Marvin Gaye “Midnight Love”
Was anyone ever as talented as this man? As perfect looking? As able to ooze sex, class and charm? Whatever political message he had, this guy always wanted to liberate your undies from you as part of the campaign. And, as the decades changed, he kept unbuttoning another button on his sexuality. “Sexual Healing” was the last button. Now he’s in your bed. Anyone even vaguely interest in sex loved it. Even ferns liked it and they reproduce with spores.
Lionel Richie “Louder Than Words”
Featuring sixty four musicians and thirty five producers, Lionel Richie’s “Louder Than Words” took a decade to make. What finally arrived was a meticulously average Contemporary R&B album from a well above average singer. It was an elaborate costume that Richie seemed compelled to uncomfortably try on. It didn’t fit. But, alas, he sounded patiently pleasant as ever, he avoided the pressure to rap and there’s no autotune.
Prince “The Rainbow Children”
The title track song is a warning shot across your bow. It’s about as commercially inaccessible as you can get from a guy who made a hit for the Bangles. You want this album? This is not your momma’s Prince. Where did this all come from? What genre is this? Some of these songs will straddle the line between “Jazz-inspired” and “noodling,” but you can’t say this forty four year old was out of ideas.
Bill Withers “‘Bout Love”
Bill Withers wrote concise songs about simple ideas, added uncomplicated melodies and let his band do their jobs. He simply never wasted a note. By 1978, though, Withers was almost already done with it all. He still had enough cache to make one final record on his own terms. “‘Bout Love” sounds like an artist carefully packing up his desk for an early retirement.
Al Green “Lay It Down”
I have found it to be exceedingly difficult to write about Al Green, the singer, without wading into Al Green, the man. Who am I to write about Al Green, a man I have never met, when so much of his popular framing is steeped in racism? Is this essay unnecessary and frivolous? Probably. Is it poorly timed? No doubt. Will I make an earnest go at it anyway? Yes. Because I really want to talk about AI Green’s fairly spectacular 2008 collaboration with ?uestlove, “Lay it Down.” So, here goes.