I've always loved this guy's deeply rich vocals. He used to be in a '70's/'80's trio called Brooklyn Dreams with Donna Summer's husband Bruce Sudano and a guy named Eddie Hokenson (the trio co-wrote "Bad Girls" with Donna), and is probably best known for singing "You're The Best Around" from The Karate Kid. He also sung co-lead vocals on Donna Summer's "Heaven Knows", and is the male voice in Brenda Russel's "Piano in the Dark". He's done a lot of songs for films--two of his best to me are "Just Imagine" from the movie Thief of Hearts and "Lady, Lady, Lady" from Flashdance. He also had a song on the Scarface soundtrack. Joe originally sang "What a Feeling" before Irene Cara was brought in to re-record it.

[Edited 4/14/11 19:33pm]

Joe is underrated...loved his rapsy baritone on those songs.

xlr8r said:

Joe is underrated...loved his rapsy baritone on those songs.

Definately underrated. Lots of soul in his voice for sure.

Very strong vocalist. I like that live version of "Heaven Knows". He also did the opening song on Donna's "I'm A Rainbow" (or at least the opening on the version that ended up being released) called "I Belive In You". I really like that song.

VinnyM27 said:

Very strong vocalist. I like that live version of "Heaven Knows". He also did the opening song on Donna's "I'm A Rainbow" (or at least the opening on the version that ended up being released) called "I Belive In You". I really like that song.

I've never heard I Believe in You, but I'm about to...

SEANMAN said:

VinnyM27 said:

Very strong vocalist. I like that live version of "Heaven Knows". He also did the opening song on Donna's "I'm A Rainbow" (or at least the opening on the version that ended up being released) called "I Belive In You". I really like that song.

I've never heard I Believe in You, but I'm about to...

'I'm A Rainbow' is a double album that Donna Summer recorded in the summer of '81.It was submitted to her record label (Geffen) but was rejected.For 16 years it remained unreleased but in 1996,it was finally issued on CD."I Believe In You" (with Joe "Bean" Esposito) was the opening track on the album.I think it could have been a single back then.

^^Thanx for uploading it!

He was part of Elvis' infamous velvet mafia.

Otherwise the album he did with Bruce Sudano called Joe Bruce and 2nd Avenue (1987) is one of my all time favs. According to bugger all reports, the album either never got an official release but a few copies "escaped", or it got released in very, very limited quantities (most likely the latter). I own it and I know a bootleg when I see one and this ain't a bootleg. Bizarre stuff.

Maybe EMI just cancelled the release despite the fact it sounds like the album cost a fair bit as its produced by then hot producer Michael omartian (who worked with Donna Summer and Bruce Sudano in the past) and is slick and hi tech as you like (session musicians galore). No single or promo single seems to exist which is also strange. Producer Omartian is always slick and gets in good session musicians, but its very much an aquired taste as it's soft AOR and not rock.

Anyway its very rare but ebay may have a copy sometimes. It's almost like the holy grail for hi tech AOR lovers like me.

Heres a track that has been uploaded:

I uploaded a track from this album last year on the org mixtape thing LOL.

[Edited 4/19/11 16:09pm]

thesexofit said:

He was part of Elvis' infamous velvet mafia.

Otherwise the album he did with Bruce Sudano called Joe Bruce and 2nd Avenue (1987) is one of my all time favs. According to bugger all reports, the album either never got an official release but a few copies "escaped", or it got released in very, very limited quantities (most likely the latter). I own it and I know a bootleg when I see one and this ain't a bootleg. Bizarre stuff.

Maybe EMI just cancelled the release despite the fact it sounds like the album cost a fair bit as its produced by then hot producer Michael omartian (who worked with Donna Summer and Bruce Sudano in the past) and is slick and hi tech as you like (session musicians galore). No single or promo single seems to exist which is also strange. Producer Omartian is always slick and gets in good session musicians, but its very much an aquired taste as it's soft AOR and not rock.

Anyway its very rare but ebay may have a copy sometimes. It's almost like the holy grail for hi tech AOR lovers like me.

Heres a track that has been uploaded:

I uploaded a track from this album last year on the org mixtape thing LOL.

[Edited 4/19/11 16:09pm]

Actually, he wasn't the "Joe Esposito" of Elvis fame, they just happened to share the same name. "Diamond" Joe Esposito was Elvis's road manager. Thanx for the upload!

