{{Infobox album | name = Keys to Imagination | type = studio | artist = Yanni | cover = Yanni-Keys to Imagination.png | alt = | released = September 1986 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Instrumental, space music<ref name="AMG"/> | length = 38:13 | label = Private Music | producer = Yanni | prev_title = Optimystique | prev_year = 1984 | next_title = Out of Silence | next_year = 1987 }} {{Album ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000651002|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic]</ref> }}
'''''Keys to Imagination''''' is the second studio album by Greek keyboardist and composer Yanni, released on the Private Music label in 1986.
==Background & production== 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."<ref name=Cymbiosis/>
==Critical reception== 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."<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |author=Backroads Music |url={{AllMusic|class=album |id=mw0000651002 |pure_url=yes}}|title= Review of ''Keys to Imagination'' |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=2015-10-15}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Cymbiosis>{{cite journal|last1=Jacobs|first1=Mark|title=Yanni - New Orchestral Landscapes|journal=Cymbiosis|date=August 1987|volume=1|issue=3|pages=36–38|location=West Covina, California|issn=0895-6936|oclc=16743840}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | title1 = The North Shore of Matsushima | length1 = 5:08 | title2 = Looking Glass | length2 = 6:35 | title3 = Nostalgia | length3 = 4:27 | title4 = Santorini | length4 = 4:34 | title5 = Port of Mystery | length5 = 4:49 | title6 = Keys to Imagination | length6 = 5:13 | title7 = Forgotten Yesterdays | length7 = 3:30 | title8 = Forbidden Dreams | length8 = 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== *All music composed and produced by Yanni
==Production== 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== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[http://www.yanni.com/ Official Website] *{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000651002|label=''Keys to Imagination''}} {{Yanni}}
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Category:Yanni albums Category:1986 albums Category:Space music albums by Greek artists