LP Review: The DeBarges
Released: 1981
LP Charts: nada
Produced by older brother Bobby DeBarge (a member of Switch, but not DeBarge), everything about this debut album from DeBarge screams, “Tepid start with promise!” For example, the group’s name was still the clunky The DeBarges. Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue like DeBarge would. The music follows suit. There are sweet melodies (the opening “What’s Your Name”) and funky grooves (“Dance the Night Away”), but nothing catches full fire yet for the band.
Unlike on future albums, though, I have to commend DeBarge for being more democratic with the lead vocals. Later on, it would basically be all El DeBarge all the time. I mean, he’s undoubtedly the best singer, but Bunny, Randy, and Mark had good chops too. No need to bury them in the mix.
That said, El does take control of the songs he gets. “Queen of My Heart” strikes a fine balance between ‘70s soul and the deep bass guitar grooves that were becoming evermore prevalent in Quiet Storm style R&B.
And this LP was recorded in 1980-81 and released in ‘81, so there’s unsurprisingly some disco flourishes… with some early hip-hop influence. That’ll be “Hesitated”. And on “Saving Up (All My Love)” the group digs into gorgeous symphonic soul. It’s one of just two songs on the album not co-written by the DeBarge family.
The album closer “Strange Romance” is the second song not written by DeBarge. It’s some pretty decent post-disco. The vocal arrangement is the best part as the group chimes in ghostly harmony, “strange, strange, strange”.
ALBUM GRADE: B
So even though I lambasted this album as not “fully catching fire” and as “tepid”, but it’s still a B. Some artists go their whole careers without a B album, while DeBarge comes out the gate immediately with one and would only get better. So much better.
Song Scores
What’s Your Name: 6.5/10
Dance the Night Away: 7/10
You’re So Gentle, So Kind: 6/10
Queen of My Heart: 7.5/10
Hesitated: 7/10
Saving Up (All My Love): 7.5/10
Share My World: 7/10
Strange Romance: 7.5/10