SEANMAN said:

thesexofit said:

He was part of Elvis' infamous velvet mafia.

Otherwise the album he did with Bruce Sudano called Joe Bruce and 2nd Avenue (1987) is one of my all time favs. According to bugger all reports, the album either never got an official release but a few copies "escaped", or it got released in very, very limited quantities (most likely the latter). I own it and I know a bootleg when I see one and this ain't a bootleg. Bizarre stuff.

Maybe EMI just cancelled the release despite the fact it sounds like the album cost a fair bit as its produced by then hot producer Michael omartian (who worked with Donna Summer and Bruce Sudano in the past) and is slick and hi tech as you like (session musicians galore). No single or promo single seems to exist which is also strange. Producer Omartian is always slick and gets in good session musicians, but its very much an aquired taste as it's soft AOR and not rock.

Anyway its very rare but ebay may have a copy sometimes. It's almost like the holy grail for hi tech AOR lovers like me.

Heres a track that has been uploaded:

I uploaded a track from this album last year on the org mixtape thing LOL.

[Edited 4/19/11 16:09pm]

Actually, he wasn't the "Joe Esposito" of Elvis fame, they just happened to share the same name. "Diamond" Joe Esposito was Elvis's road manager. Thanx for the upload!

Thats a relief LOL. I remember reading his name in an Elvis book years ago and assumed it was him. Just checked his wiki for the first time. Amazed that Joe Bruce album is even heard of. It seems so hard to find. My copy wasn't cheap LOL. And that was back before youtube so it might of been complete crap (I knew it wouldn't be though as Iam a big fan of Michael Omartian).

I forgot I owe his song from the "theif of hearts" OST. Some great synthy stuff on their.

thesexofit said:

SEANMAN said:

Actually, he wasn't the "Joe Esposito" of Elvis fame, they just happened to share the same name. "Diamond" Joe Esposito was Elvis's road manager. Thanx for the upload!

Thats a relief LOL. I remember reading his name in an Elvis book years ago and assumed it was him. Just checked his wiki for the first time. Amazed that Joe Bruce album is even heard of. It seems so hard to find. My copy wasn't cheap LOL. And that was back before youtube so it might of been complete crap (I knew it wouldn't be though as Iam a big fan of Michael Omartian).

I forgot I owe his song from the "theif of hearts" OST. Some great synthy stuff on their.

Yeah, Just Imagine is a great track. He collaborated well with Giorgio Moroder.

SEANMAN said:

thesexofit said:

Thats a relief LOL. I remember reading his name in an Elvis book years ago and assumed it was him. Just checked his wiki for the first time. Amazed that Joe Bruce album is even heard of. It seems so hard to find. My copy wasn't cheap LOL. And that was back before youtube so it might of been complete crap (I knew it wouldn't be though as Iam a big fan of Michael Omartian).

I forgot I owe his song from the "theif of hearts" OST. Some great synthy stuff on their.

Yeah, Just Imagine is a great track. He collaborated well with Giorgio Moroder.

Not to be nitpicky, but "Just imagine" was produced by Moroder's protege Harold "Axel F" Faltermeyer (aswell as composing the music to the song). Moroder did produce the title track with Faltermeyer though.

I can't really get with "your the best around". Omartian reigns in his OTT voice in on the Joe Bruce album though, so I like his voice on that. Love his voice on "America (whats the price you pay)", a track from the Joe Bruce album.

thesexofit said:

SEANMAN said:

Yeah, Just Imagine is a great track. He collaborated well with Giorgio Moroder.

Not to be nitpicky, but "Just imagine" was produced by Moroder's protege Harold "Axel F" Faltermeyer (aswell as composing the music to the song). Moroder did produce the title track with Faltermeyer though.

I can't really get with "your the best around". Omartian reigns in his OTT voice in on the Joe Bruce album though, so I like his voice on that. Love his voice on "America (whats the price you pay)", a track from the Joe Bruce album.

Right! It's a great song.

thesexofit said:

He was part of Elvis' infamous velvet mafia.

xlr8r said:

thesexofit said:

He was part of Elvis' infamous velvet mafia.

LOL, well it wasn't velvet mafia, but he called his inner circle something like that