Brother to Brother

A superb singer with overwhelming vocal power, Vannelli is highly respected as a musician's musician. His sound became increasingly dramatic as it sought to give his emotional singing the fullest expression, culminating in this final A&M album. The music he creates with his two brothers is progressive hard fusion itself. Although treated as an idol abroad, his lively ‘Appaloosa’ and the seven-minute title track, with its gripping developments, astonished even Japan's discerning listeners and cemented his reputation. His ballads, meanwhile, are romantic: the No. 4 American hit ‘I Just Wanna Stop’ is still loved as a signature song.

An Italian Canadian born in Montreal, he debuted with the Herb Alpert-produced Crazy Life (1973). Regarded at first as a newcomer in urban pop, he brought his creativity to orchestration that made extensive use of keyboards. His Arista album Nightwalker (1981) was just as accomplished. But in the city of Clive Davis, his career lost its direction. His latest collection of self-covers at the time, The Best and Beyond (2009), marked the welcome return of his impassioned voice after a long absence.