Far Corporation Original Vinyl Classics (2-LP)

(Sony) 19 tracks
The band, or rather the association "Far Corporation" joins the list of the much-cited supergroups. Successful producer Frank Farian (Boney M., Milli Vanilli, No Mercy) has been able to gather some illustrious names in a loose association for a short, loose, but intensive and above all extremely successful collaboration.

Outstanding and brought in the collective memory is certainly the cover version of the "Stairway to Heaven" classic. The single from the album "Division One" could conquer the charts worldwide. With Bobby Kimball's voice and the phrased playing of keyboardist David Paich and Steve Lukater on guitar, all of whom Farian had borrowed from Toto for this project, the song took on a whole new pop potential. Contrary to public perception, this actually made Far Corporation the first group to score a real single hit in the charts with "Stairway to Heaven," as original originators Led Zeppelin never released a single with the title. As successful as FAR Corporation were with both single and album, the collaboration was still considered a project and not a band. The changing lineup then consisted of well-known members of other bands such as Barclay James Harvest or Thin Lizzy, in addition to the aforementioned Toto musicians. German drum legend Curt Cress and multi talent Leslie Mandoki also had their part. While the 9 ½ minute opus "Stairway to Heaven" is the most important track and the prelude to "Division One" album, the follow-up album "Solitude" can convince among other things with a number of self-composed new songs and a fantastic version of Cockney Rebels "Sebastian".

Barely 10 years lie between the two albums, which is why "Division One" was still an LP success in its time, while "Solitude" was only available on CD. Both albums have been out of print for a long time and so fans here are just as happy about the LP premiere of "Solitude" as they are about the re-release of "Division One" on vinyl.