Customer Reviews

Love Somebody Today

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sometimes good things come to those who wait. I was so glad to see that this had been recently reissued and quickly ordered a copy. The previous version is still on sale here somewhere for $49.99. That might sound like a lot but believe it or not, it was once selling for $99.99.

This was the other Sister Sledge album produced by the guys from Chic. It was released the year after the phenomenal We Are Family and didn't even come close to it in terms of commercial success. While songs like "He's The Greatest Dancer", "Lost In Music", "Thinking Of You" and of course, "We Are Family" are still regularly played to this day on retro radio and in (incredibly popular) 70s/80s nightclubs and have been remixed, remade, covered and sampled hither and yon over the years, songs from this album barely got a look in. A shame really, as in my view, this one had much more to offer musically. Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers were a bit more adventurous with their production on here and were trying out new ideas. Check out "Pretty Baby", for instance, which was purely lead guitar-led (though for years I thought it was piano); a first for the dynamic duo as far as I recall.

Their music was also beginning to break free of the confines disco demanded and the sisters had much more freedom to showcase their very capable vocals. I love all eight of the songs, though "You Fooled Around", "I'm A Good Girl", "How To Love" and "Let's Go On Vacation" (with its wonderful electric piano jazz improvisations towards the end) are forever firm personal favourites. I'm also quite pleased to see that they haven't added on any of those silly remixes that some earlier releases of many classic albums have had. Maybe someone is listening, after all.

Only one quibble: I wish they had put the artwork that appeared on the back of the original vinyl version on the back CD cover. It appears on the inner sleeve so I guess it could be worse but I'm thinking that's where the new artwork that does appear on the CD back cover, would have been much better placed. But I guess it's a minor detail.

As a footnote, my buddy and I were playing some of this old music the other day and we were saying that if someone had told us back in 1980 that we would still be playing and enjoying the music of the day 27 years later, we would have almost died laughing. Yet here we are. And it's not just old fogeys like us going back into the archives. I know a number of much younger people who are sick of today's blandness in popular music and are going back to the music of the 70s and 80s. If you're one of those people and you missed this one first time round, pick a copy up. It's a gem.

With the hype surrounding the Chic Organization's production work on Diana Ross' "diana" and Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" still reverberating through soul and disco today, it's easy for 1980's fine "Love Somebody Today" to slip through the cracks. This fairly successful follow-up to the Sledges' monster "Family" is full of pleasures, all of which rank among the sisters' best offerings. While "Family" was a showcase for the Chic production style, this album put the sisters out front and center and provided a supple blend of sweet harmonies and soulful, jazzy touches. What is striking about this eight-song set is its emphasis on the vocals. Without being buried in the mix behind speaker-blowing bass or the voices of Chic's Alfa Anderson and Lucy Martin, the pitch-perfect clarity of the Sledges' vocals is on full display. The standard issue opener "Got to Love Somebody" was the hit here, but there is much more to savor. Each sister steps to the mic, with highlights including Kathy's leads on "You Fooled Around" and "How to Love," Joni on "I'm a Good Girl," Kim on the beautifully harmonized "Easy Street" and big sister Debbie on the jazzy "Let's Go on Vacation." "You Fooled Around," "Let's Go On Vacation," and the Kathy-led thumper "Pretty Baby" stand as the album's best cuts, while the others follow closely behind. While Nile and 'Nard's restraint behind the boards may not have yielded the commercial punch of "Family" and its singles, a fine achievement still emerged in "Love Somebody Today." An underrated gem of its era, "Love Somebody Today" should certainly be back in print for all to enjoy.

If there debut album wasn't enough 'Love Somebody Today' solidifies Sister Sledge as a highly successful Female group under the production of the Chic Organization (Edwards, Rodgers,Thompson).

