|
|
38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A "Goldmine" Of Their Biggest Hits, October 29, 2000
This collection epitomizes the most viably commericial peak of the trio's greatest hits that spans from 1978 to 1987. The collection follows the crossover success of their early 1970's output that ranges from the country and western "Fairytale" (which earned them a grammy award in 1974) to the funky #1 rhythm and blues track "How Long (Betcha Got A Chick On The Side), recorded 1 year later. The album highlights the pop and soul sensibiiites of Anita, Ruth, and June's sensuous vocals under the impeccable production of Richard Perry (who worked with the gamut of artists such as Carly Simon and Barbra Streisand), who became celebrity in his own right.This is a fun, emotional ride into the highly synthesized 1980's as the Pointer Sisters became divas from being frequent guests on television musical variety specials to a regular visual video music queens during the dawn of early MTV/music television. What I love about these performances is that they are filled with so many memorable hooks, beautiful harmonizing, and reflect an innocent time in pop culture history. The album opens with "Fire," a smoldering interpretation of the Bruce Springsteen classic. There have been several attempts to cover this song since (the most recent a duet between Babyface and Desree), but no artist even came close to matching the Pointer's soulful treatment. They made the remake their very own, becoming an important crossover for them, and it burned up the charts(#2). The trio covered songwriter Alan Trouissant's "Happiness" with ease and finesse. "He's So Shy" is another radio friendly top 10 hit(#3) that hightlights their beautiful, unmistakenable harmonies. I remember them performing that track on the TV show "The Love Boat" (oh,have times changed!) when they were guest stars on the once popular show. "Could I Be Dreamin'" serves an upbeat soul tune (although, this is my least favorite track on the album.) One of their most memorable tunes is the slow, sultry, sexy number "Slow Hand." This topped the charts as well because it was a fun, sensous, musically intelligent love song. "Should I Do It" and "American Music" have a nostalgic, retro feel to it. These songs are light, bouncy, and could have easily been recorded several decades earlier. The Pointer's shine on the midtempo "Heart To Heart" and the aggressive "If You Wanna Get Back Your Lady." This collection contains six tracks from 1983's muliplatinum crossover "Break Out." This album came out of nowhere starting as a sleeper hit. "I Need You" was the first commercial release, which barely dented the top 50 and then they exploded onto the charts with the relentless, highly robotic "Automatic.(#5)" This tune is very mechanical and reflects the synthesized aura that dominated 1980's pop music at the time. From the first listenings, it was difficult to belive that the vocals were actual from the Pointer Sisters! It is likened to the technological vocal overdubs that Cher used on her 1999 comeback "Believe" single. "Jump {For My Love} is a high spirited slice of pop that peaked at #3 on the charts. The song was accompanied by a video clip, that welcomed them as one of the first black artists ever aired on the then new music television channel, MTV. "I'm So Excited" is the only song in their repetoire that due to extensive video exposure became a hit single twice (#30 in 1982 and even more popular in 1983 when it peaked at #9), un unusual feat in the diversified and competitive pop music market! "Neutron Dance" is the upbeat, danceable tune that was featured in the box office smash "Beverly Hills Cop" starring Eddie Murphy. "Baby, Come And Get It" is another dance floor classic. This version is edited for the inclusion on the collection (for those who want the extended version, seek out the "Break Out" album.) The Pointer Sisters followed up with the radio ready, "Dare Me," from the moderately sucessful "Contact." One of the vocal highlights on this album is the beautiful, dreamy, delivery on the overlooked gem "Freedom," which showed incredible range that that the Pointer Sisters could not be simply pigeonholed as dance floor divas. This slow and thoughtful ballad segues into their last top 40 single, "Goldmine," which closes the collection on an frenetic and upbeat note. There are several Pointer Sisters compilations out there. This is the most comprehensive single disc retrospective highlighting most of their recognizable hits from the radio. It contains a well written bio on the group, with some beautiful photos of the band. (It clearly outshines "Greatest Hits" because that collection has less tracks and doesn't include any significant linear notes with the exception of the few credits listed on each track). For those of you who want a more complete overview of the group: "Fire: The Best Of The Pointer Sisters" is a 2 CD retrospective that is given comprehensive treatment of their remarkable career spanning early 1970's to early 1990's. For me, I prefered to get all of the memorable pop songs into one disc. A must have for any dance floor enthusiast or music lover who likes upbeat, sexy, memorable musical hooks and vocal delivery.
|
~ Pointer Sisters
~ Pointer Sisters
~ Aretha Franklin
~ Pointer Sisters
~ Taylor Dayne
by The Pointer Sisters 
