Funky st

Rip It Up, Issue 61, 1 August 1982, Page 20

Funky st

Donna Summer (WEA) The pairing of Quincy Jones' state-of-the-art production with Donna Summer's voice unhappily proves not to be the winning combination that could have been expected. Jones steers away from - the : west coast rock stylings of Summer's last album The ' Wanderer and heads instead for a combination of the synthesizer heavy approach of. early Donna Summer mixed with his own funk touches. But the rhythms here are sluggish, the melodies too forgettable and Summer's voice too often sounds at odds with these settings. Interestingly, the most successful moment is also the least conventional. 'State of Independence' (by Vangelis and Jon Anderson) builds on a steady tribal beat into a haunting anthem. Elsewhere though, this album is mostly just a mismatch of talents. Alastair Dougal The Sugarhill Gang Bth Wonder (RCA) . An album from the Sugarhill label's favourite sons, big sellers, rappers who jive very close to conventional boogie oogie. Fast George Clinton, very danceable, fun funk, try 'Bth Wonder', 'Apache' and 'Showdown' (with Furious Five). Worth several listens. Let's hope RCA release Sugarhill label's Greatest Rap Hits V 01.2 (Grandmaster Flash etc.), an album that gives a broader perspective on the rap future of funk. MC Bobby Womack The Poet (Motown) It's about seven years since the last Bobby Womack album was released here but this time lapse has barely altered his style. He delivers a relaxed and easy anecdotal soul groove that has. required only the merest updating to fit contemporary tastes. It's perhaps a little pallid for the fan of toughter black - music. But it's nothing if not pleasant even if a little too much of this is nothing more than pleasant. AD The Temptations Reunion (Motown) Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin have returned to the Temptations for this reunion album. Smokey Robinson, who wrote 'My Girl' for them in 1964, has written and produced two tracks, Rick James did same on the extended (9.50) 'Standing on the Top' and Motown founder Berry Gordy also produces. The reunion with writer Smokey Robinson is a disappointment. His songs are melancholic in feel, they've no bounce, though lyrically they're not mundane. They follow I've Never Been To Me' (Charlene's song) on Side Two, a terrible fate. The suprise success is Rick James' funk masterpiece. The Temptations would surely have achieved a finer album working with a single producer. MC Randy Crawford Windsong (Warner Bros) - This lady is simply a great soul singer. Her career took off with The Crusaders' 'Street Life'. Last year's Secret Combination with producer Tommy (George Benson) LiPuma was also a massive hit. Here LiPuma continues at what he does best MOR crossover. But occasionally there's a more gritty morsel, a Don Covay number along with the Marvin Hamlisch. PT