Song#: 0026
Date: 01/26/1980
Debut: 86
Peak: 42
Weeks: 9
Genre: R&B, Soul, Funk
Pop Bits: Before signing with Elektra in 1977, Rushen was an in-demend session player and had already released three successful jazz albums. Her first release for the label, "Patrice," took her in an R&B/pop direction and the reaction from jazz folks was pretty harsh. Despite the criticism, the album hit #5 on the jazz chart and she gained a new audience via a couple R&B hits. The next album, "Pizzazz," did even better as this song cracked the R&B Top 10 and dented the pop chart.
ReduxReview: A slick groove featuring some great string lines opens this shimmering tune. It gets a bit monotonous after awhile (I'm sure the single version gets the point across in shorter time), but it is pleasant enough and would make good background music at a hipster bar.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Double Shot! 1) Rushen was the pianist in the jazz trio featured in Sandra Bernhard's film "Without You I'm Nothing." 2) Kirk Franklin sampled "Haven't You Heard" in his 2005 Gospel and R&B hit "Looking for You."
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I really enjoy the bass work on most R&B and funk singles that have come up so far, but I guess what really gets me near the meh level on every one of them is that they all last 6+ minutes. As you were saying, it would be good for a hipster bar, or a discoteche, but just listening to the singles here make me sort of... put off. - M
ReplyDeleteYou have it exactly right. If the song has nothing special to make it stand out, it becomes wall paint. Might add some color, but that's about it.
DeleteChart Run: 86 - 77 - 68 - 57 - 51 - 46 - 42 - 42 - 66
ReplyDelete