosseau Violin Robert Sushel Violin Rodney Finney Vocals (Background) Roland Kato Viola Ronald Cooper Cello Ronald Folsom Violin Russ Cantor Violin Sharon Cravin Vocals (Background) Sheldon Sanov Violin Stephanie Rockwell Vocals (Background) Stephen "Doc" Kupka Sax (Baritone) Steve Fowlkes Vocals (Background) Steve Milo Assistant Engineer Suzie Katayama Cello The Four Tops Vocals (Background) Tim Godfrey Vocals (Background) Tina Soule Cello Tower of Power ? Vann Johnson Vocals (Background) Vernon "Ice" Black Guitar Vlado Meller Mastering Walter Afanasieff Organ (Hammond), Organ, Producer, Bass, Rhythm Programming, Keyboards, Programming, Synthesizer, Horn Arrangements, Piano William Hybel Violin Yvette Williams Vocals (Background) Yvonne Hairston Vocals (Background) Yvonne Williams Vocals (Background)