Category Archives: Records

Decent record from George Benson, recorded in 1976, and featuring Ronnie Foster, Ralph MacDonald and Harvey Mason. The Nat King Cole standard Nature Boy sounds unfortunately like an inferior version of Stevie Wonder with Benson’s vocals and the clavinet, but its still a good rendition. The other songs feature Benson’s guitar playing and the funk […]

The UK’s blues rock band Ten Years After released this record in 1970, and it is a great example of the bluesy rock that the English were infatuated with in the late 60s. Really cool music, good guitar and studio effects, and there are even reprises in some of the songs! It does sound dated […]

Joe Jackson released Night and Day in 1982, his fifth album after his debut Look Sharp! in 1979, and it proved to be his most successful. The Cole Porter homage concept is suggested by the title and split between night/day sides focused on city life. The song that most exemplifies this concept is Steppin’ Out, […]

Released in 1983, Power Light must be a lesser EWF album since it was made long after their golden period in the 70’s, right? Wrong, turkey! More of the same amazing songwriting and state of the art synthesizers/studio effects are utilized on Power Light, and both sides are strong. The album features great keyboard sounds, […]

Although this is a solo album, the group was mostly made up of musicians who would become the Pat Metheny Group. Compared with a lot of other guitar-focused jazz/fusion of the time, this stands far apart for the mood and country influence. And man, it works. This is some of the moodiest, most atmospheric guitar […]

Earl Klugh debuted with his self-titled album in 1976, and it is a relaxed, smooth acoustic guitar album, suited for relaxing mornings. It’s good music, and sounds like the feeling of sitting down for longer than it takes to rest your legs. Lee Ritenour plays some electric guitar, while Louis Johnson adds some slap bass, […]

Great Sunday morning Stevie Wonder record with soft vocals and wonderful songs. Released in 1974 and earning Wonder another Grammy for album of the year after Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale features Wonder playing nearly every instrument with occasional bass guitar accompaniment. Astounding music from Stevie Wonder’s prime. I think if you are buying records, you […]

Ronnie Laws’ Friends and Strangers is a varied album that showcases Laws’ sax, and features Roland Bautista playing guitar and Larry Dunn on keyboards. It has more groove than Fever and its steamy saxophones, and its more polished than Pressure Sensitive. The sax really makes it sound smooth, but the guitar adds the funk and […]

Smooth jazz album from Jeff Lorber, but it sounds more pop funk than anything. It features Nathan East playing some really great bass and the best synthesizers on 1984 on this record, along with Marlon “The Magician” McClain on guitar and Ronnie Laws playing saxophone. Some songs on this album are much better than I […]

Interesting album from Herbie Hancock and the Head Hunters, from 1974. The first two songs are good and the rest is a good source of sounds although it is just visual accompaniment, and boring otherwise. Arranged by Herbie Hancock and performed by the Head Hunters and Wah Wah Watson. Value