LP Review: El DeBarge
Released: 1986
LP Charts: #8 R&B, #24 pop
This solo debut from El DeBarge may not be the worst album associated with the DeBarge family, but it’s certainly the one I hate the most. The definition of an LP designed to be a hit to such a degree that it comes out totally flaccid. Why on earth would you subjugate one of the best soul songwriters of his generation to the whims of hired guns?
Look no further for all of this album’s problems than the opening track and lead single “Who’s Johnny” (#1 R&B, #3 pop, #10 dance). The song has absolutely stupid lyrics, was the theme song for the movie Short Circuit, and wastes a great El DeBarge vocal performance. Indeed it’s only the vocal performance of El that holds this dumb song together. Under the helm of a lesser singer, this thing woulda been a total travesty that it deserved to be.
Never fear, there are other travesties that El can’t save.
All of Diane Warren’s contributions—“Secrets of the Night”, “I Wanna Hear It From My Heart”, “Private Line”, and “Don’t Say It’s Over”—are some crummy schlock. Each song truly and deeply sucks.
Much better, which isn’t necessarily saying much, are the tracks from Jay Graydon. He had collaborated with DeBarge and other R&B acts for years, so he wasn’t a vapid purveyor of the adult contemporary arts.
“Someone” (#32 R&B, #70 pop, #20 adult contemporary) is actually pleasant. Wouldn’t quite go so far as to call it good, but it stands high above most of this dreck. “Lost Without Her Love”? Eh, not so much. At least Graydon was one for two on his contributions. A better average than Warren.
Alright, let’s get to the rest of this crap. “When Love Has Gone Away” is painfully bland with cheesy-ass mid-80s shimmering keyboard. And if only “Thrill of the Chase” had any excitement that justified its title.
That leaves us with “Love Always” (#7 R&B, #43 pop, #8 adult contemporary) as the only song I deem good on this 10-track endeavor. It was written by the legendary Burth Bacharach along with Bruce Roberts and Carole Bayer-Sager. If you’re gonna force feed El DeBarge ballads from outside producers and writers, Bacharach ain’t a bad choice to go with.
I actually do enjoy the fact the song starts off sorrowfully quiet suiting El’s tender falsetto. The song slowly adds layers as it progresses without ever becoming bombastic, except for when a saxophone comes squawking in. But it was the ‘80s. Wouldn’t be a ballad without a squawking sax.
ALBUM GRADE: D
Despite going gold, this album sucks. And it didn’t just suck, it torpedoed the rest of El’s career. Well, also drugs. They helped sink his career too. Anyone who bought this thing expecting the excitement and originality of the DeBarge albums was sorely disappointed. Even though El would reclaim artistic control, he never got back the commercial appeal.
Song Scores
Who’s Johnny: 6/10
Secrets of the Night: 3/10
I Wanna Hear It From My Heart: 3/10
Someone: 6.5/10
When Love Has Gone Away: 3/10
Private Line: 4/10
Love Always: 7/10
Lost Without Her Love: 5/10
Thrill of the Chase: 4/10
Don’t Say It’s Over: 2/10