Was It The Future

Released 1996, A&M Records (U.S.A.), 3154 0480 2. Produced by Robbie Nevil with Steve Dubin. Recorded at O'Henry Studios and Andora Studios, Los Angeles California. Art Direction: Jeri Heiden. Design: Paul Lee. Photography: Reisig & Taylor.

The songs: Let's Talk About It, Your Precious Love, Good For You, Missing The Beat, Was It The Future, Show Me How It Feels, I Can't Believe My Eyes, First Time, It's Too Late, A Little More Time, Let's Talk About It (Hip Hop Mix).

Tracks 1 & 9 by Seiko and Robbie Nevil. Track 2 by Nicholas Ashford & Valerie Simpson. Tracks 3 & 5 by Steve Dubin & Robbie Nevil. Track 4 by B. Mitchell & P. Radford. Track 6 by Seiko, Robbie Nevil & Robin Smith. Track 7 by J. Lind & J. Bettis. Track 8 by Seiko, Robbie Nevil & P. Amato. Track 10 by Seiko, R. Nevil & J.P. Charles.

This 1996 Worldwide release featured a noteworthy omission: the name "Matsuda" appears nowhere in the credits. Although it would be impossible for Seiko to release an "anonymous" album, the graphics (one photo with sunglasses, one with blurred soft focus, and one long-distance shot) sought to create an image separate from her Japanese releases. Produced by U.S. pop singer Robbie Nevil (best known for his MTV hit "C'est La Vie"), the album went largely unnoticed in the U.S. outside of Seiko's mainstream following. It's also interesting to note that while it produced the concert and video favorites "Let's Talk About It" and "Good For You," Mercury Records has chosen not to release tracks from this CD on either the "Dear" or "Seiko 96-98" collections.

The song "Your Precious Love" is a duet with Nevil on the 1967 Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrel Motown hit single. A strong Motown influence can also be heard on the title track of Seiko's previous all-English release, 1985's "The Sound of My Heart." On "Future" the improvement in her English skills is remarkable. She is obviously more at ease with her vocals, and speculation continues regarding the possibility of future English-language projects.

Seiko's other 1996 release, "Vanity Fair," found her on more familiar ground and featured two additional collaborations with Nevil. He also made a cameo appearance onstage with Seiko in the "Vanity Fair" concert video. That album will be featured soon on SMF. Sony also released the final installment in their definitive collection series, "Bible III," in March...making 1996 a very significant year in Seiko's history.

Read Seiko fan Scott's memories of meeting Seiko on her promotional tour for "Was It The Future!"

Do you have special memories of "Was It The Future" that you would like to share with your friends at SMF? Please click here to send me an e-mail message. I will then add your comments to this page!

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