Customer Reviews

Three For Love

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

 

 

Solar's infamous three still hails court with this classic album. With brilliant production courtesy of wizard Leon Sylvers, III, and the trio's dynamic harmonies, the hits here are endless.

great love songs as well as dance music all round great tracks

"Full of Fire" served notice that Shalamar was a dance-pop vocal group at the very top of their game, with distinctive lead singers Howard Hewett and Jody Watley showering personality all over the hearty dancefloor beats, and Jeffrey Daniels adding eccentric visuals and dance steps. Previous efforts had been game, but this sparkling, effervescent collection was light worlds ahead of expectations. The rowdy disco anthems, "Full of Fire" and "Make That Move," anchor the album, but there is much more sweet and bubbly ear candy in "Attention to My Baby," "Some Things Never Change" and "Work It Out." Jody Watley's wholesome, squeaky clean female vocals provide a nice counterpoint to Howard Hewett's earthier, gospel-based emoting. "This Is for the Lover in You" emerged from this LP as one of the first Quiet Storm signature songs and is still a staple of that format, and it's easy to hear why: gorgeous melody, tender lyrics and soulful heart-melting singing by Hewett. "Full of Fire" is an excellent LP; shortly after, Shalamar would deliver the superb "Friends."

This is arguably the best of the original LPs by Shalamar with Jody, Jeffery and Howard. The Leon Sylvers production team (which included Stokes, Shelby, Shockley and Alexander from the group Lakeside and Reid and Edmonds from the group The Deele...see how small the world seems to be) was extremely influential in the Solar Records Sound. The Solar Records sound has greatly influenced where R and B radio is today. This CD, therefore was a sign of things to come... "Make that Move"--which has a slightly dischordant Jody Watley throughout--and that perfect love song of all time, "For the Lover In You" (which, in my opinion, put Howard Hewitt on the map) are pivotal to this album's great success. Have Amazon.com send you a copy, now.

It's a fantastic thing when a dance-oriented band such as
Shalamar can deliver a set of uptempo dance tunes AND ballads
without any crap songs because it's on ballads that bands like
this often falter.Not Shalamer-thank to the superior writing and
singing of Jody Watley and Howard Hewitt "Somewhere There's A
Love" and "This Is For The Lover In You" are solid proof that,
like Heatwave,Shalamar HAVE IT in the love ballad department
without sounding maudlin and corney.Even solo Watley seems to be no fan of the slow groove!Of course "Full Of Fire","Make That Move" and "Somethings Never Change" are rhythmic,synth-spiked uptempo ravers that just leave you begging for more.So can Shalamar get the job done.The answer is a resounding yes!

This album came out in 1981, about two years before the long decline of R&B into high-tech drek. This ranks as Shalamar's next-to best album ("Friends" was their best). "Somewhere there's A Love" is the beautiful stuff of teenage longing. "Make That Move" is ideal uptempo pop. "Attention to my Baby" is nice to listen to and when Jeffry Daniel performed "The Popalong Kid" on American Bandstand, it predated Michael Jakson's famous televised "moonwalk" by about 2 years. Overall, it's good stuff that was not heard widely outside of England and African-American radio stations at the time, but listen to it-you'll be glad you did.

With the passing of Don Cornelius it rather inspired to think of Shalamar,the group that spawned directly from Soul Train. Once upon a time Jeffrey Daniels and Jody Watley were two line dancers on that show who were bought together and,after a couple albums Howard Hewett was added. By then the had a secure contract with Dick Griffey's Solaar records,which again grew from the same soul and we had the most Shalamar lineup. It spun off two highly successful solo careers by Hewett and Watley. To hear them tell it,they all took it musically very seriously. Even if there are still some who maintain Shalamar were basically R&B for teenagers. But it's hard to ignore the instrumental,vocal and songwriting potency and strength of what's here. One of the biggest surprises,considering how often Shalamar and Solaar in general are considered to mildly corny how significantly funky this music is.

Composing primarily of uptempo music this album is musically primarily a Sylvers album,with production from Leon who also plays bass with brother Foster and guitar accompaniment from brother Ricky. All three members of the group do contribute to the lyrics and songwriting and make excellent contributions in all areas. In particular Watley's excellent opener "Full Of Fire",an excellent dance/soul song with lyrics that actually aren't too bad. "Attention To My Baby" is my favorite here. An album track yes but very very worthy of hit play,it's Hewett belting out about not neglecting his lover over work. Kind of an interesting message for a bunch of 20 somethings,again done up in that heavily arranged pop/soul-funk sound. That goes very much for "Work It Out" too. On the other hand,where they have a similar structural flavor "Somethings Never Change" and "Make That Move" come closer to anticipating the more synth based boogie funk sound by a year or two. Although both are still very sophistifunk in flavor still. Those being the two main sorts of funk/soul that succeeded at this time.

"Pop Along Kid" is actually a very 70's style bass/guitar funk tune and one of my favorites here as well,with some vital breaks I've heard in many samples. Not sure I remember them though. "Somewhere There's Love" and "This Is For The Lover In You" are both very powerful ballads and work extremely well even though this is still very much a young oriented group. Overall this is an excellent album,likely one of Shalamar's best full length albums. It's got a good selection of varied uptempo numbers that are soulful,funky and innovative and strong,gospel inspired soul balladry. If this is as they say "youth" oriented soul,it's sure got plenty of the latter. And even though they are more singer/songwriters than musicians (with the exception of Jeffrey Daniels) Shalamar definitely did what they did pretty close to perfection. This should forever stand as a testament on how youth oriented (not necessarily teen oriented) soul/funk music works with the right production,instrumentation and help from creative talent. Highly recommended from this reviewer.

A product of 'the Solar Sound'. This trio gave us popular uptempo cuts, but songs like 'For The Lover In You' stand out for me. Howard and Jody's harmonies were perfect, and with production by the then hot Leon Sylvers III, 'Three For Love' became a the BEST Shalamar album ('Friends' is a close 2nd!)!

Try finding the cool 2 on 1 CD featuring 'Big Fun' & 'Three For Love' together on the same disc. If you can't find the import 2 on 1 CD, you can do it yourself...They sound good together!!

Howard and Jody's vocals are the heart and soul of Shalamar. Three for love is the greatest album put out by Shalamar. Songs like "Some were there is a love", show how Howard can really hit the notes like no other male vocalist. Buy this album and enjoy

This is a great partying album. Hopefully the label will release the equally fine 'Go For It.'