LP Review: Goin' Places
Released: 1977
LP Charts: #18 R&B, #49 pop
Goin’ Places, eh? I wish Michael Henderson had stayed where he was on Solid because this sophomore album is definitely a step down in both song quality and recording quality. The latter is particularly weird since Henderson had a successful debut. You’d think the record label would provide better technology to get these tunes on wax.
Whatever.
What isn’t the record label’s fault is Henderson beginning to oversing. It’s not Whitney Houston type bombast, but just him being a weirdo in certain ways on certain songs. Sometimes just singing the words straight are better than trying to be loopy, even on the wild funk tracks.
“Whip It” and “I Can’t Help It” are two funk songs that seem to try too hard to be funky. “Let Me Love You” is a funk ballad that could have benefitted from more instrumental passages, particularly an electric keyboard solo. The keyboard is already there playing through the song, so give the piano man an opportunity to be center stage instead of having Henderson endlessly vocalize.
“Goin’ Places” is a perfect song for steppin’ to. Easily the best song on Side 1.
Side 2 is not setting the world on fire, but it’s better than the first side.
“I’ll Be Understanding” is another slow jam, but sparser than “Let Me Love You” and benefits greatly from the extra room. “At the Concert”—a duet with Roberta Flack—spruces the album up real good. And this despite the fact that I don’t think Henderson’s and Flack’s voices don’t mesh well together. Credit to the backing vocalists helping smooth over those rough edges. Anyhoo, “At the Concert” takes its time with prominent saxophone and organ solos that slowly introduce the song’s relaxed yet expansive vibe. Honestly, I like the instrumental passages of this song more than parts with vocals. There’s a real engaging trumpet solo to close out the song, too.
“Won’t You Be Mine” is hands down the best song on the album. With its nod to disco, the funk isn’t forced and instead flows forth for a nice partner dance on the floor… or for rollerskating.
ALBUM GRADE: B-
Nowhere near as fun as his debut Solid, but Goin’ Places still keeps its head above water. Even if it needed a life jacket to do so…
Song Scores
Whip It: 6/10
Goin’ Places: 7.5/10
Let Me Love You: 6.5/10
I Can’t Help It: 6/10
I’ll Be Understanding: 7/10
At the Concert: 7/10
Won’t You Be Mine: 7.5/10