I LOVE this album! Many knocked it at the time, but if you love Roger Troutman and Zapp as much as I do then this album is nothing short of essential. Best described as bass-heavy funk, Mr. Bonner and Mr Troutman camp up the funk and throw in more Zapp-isms than you can shake a stick at, aided and abetted by the likes of Billy Beck, Dale DeGroat, Larry and Zapp Troutman and Bobby Glover! Sugarfoot also does a great job of emphasising his great vocals and guitar skills. Fans of his work with the Ohio Players may leave the show with a small pang of disappointment, but fans of the man and the Zapp sound will be very happy indeed. The single release, “Kiss” really grabbed my attention and the album which followed did nothing but put a bigger smile on my face. OK, the music is synth-rich and the rumbling bass and claps owe much to Zapp, and Shirley Murdock adds some sexy backing vocals – Sugarfoot is having a ball on this. A track that will always be pumped out at high volume. “I'm Your Sugar” is another clear winner and the groove more in tune with the material of, say New Horizon or Human Body than the heavier and funkier “Kiss”. For a really hard Zapp sound then crank up the volume for the MONSTER funk groove “Call Me”. This would not be out of place aside to Zapp's “It Doesn't Really Matter”. Pure class, and all very much set down with the fun that I know Roger Troutman had in his heart when he was recording this. “You Should Love Somebody” gets the guitar working atop a more relaxed groove, and his vocals are still sounding great. My final pick has to be the luxurious “I Will Be Your Star” - simply lovely. Whilst we eagerly await Sugarfoot's new album early in 2009 please check out this monster 80s gem for Warner Brothers.
Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe
