Keys to Imagination

1986 studio album by Yanni

Keys to Imagination

Studio album by

Yanni

Released| September 1986
Genre| Instrumental, space music[1]
Length| 38:13
Label| Private Music
Producer| Yanni
Yanni chronology
| Optimystique
(1984)  | Keys to Imagination
(1986)  | Out of Silence
(1987)

|
|

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [2]

Keys to Imagination is the second studio album by Greek keyboardist and composer Yanni, released on the Private Music label in 1986.

## Background & production

[edit]

In an interview with Cymbiosis, Yanni said that he often spent 12–15 hours a day producing the album. Yanni also stated that his favorite part about producing the album was to activate "up to six or seven [slave] keyboards" and that "the most simple sounds on Keys to Imagination are made with at least two or three keyboards."[3]

## Critical reception

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In a review by Backroads Music/Heartbeats, "Yanni's first Private Music release is a true masterpiece of dramatic synthesizer music. His music is lusty and brilliant, richly melodious and memorable, full of passion & life as befits his Greek heritage. One of the ultimate car-stereo albums, Yanni's flamboyant, superb style of compositions makes Keys to Imagination some of the most extravagant, hyperspace music we know."[1] Mark Jacobs of Cymbiosis, praised the album, writing "Yanni displays sensitivity and warmth that conveys emotions to the listener while still achieving excellent recorded sound; qualities that are sadly lacking on many 'Synthesizer' albums." Jacobs cited two songs, "Looking Glass" and "Santorini", which were also included in the corresponding cassette for the magazine.[3]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "The North Shore of Matsushima"| 5:08
2.| "Looking Glass"| 6:35
3.| "Nostalgia"| 4:27
4.| "Santorini"| 4:34
5.| "Port of Mystery"| 4:49
6.| "Keys to Imagination"| 5:13
7.| "Forgotten Yesterdays"| 3:30
8.| "Forbidden Dreams"| 3:57

Notes

* "Port of Mystery" is most well-known around the web as being one of the background tracks used in The "Concept Unification" installation videotape from 1989, which instructed the process that replaced The Rock-afire Explosion animatronic band at ShowBiz Pizza Place with characters from Chuck E. Cheese's due to a licensing disagreement with Creative Engineering.

## Personnel

[edit]

* All music composed and produced by Yanni

## Production

[edit]

Yanni recorded Keys to Imagination at his home studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

* Executive Producer: Peter Baumann
* Mixed by Peter Baumann, Jerry Steckling, and Yanni
* Engineer: Jerry Steckling
* Assistant Engineer: Chris Bubacz
* Mastered at Masterdisk (New York City by Bob Ludwig)
* Cover concept: Peter Baumann
* Photo-Illustration: Stafford/Wehlacz for Prima Vista Studios
* Art Direction: Dale Wehlacz
* Photography: Stafford
* Photocomposite: M. Bonner

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Backroads Music. "Review of Keys to Imagination". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
2. ^ AllMusic
3. ^ a b Jacobs, Mark (August 1987). "Yanni - New Orchestral Landscapes". Cymbiosis. 1 (3). West Covina, California: 36–38. ISSN 0895-6936. OCLC 16743840.

## External links

[edit]

* Official Website
* Keys to Imagination at AllMusic

* v
* t
* e

Yanni

* Discography

Studio albums|

* Optimystique
* Keys to Imagination
* Out of Silence
* Chameleon Days
* Niki Nana
* Dare to Dream
* In My Time
* If I Could Tell You
* Ethnicity
* Yanni Voices / Yanni Voces
* Mexicanisimo / My Passion for Mexico
* Truth of Touch
* Inspirato
* Sensuous Chill
* In His Purest Form

Compilations|

* Reflections of Passion
* In Celebration of Life
* Romantic Moments
* A Collection of Romantic Themes
* In the Mirror
* Port of Mystery
* Devotion: The Best of Yanni
* Nightbird
* Forbidden Dreams: Encore Collection, Volume 2
* Love Songs
* Songs From the Heart
* Someday
* Winter Light
* The Private Years
* Snowfall
* The Very Best of Yanni
* Ultimate Yanni
* The Collection
* Super Hits
* Collections
* The Essential Yanni
* The Inspiring Journey
* Playlist: The Very Best of Yanni

Live and video releases|

* Live at the Acropolis
* Live at Royal Albert Hall
* Tribute
* Yanni Live! The Concert Event
* Yanni Voices
* Live at El Morro, Puerto Rico
* The Dream Concert: Live from the Great Pyramids of Egypt

Concert tours|

* 1987 Concert Series
* 1988 Concert Series
* Reflections of Passion
* Revolution in Sound
* Dare to Dream
* Yanni Live, The Symphony Concerts 1993
* Yanni Live, The Symphony Concerts 1994
* Yanni Live, The Symphony Concerts 1995
* Tribute World Tour 1998
* Ethnicity
* Yanni Live!
* Yanni Voices
* Yanni in Concert
* Yanni: Live at El Morro
* An Evening with Yanni
* World Without Borders
* World Tour
* One Man's Dream World Tour 2015
* North American Tour 2016
* An Evening In Conversation With Yanni 2017
* 25th Anniversary 'Live At The Acropolis' Tour 2018

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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