Kathy Sledge raises her vocals to the limits, and performs brilliantly on this masterpiece. I think it is their Best Effort. My favorite track on this album is 'How to Love'. On this track the Chic Strings shift it into full gear on this ballad, and Nile's chops are very complimentary to this olde to coming up short in love.

A fun track is 'Fooled Around'. On this track you sort of forget that it's a Sister Sledge album, and you tend to focus on the Chic sound that is so vibrant. Again, Nile's guitar work is awesome.

This is a must have for the music archives. get this album while it's still available, because it's not on the music store shelves.

Big Ups to Sister sledge. and the entire Chic organization for this excellent work of Art.

We Are Family!!!!!!!

By the fall of 1979, Disco was a dirty word. Piles of records by disco artists were being set afire in what may be the biggest backlash in the history of popular music.

This was bad timing for the release of Sister Sledge's follow-up album to their mega-successful debut LP "We Are Family".

In early 1980, New Wave was the latest musical fad to take North America by storm and the Sledge album "Love Somebody Today" all too quickly became destined for the cut-out bins.

It took me nearly 30 years to discover that "Somebody" is nearly as good as its predecessor. A big fan of the entire "We Are Family" album, I can honestly say Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards also outdid themselves on this one. My only complaint is that some of the lyrics and hooks can be somewhat repetitive.

"Got to Love Somebody" doesn't quite have the punch or mystique of "He's the Greatest Dancer", but it's a more than adequate opener, even if it does got on a little too long. Lots of horns punctuate the chorus on this one.

Things really heat up on the second track "You Fooled Around", which may be the album's best. It makes the most of the typically smooth, funky Chic sound with sleigh bells and plucky strings used to great effect.

A quiet piano opens the slow, sexy number "I'm a Good Girl". Like the "slow jams" on their first album, the Sledges' don't bore or disappoint with the quieter numbers on this album. In fact, the ballads on this sophomore effort may rival those on the debut. Joni Sledge delivers a nice, sensuous, breathy performance on this one.

"Easy Street" wins the award for "most appropriately-titled" selection on the LP. The vocals, along with the music are light, breezy and pleasantly laid-back. Though not spectacular, there's something about this one that just makes you feel good.

What was Side Two on the original LP began with "Reach Your Peak". The lyrics are very inspirational (they speak of striving for the top), but also very repetitive. This is another more laid-back song, and the production elevates it, though I don't find it really "grabs" you and it runs a touch too long. It does have a great string and horn interlude mid-song.

Speaking of repetition, some may find fault with "Pretty Baby" for that very reason, though it's probably my second favorite song here. The guitar hook grabs you immediately and handclaps are added during the verses which speak of a mother promising her daughter the best things in life and teaching her to depend on only herself. With different lyrics, this could have been another anthem like "We Are Family".

The slow, wistful "How to Love" is next. The intro reminds me of a musical equivalent of dry ice; light and airy. Kathy sings this one perfectly. Today's divas (Beyonce anyone?) could learn a thing or two about enunciation while studying this performance.

The closing number "Let's Go on Vacation" is perhaps the weakest track. There's nothing particularly bad about the vocals or orchestration, it's just that to me, this song sounds like a commercial for a travel agency or airline.

"We Are Family" is one of the greatest disco albums ever produced, right up there with the "Saturday Night Fever" LP and Donna Summer's "Bad Girls". It's a shame "Love Somebody Today" missed the boat, because it deserves almost as much acclaim.

The Rhino CD release from 1995 is extremely rare, but I am glad I spent top dollar to get a sealed copy for myself. It is worth every penny.

If you loved the "Family" album, you should also get this one, no question about it.

First I must state that CHIC is my favorite music group, but the Sisters were at their finest on this Album. The music (Nile and Nard/ CHIC Organization) is unbelievably good. The standouts on this album are "You Fooled Around", "Easy Street", "How To Love", "I'm A Good Girl" and "Let's go on Vacation". I really enjoy the combination of Reggae, Jazz, Funk, and Dance. I bought a copy of this cd in the mid 90s, and I'm glad I did because it's so hard to find. RHINO needs to re-release the album for those who love Great Music! Love Somebody Today is one of my top three favorite albums of all time!

