Despite its origin as a prefabricated soul and R&B outfit concocted by Soul Train producer Don Cornelius, this vocal trio made some genuinely intriguing dance-pop throughout the '80s. Core members Jeffrey Daniel, Howard Hewett and Jody Watley (who would later become a late-'80s pop superstar) combined to create several spirited singles that performed well on Billboard's niche R&B charts. Somehow, however, only two of those songs even flirted with the pop Top 20, the generally well-remembered "Dead Giveaway" and "Dancing in the Sheets." This is particularly hard to believe given the massive hitmaking accomplishments of Watley once she launched a solo career in 1987.
"A Night to Remember" happens to be a particularly strong example of the group's signature sound, serving out romance and funk aplenty on the strength of smooth, layered male and female vocals. Music like this may have been dismissed as unsubstantial back in the day, but in retrospect this is fairly well-grounded stuff, based in soulful R&B grooves and tasty if slightly artificial beats. The talent of Watley would later be proven many times over, but Daniel and Hewett never got much appreciation for their fine contributions to the era's dance-flavored pop music. This track should go quite far in rectifying that oversight.
- Listen to "A Night to Remember" in its entirety and watch the music video here.
- Compare prices on Shalamar CDs here.
- Compare prices on Jody Watley CDs here.
- Quiet Storm Genre Profile
Album Cover Image Courtesy of SOLAR Records
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