Fotomaker Collection

Fotomaker: Wally Bryson (electric & acoustic guitars, electric 12-string guitar, vocals); Lex Marchesi (electric & acoustic guitars, vocals); Frankie Vinci (keyboards, alto flute, vocals); Gene Cornish (bass, vocals); Dino Danelli (drums, percussion).
Producers: Eddie Kramer, Ron Albert, Howard Albert, Gene Cornish, Dino Danelli, Barry Mraz.
Reissue producer: Gary Peterson.
Engineers: Eddie Kramer, Ron Albert, Howard Albert, Gary Ladinsky, Barry Mraz.
Principally recorded at Electric Lady Studios and The Record Plant, New York; Criteria Recording Studios and Quadradio Recording Studios, Miami, Florida between 1977 and 1979. Includes liner notes by Barry Alfonso.
All songs written or co-written by Lex Marchesi and/or Franki Vinci except "Where Have You Been All My Life" (James Cawley) and "Name Of The Game" (Wally Bryson).
THE FOTOMAKER COLLECTION contains tracks from Fotomaker's three Atlantic albums, FOTOMAKER (1978), VIS-A-VIS (1978) and TRANSFER STATION (1979), as well as one previously unissued track from the VIS-A-VIS sessions.
Personnel: Wally Bryson (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar); Lex Marchesi (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Frankie Vinci (vocals, alto flute, keyboards); Gene Cornish (vocals); Dino Danelli (drums, percussion).
Audio Mixer: John Jansen.
Audio Remasterer: Bill Inglot.
Audio Remixers: Fotomaker; Jimmy Douglass.
Photographers: Mick Rock ; Frankie Vinci; Lex Marchesi.
With two members stemming from the Rascals, Fotomaker sang tightly polished pop/rock songs, complete with catchy choruses and ample guitar work, but never really came to fruition outside of New York. All three of their albums, Fotomaker, Vis-A-Vis, and Transfer Station contribute to the 16 tracks on this all-you-need collection. As substance is sparse in their music, they aren't without some attractive hooks, and some of their love songs do merit creativity. Wally Bryson, who used to be in the Raspberries, adds a splash of talent that is welcomed on many of the tracks. "Miles Away," their highest charting single at number 63, contains one of the sharpest hooks on the album and is easily the best tune present. Sometimes sounding like Steely Dan without the jazzy smoothness, Bryson's voice is pleasing to the ear, especially on some of the lighter tunes like "All There in Her Eyes" and "Lose at Love." At surface level, Fotomaker's music brandishes some palatable melodies that are typical of late-'70s radio, and this collection sums up their short-lived career perfectly. ~ Mike DeGagne