Customer Reviews

Dee Dee Bridgewater

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Dee Dee's second self-titled album (fourth American album overall) marks an end to the singer's comercially-oriented r&b/jazz lite fusion period. This 1980 release is produced by Thom Bell (the Spinners, the Stylistics) who buries Bridgewater's firery charms with the already-dated Philly sound and material that sounds like Spinners rejects. The peppy top 50 r&b hit "One In A Million (Guy)" is here along with the cult classic "Lonely Disco Dancer" and the creamy "When Love Comes Knockin'".

Dee Dee's two previous albums (1977's "Just Family" and 1979's "Bad For Me") were charming because it featured a jazz singer's interpretation of r&b. However on this album, Dee Dee's brassy style is neutered, and the singer simply sounds bored singing this so-so material, especially on the cutesy "Gunshots In The Night".

After this album, Dee Dee swore off of r&b oriented projects, moved to Paris, and reinvented herself as a successful, Grammy-award winning traditional jazz singer.

THEY HAVE THE WRONG COVER FOR THIS RELEASE...WHICH WAS A SOFT AND SOULFUL RLEASE FROM DEE DEE. pRODUCED BY TOM BELL ITS SOUL MUSIC WITH A MELLOW DELIVERY WHICH FOR SOME MIGHT SEEM STRANGE... FOR DEE DEE WHO IS KNOWN FOR HER FULL ON FIREY VOCALS.... TAKE THE TIME TO REALLY LISTEN TO THIS AND WHEN YOU DO ITS A SMOULDERING SET.......WELL WORTH LISTENING TO ...BTW THE JAPAN RELEASE IS NOW SELLING FOR UPWARDS OF $90.00US$$$$$ THE JAPANESE ALWAYS KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS WORTH HAVING ON CD THEY RELEASED THIS AGES AGO.....GO GET SOME SOFT SEXY SOULFUL DEE DEE VOCALS.....I HAVE AND I LOVE IT....

PROCEED WITH CAUTION:

I don't recommend the Elektra recording "Dee Dee Bridgewater" containing the songs: Lonely Disco Dancer, Gunshots in the Night, When You're in love, et al. I am big Bridgewater fan but this recording is crap. (I had the LP years ago).

I do recommend the Atlantic recording "Dee Dee Bridgewater" containing the songs: It aint easy, Goin through the motions, You saved Me, et al. with the caveat: it is an R&B album indicative of it's time.