Too Hot to Stop
Artist: The Bar-Kays

The Bar-Kays spent much of 1976 as the opening attraction supporting the Parliament-Funkadelic traveling circus, and the P-Funk influence seeps into every pore of Too Hot to Stop. While lacking the cosmic reach and freak-show genius of George Clinton, this is nevertheless the Bar-Kays' last stab at greatness, delivering hard-driving funk with... Read More

Teddy Pendergrass - RIGHT STUFF
Artist: Teddy Pendergrass
Community Score: 7.00

The skeptics had their suspicions allayed quickly when Teddy Pendergrass' debut album as a solo singer cracked the Top 40. Its lead single, "I Don't Love You Anymore," was among his best uptempo tunes, and the followup ballad "The Whole Town's Laughing At Me" ended any speculation that he was returning to Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. While... Read More

Inspiration
Artist: Maze

Arguably Maze's best album, hands down, Inspiration lives up to its grandiose title. Frankie Beverly's compositions are executed to perfection by the seven-piece Maze ensemble: Atigunta Sun (drums), Wuane Thomas (lead guitar), Sam Porter (keyboards), McKinley Williams (vocals and percussion), Roame Lowry (vocals and congas), Robin Duhe (bass),... Read More

Destiny
Artist: The Jacksons
Community Score: 10.00

The Jacksons are finally turned loose to write and produce themselves, and the result is their best (non-hits collection) ever. The dance tracks still sound fresh; "Blame It on the Boogie," "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)"; and the ballads are heartfelt and smooth. This album is a dry run for Michael Jackson's adult solo career. ~ William... Read More

Miss Randy Crawford
Artist: Randy Crawford

Randy Crawford's charming debut was produced by Bob Montgomery (Bobby Goldsboro, Billy Sherrill) with some tracks having a slight country-ish/Southern soul feel to them. Its a perfect showcase for Crawford's interpretive skill.The singer makes the Don Henley/Glenn Frey song "Desperado" and the Mack Gordon/Harry Warren standard "At Last," her... Read More

This Is Niecy
Artist: Deniece Williams

Deniece Williams spent the first half of the '70s establishing herself as a background vocalist for an impressive line of artists, including Stevie Wonder, Minnie Riperton, Roberta Flack, and Esther Phillips. Though she'd continue to do session work throughout her career, she also became accomplished as a solo artist. Unfortunately, a lot of... Read More

Go for Your Guns
Artist: The Isley Brothers
Harvest for the World
Artist: The Isley Brothers
Community Score: 2.00
Secret Omen
Artist: Cameo
Community Score: 4.50

Cameo never recorded a bad album, but it did record some uneven ones. One such LP was 1978's Ugly Ego, which was generally decent but fell short of the excellence of Cameo's superb debut album, Cardiac Arrest. But if Ugly Ego led some people to believe that Cameo might be slipping, the band's fourth album, Secret Omen, put that idea to rest.... Read More

Forever Gold
Artist: The Isley Brothers