It's hard to imagine that this album was released almost a quarter of a century ago...in 1980. That said, the disc definitely bears the CHIC stamp, with the cuts being written/produced by Niles Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. The songs fit into the format, featuring light lyrics, heavy and moving bass guitar licks, and the trademark Chic strings.

Frequent lead Kathy Sledge stands out even when the sisters are singing as a unit. Hers is a voice that is underrated and deserving of greater recognition in the music biz.

The best tracks include the title cut, "I'm a Good Girl," "Reach Your Peak" (a tad too repetitive but enjoyable), "and "Let's Go on Vacation."

I agree with reviwer in this column of reviews, Michael Hicks from South Euclid, Ohio, (I'm a former Clevelander, by the way), that this "album", was definitely Sister Sledge's best effort of their career. I believe that Love Somebody Today, was their follow-up album to their breakout disco album "We are Family/He's the greatest Dancer". I still remember back in 1980 buying this album, still have it, and loved it so much! I also have this album on cassette, but as you know, they wear out really fast. I bought Sister Sledge's greatest hits c.d., which is great, but some of the songs that are on Love Somebody today, were not included on the greatest hits c.d. On another note, on Love Somebody Today, Kathy Sledge's vocals on all of these songs are the bomb! She has such a beautiful and convincing voice on the ballads. Nile Rodgers must have worked very hard with her to make her sound so good on these songs - and he did an excellent job. I think it is a sin that Kathy Sledge was unable to forge a successful solo career. There is no reason that she shouldn't have followed in the steps of Stephanie Mills, Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, and other songstresses. Anyway, I highly recommend your purchasing Love Somebody Today - all of the songs are great!!

at the height of the disco era,sister sledge's "we are family" album (which was produced by nile rodgers and bernard edwards of the chic organization)was a runaway commercial smash success.but the follow up album was not a commercial success it was more of a thing of vocal and musical artistry over commerce.this album is more beautiful than "we are family"-which of course is the favorite among the record buying public.but the majority of most fans are fickle when it comes 2 artistic merit and music that is truly more important than record sales."love somebody today"is a thing of beauty.i bought this album as a 16 year old in the summer of 1980 while still in high school.even the pretty photograph of kathy,debbie,kim&joni-before i even heard the music itself informed me that this album would be the sisters most beautiful album ever.(i also have a large poster of the beautiful album cover.)beginning with the upbeat "got to love somebody" with exciting lead vocals by baby sister kathy.in the song she speaks of being tired of movies all by herself and is in need of someone 2 share her popcorn and jellybeans.and 2 attract that man,she has 2 change her style-kathy exclaims:"watch out i might just go wild!"the song cooks with nile's smoking guitar and bernard's looping bass lines-framed by drummer tony thompson's excellent beat.there is also a funky saxophone solo in the song that makes it smoke.funky indeed.

next up is what should have been the first single release is the coolest song of the upbeat tracks:the moderate ice cool "you fooled around"-a song that best represents the premier sound of cool that is upbeat and relaxed at the same time.kathy's cool beautiful vocals and her phrasing is outstanding.her beautiful lines:"baby this time i know-yes you fooled around and you fell in love-honey i tell you so,yes you fooled around and you fell in love".../in hindsight this track should have been a hit on both the r&b and pop charts.the song is kathy's favorite among the upbeat tracks on the album.

