World Goes Around is a band composed of friends that hold a story unlike any other. Frank Musker, Elizabeth Lamers, Jeff Hull and Marty Walsh – four good friends who were hot songwriters, singers, and musicians working at that time in the LA music scene of 1989, decided to write and record an album. They worked with none other than record producer Tommy Vicari (Billy Idol, Prince) who was fundamental in getting this debut album in the works.
Already accomplished musicians, writers and performers in their own right, the quartet had by this point already collaborated with the likes of Queen, Chaka Khan, John Denver, Brenda Russell and so many, many more. This gave Vicari the opportunity to see what these stars in the making could craft together themselves, and was determined to see this project through.
Much like Fleetwood Mac and The Eurythmics, love was a functional part of World Goes Round’s makeup. Frank and Elizabeth’s relationship saw them turn into a creative force to be reckoned with, writing Brian May of Queen’s hit single ‘Too Much Love Will Kill You’, leading to an Ivor Novello Award in the UK for ‘Best Song Musically and Lyrically’. No doubting their talents, Vicari wanted to ensure he made full use of these hidden gems that just had to be uncovered.
After making the record in 1989 at Frankie’s legendary studio in Laurel Canyon, there was a definite album’s worth of material, but differences within the band and contractual issues meant the album, which was surely due to be a hit, did not get released. However, just over 30 years later, Vicari, with the help of Bill Smith, uncovered the old tapes that were almost forgotten about so long ago, rendered them and re-mastered them in the now modernised and revolutionised fashion, and the album was re-born.
Remarkably released in 2020, the self-titled album with lead single ‘Round the World’ has seen support from Johnnie Walker’s show on BBC Radio 2 and holds an album’s worth of songs that was destined for greatness in its time and still sounds just as great today. ‘Please Please’ is a real inspirational number that is so polished and refined. The songwriting takes reference to Bryan Adams, in Musker’s gravelly yet commanding vocal, with the sea of harmonies from Lamers that sit so perfectly together.
Heavily involved in the process was co-producer Jeff Hull who contributed a lot of the instrumentation to the album, as well as renowned session guitarist Marty Walsh, with his fierce, driving guitar sounds that bring a real energy to the tracks. An anthem for the ages, World Goes Round’s 30+ year wait to release their debut record came to an end, and to fans of just purely great music that takes you back to the golden age of the late 80s will surely be more than appeased by these 10 songs full of hope and lyrical themes that are still, if not more, relevant today than they were at the time of recording. ‘Great Talker’ is a fun-filled, groove-ladened masterpiece, which really shows the character and personality of these four.
It’s clear that World Goes Round made a record that was musically up there with their heroes but quirky, forthright, opinionated and relevant. They say it’s never too late, and with the relentless help of Tommy Vicari and Bill Smith and of course the work the band put in all those years ago, this has proven to be the case in an album that has come to fruition in the most extraordinary of ways.
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