Patti Austin - Gettin' Away With Murder 1985 - Qwest

Patti Austin. This Lady is a force of nature and her talent knows no bounds. Turning from jazz to pop to soul and even house music, Patti Austin is as versatile a performer you are ever likely to come across. This is a smart little album and an essential purchase if you are also a fan of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It was in the mid-late 1980s that these guys were at their peak and their productions were able to pack a dancefloor or pull back the satin sheets. The magic that these two wove in the 80s was unparalleled. If you love the work of Cherelle, Alexander O'Neal, The SOS Band and so on then you will definitely either own it or should be heading over to Amazon to snap up a copy. Thankfully, following a Japanese issue on CD in the early 90s, US label Wounded Bird have picked up the rights and have given it a fresh, new life on CD. On this 1985 album, Austin, Jam and Lewis collaborate on some real MAGIC. If you love compulsive dancers or blisteringly haunting ballads then "Gettin' Away With Murder" is for you.

You may recall the impressive single, "The Heat Of Heat", which was a superb tune - still is - and perfect for a hot summer's day. This is Jam & Lewis at their prime. This is classy soul music for grown ups, and it saddens me that to keep in the game they have lowered their appeal to a much younger, less discerning market. Add to that the masterly Tommy Lipuma crafted uptempo "Anything Can Happen Here" and Monte Moir's spine-tingling "Only A Breath Away" and you have nothing but adult R&B heaven. Monte Moir was - and still very much is - a master of the ballad and this song is one of his very best, bearing his strong production signature throughout. The crowning glory is the scintillating Jam & Lewis ballad "Summer Is The Coldest Time Of Year"...possibly the guy's finest moment. Check the quality of this gem and then look at what they do today. There is simply no comparison. This is sheer beauty and genius on many levels and 24 years on still makes the hair on the nape of my neck stand up. Oh, how I miss the 1980s.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

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