LP Review: '83
Released: 1983
LP Charts: nada
Leaving aside the corny album cover, here’s an unexpected career recovery from Mass Production on their final album!
This was totally unexpected since they put out two horrible albums to start the 1980s. There was Massterpiece in 1980, which I rate a D. Then there was Turn Up the Music which was a stone cold F. Things perked up in 1982 with the release of In A City Groove (it merits a C).
Then with ‘83 (obviously released in 1983), Mass Production managed to totally lean into the electronic revolution that had shaken up the funk and R&B world during the preceding years. As I’ve noted in previous reviews, Mass Production never had strong vocal performances. Well, guess what could be ably de-emphasized without people noticing too much in the electronic funk revolution? Weak vocals!
This group generally shined instrumentally, so being able to essentially hide their weak vocals whenever needed with the caveat that “everybody is de-emphasizing strong vocals!” was a godsend for them.
The instrumental “Sun Dancer” leads the album off and is the best piece of music here. A synth bass line anchors the track while slightly cheesy keyboards shimmer throughout. Best of all is an airy flute that dominates starting halfway through giving the instrumental an appropriately mythical feel.
The group next tries a little experimentation with the reggae song “Time Bomb”. This isn’t by any means first-class reggae (or even second-class reggae), but I give the band credit for making this attempt because A) it is a legit stylistic departure and B) the vocals for reggae songs don’t require bombastic soul/gospel singing. You still gotta be good vocally, but it’s a different kinda good.
Wisely, the band fires off another instrumental with the electro-funk “Victory ‘83”. Solid groove with some vocoder effects, cowbell, and sliding synths. I can dig it. Hey, then Mass Production turns in another good electro-funk track with “Style”, complete with a squawking saxophone. It also owes more than a little debt to the contemporary productions of Prince and Kashif, but I ain’t complainin’.
“Farewell Love” slides into a right good midtempo groove. Still no complaints from me. “Here You Come (Creeping Back In My Dreams)” is the first song that holds up the album. I forgave the reggae song being kind of meh because it was an attempt something new. “Here You Come” is just another in a long Mass Production tradition of meh ballads. “Chasing Rainbows” worsens that tradition. At least the album ends with “Don’t Stop Believin’”, another midtempo funk selection.
ALBUM GRADE: C+
Well, Mass Production ended their career pretty much like it began. Pretty good on the dance songs, borderline excellent on the instrumentals, pleasing with the midtempo grooves, and disappointing on the ballads.
Song Scores
Sun Dancer: 7.5/10
Time Bomb: 6/10
Victory ‘83: 7/10
Style: 7/10
Farewell Love: 7/10
Here You Come (Creeping Back In My Dreams): 5.5/10
Chasing Rainbows: 5/10
Don’t Stop Believin’: 6.5/10