"i'm a good girl"is the album's first slowjam.4 this song joni commands the lead vocal which is sung very seductively.the song is about an erotic encounter about being turned on and out.she sings:"oh,what is this feeling i feel i don't like it no-honey i mustn't lose control"-she is struggling in trying 2 be a good girl,but the temptations are hard 4 her 2 resist."easy street" is the first song of gorgeous pretty rhythms.for this beautiful song,kim takes lead on the vocals.the song's lyrics speaks of the highs and lows of life:"easy street the sidewalk's cleaner"-to being reduced to:"pounding down the meanest streets,wondering where i'm gonna get my next meal"/"my cycle's incomplete"...the song has a light groove combined with chic's uptown sound."reach your peak" with lead vocals taken over by joni is the album's tour de force.this track has a bouncy funk groove and a swift string solo followed by a jazzy solo part.there is no need in explaining the title-it speaks for itself when near the song's end,joni blushes with laughter 4 that 'special time'...

"pretty baby" is also another uptempo number.it is a song about a baby girl that grows into a lady while being protected by her mother's guidance while at the same time the mother is glad that her baby girl has the things that she didn't have.it is the only song on the album where all of the sisters sing in unison and in harmony.the dreamy beautiful"how to love"with lead vocals by kathy is musically breathtaking.the song is awashed in strings,moody and mysterious with bittersweet lyrics:"i guess i never knew how to love-i never knew just how to love"...a beautiful lovesong of confusion.the very beautiful upbeat "let's go on vacation" which features debbie on lead vocals is the album's conclusion.debbie's vocals are beautifully sung.the song is about an escape from philadelphia (the city of brotherly love)to the golden sun of california-as debbie sings sweetly:"let's leave the big metropolis and head down to the shore"....what a beautiful way 2 end this beautiful album.vocally and musically,sister sledge along with nile rogers and bernard edwards of chic really outdid themselves with this beautiful production.it is complete artistry over commerce.buy this album.it is a beautiful sheer sister sledge classic...(AND IN THE WORDS OF DEBBIE:this album is A double L R I G H T with me...)

This is Sister Sledge's follow up to their massively successful 1979 outing We Are Family. Again Bernard & Nile are producing the their band Chic is playing backup-also featured,notably on the title song is Meco Monardo on sax. And the music is set firmly in their standing tradition of classy disco-funk grooves and punchy melodies. This album is home to some truely incredible grooves such as the title song,"You Fooled Around" and (my favorite) "Reach Your Peak". Another two great grooves are the funky "Easy Street" and the whimsical groove of "Let's Go On Vacation". On "Pretty Baby" the message of family solidarity is again re enforced and Kathie Sledge's great singing really shows up in fine style on "I'm A Good Girl".So musically this album is totally up to par. Non of the lyrics have quite the same punch as the first outings the Sister Sledge/Chic combo did and that might've played some part in the Sisters turning to Narada Michael Walden next time around,or maybe it didn't I don't know. Either way this might be musically more artistic,with it occasional improvised sax solos from Meco then We Are Family was. But no matter how you cut it this was Sister Sledge's final collaberation with the Chic family for a little bit. They would meet up with Nile Rodgers again later but this more or less concluded that period of their musical career.

As the follow-up to the million-selling "We Are Family" album, the four sisters from Philly surround themselves with material that serves a variety of moods and experiences. From the opening of "Got To Love Somebody Today" you are in for a vocal and musical thrill ride as sister Kathy hangs on to every lyric and exercises pure emotion (also take note of the brilliant sax solo). The CD continues with the equally impressive "You Fooled Around", which could easily have been a contender as a single. The CD slows down with the brilliant and addictive "I'm a Good Girl", which remains my favorite album track. Sister Joni displays a coy sex appeal in her delivery as she experiences unexpected desire. Other top-notch songs include "Reach Your Peak", which is arguably the album favorite and the absolutely magical "Let's Go On Vacation", sung to perfection by sister Debbie. The song takes on a very jazzy approach, with Deb's impeccable phrasing and enunciation. She is completely convincing! Although this album made a dent on the R&B charts, it should have been a hit across the board. Musically, this was a shining moment for the sisters and should not be overlooked. Enjoy it all over again. Peace...