Released: August 1980
(Look another fantastic album cover!)
After Another Taste failed to generate any substantial hit, A Taste of Honey parted with the Mizell Brothers as producers and hooked up with another master of jazz-funk: George Duke.
Of course by the 1980s, Duke was leaving behind the jazz-funk and now had his sights set on poppy funk-soul and this album is laced with it.
For example, the first two songs on the album “Ain't Nothin' But a Party” and “Rescue Me”. The former is a good party jam while the latter takes the party to another level. The whimsical opening has you guessing what the hell is coming up next and then the beat drops and the horns kick in setting off some fire.
As the album’s initial single, “Rescue Me” only reached #16 R&B and didn’t even reach the pop charts. A shocking and disgusting development from my point of view. Fortunately hip-hop musicians took notice and the song has since been one of the more sampled tracks in history.
Duke also happened to be a master of what is now known as yacht rock and that’s here in spades too. “Superstar Superman”, “Don’t Lead Me On”, “Say That You’ll Stay” and “Good-Bye Baby” are the four perpetrators here. The first two songs sound inspired, while the latter two somewhat go through the motions. They’re not bad or even below average. Just nice filler.
Speaking of going through motions, “She’s A Dancer” is the weakest song here. Ironically, by trying too hard to force a good time, the song is the most by-the-numbers track here.
There’s also the mid-tempo funk of “I’m Talkin’ ‘Bout You”. It’s okay.
Although this album overall is yet another step down for A Taste of Honey, they did finally conclude an album with a great ballad!
“Sukiyaki” is a pseudo-cover of a Japanese pop song by Kyu Sakamoto that reached #1 in the US back in 1963. (The original is sung entirely in Japanese and was initially titled “Ue o Muite Arukō”).
This pseuo-cover maintains the melody but has new lyrics sung in English. The band’s new take topped R&B singles chart and the Adult Contemporary chart while also reaching #3 pop.
Finally, they got another big hit after 1978’s “Boogie Oogie Oogie”!
It’d be their last.
ALBUM GRADE: B-
Song Scores
Ain’t Nothin’ But A Party: 7/10
Rescue Me: 8.5/10
Superstar Superman: 7.5/10
I’m Talkin’ ‘Bout You: 6.5/10
She’s A Dancer: 5/10
Don’t You Lead Me On: 8/10
Good-Bye Baby: 6.5/10
Say That You’ll Stay: 6/10
Sukiyaki: 8/10