In The Pockets (1981).
In 1980 and 1981, many people in the music world suspected that Lionel Richie would soon be leaving the Commodores to pursue a solo career — and sure enough, he officially became a full-time solo artist in 1982. In the Pocket, released in 1981, turned out to be his final album with the group. Not surprisingly, Richie dominates the album, singing lead on everything from adult contemporary ballads like “Lucy” and “Oh No” (a number four pop/number five R&B smash) to the sophisticated funk of “Why You Wanna Try Me” and the Top Five R&B favorite “Lady (You Bring Me Up).” Walter Orange and Thomas McClary also contribute some lead vocals, but the album’s best-known songs are the ones that feature Richie. While In the Pocket doesn’t contain a lot of hardcore funk à la “Brickhouse” or “Slippery When Wet,” the sleeker, smoother sophisti-funk style is well represented by “Why You Wanna Try Me” and “Lady (You Bring Me Up),” as well as “Saturday Night” and “Keep on Taking Me Higher.” Overall, In the Pocket isn’t great — “Lady (You Bring Me Up)” is certainly a gem, although the rest of the material is merely decent. But while In the Pocket isn’t among the Commodores’ essential releases, it was still a pleasant way for Richie to end his association with the Southern band. (Alex Henderson-All Music Guide).
Tracks:
1. Lady (You Bring Me Up)
2. Saturday Night
3. Keep on Taking Me Higher
4. Oh No
5. Why You Wanna Try Me
6. This Love Orange
7. Been Loving You Orange
8. Lucy
**Listen**
The Commodores – In The Pocket (1981)
Julio 17, 2009 a 11:33 pm (R&B, Soul, Soul Funk)
Kool And The Gang – As One (1982)
Julio 17, 2009 a 11:17 pm (Disco Funk, R&B)
As One (1982).
During their eight-year reign as one of the premiere R&B/funk bands, Kool & the Gang, featuring James “J.T.” Taylor on lead, had one Top Ten hit after another and quite a few number one hits. This album did not spawn any number one singles, but it did house two festive Top Ten numbers in “Big Fun” and “Let’s Go Dancin’ (Ooh La, La, La).” The former has a rapid, groovin’ bassline accentuated by some jittering horns. The latter is Caribbean-flavored single ideal for a popular party/cook-out dance called the electric slide. Respectively, they peaked at six and seven on the Billboard R&B charts. Though it appears that the lyric to the title song depicts a relationship between a man and woman, it is actually speaking of the band as an unit. The nine-piece outfit also pays homage to the great bandleader Cab Calloway with the rhythmic number “Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho.” Aside from the two released singles, this album does not have that constant spark like some of their more accomplished efforts.(All Music Guide).
Tracks:
1. Street Kids
2. Big Fun
3. As One
4. Hi De Hi, Hi De Ho
5. Let’s Go Dancing
6. Pretty Baby
7. Think It Over
Earth Wind & Fire – Last Days And Time (1972)
Julio 17, 2009 a 8:16 pm (R&B)
Last Days And Time (1972)
Earth, Wind & Fire were nothing if not ambitious, and by the time of their third album they had forged an individual sound by absorbing nearly everything that had gone before them in the previous ten years. It was as if they were trying to encapsulate every eclectic foray pursued by Motown, from catchy, rhythmic pop to churning funk, and even from Stevie Wonder singing borrowed folk songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind” (here, Philip Bailey did “Where Have All the Flowers Gone”) to the schmaltzy, string-filled pop that spelled legitimacy to Motown. Not only that, they wanted to incorporate Sly & the Family Stone’s horn-filled, gutbucket R&B and some of the fusion style of Weather Report. On Last Days and Time, they succeeded in pulling all that into their orbit, but they hadn’t yet managed one crucial thing: they hadn’t learned to write hits. That would come next. (AMG)
Tracks:
1. Time Is on Your Side
2. Interlude
3. They Don’t See
4. Interlude
5. Make It with You
6. Power
7. Remember the Children
8. Interlude
9. Where Have All the Flowers Gone
10. I’d Rather Have You
11. Mom
**Listen**
The Fatback Band – Raising Hell (1975)
Julio 17, 2009 a 7:11 pm (Funk)
Raising Hell (1975)
Fatback’s second album of 1975 is a serious improvement over Yum Yum: the arrangements are tighter, the hooks are stronger, and the grooves keep the listener riveted from start to finish. It downplays the live feel of previous albums like Keep on Steppin’ in favor of a more carefully arranged feel that highlights the tasty keyboard and synthesizer work of Gerry Thomas. Raising Hell also produced two major hits for the group: “(Are You Ready) Do the Bus Stop” capitalizes on the dance craze of the title with a steady bass-driven groove that works in layers of keyboards, guitars, and horns to keep things interesting, and “Spanish Hustle” is a propulsive dance jam that alternates synthesizer flights of fancy with intense Latin percussion breaks guaranteed to make the listeners shake their hips. The album tracks that back up these singles don’t make their presence felt as strongly, but none ever descend to the level of filler: “Groovy Kind of Day” alternates smooth harmony vocals with jazzy electric-piano riffs to create a smooth mid-tempo track and the group’s cover of the Four Tops’ classic “I Can’t Help Myself” is cleverly re-arranged to fit Fatback’s dancefloor format . The result is a fine collection of funky dance music that helped Fatback solidify their reputation as one of New York’s foremost disco groups. It remains just as listenable and is worth a spin for disco and funk fans alike. (AMG)
Tracks:
1. (Are You Ready) Do the Bus Stop
2. All Day
3. Put Your Love (In My Tender Care)
4. Groovy Kind of Day
5. Spanish Hustle
6. I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
7. Party Time
**Listen**
