Released: 1977
After writing and composing all the music on her first two albums, Patrice Rushen decided to go toward a more commercial sound and enlisted the help of friends and family. Charles Mims (one time love interest, longtime friend) and Angela Rushen (her sister) get their first of many co-writes on Patrice’s albums.
Never fear, Rushen was still at the center of things as she wrote or co-wrote six of the eight songs and was co-producer on everything. Whatever else you say about Patrice Rushen’s music, you gotta mention she was always in control of what direction she was going.
The first notes of the album leave no doubt about her new musical orientation.
“The Hump” has a funky bass and handclaps that lead to chanted group vocals. Naturally, the song also has outstanding keyboard work from Rushen. This woman could play. “Shout it Out” digs even deeper into the funk with a slow thudding bass that would make Rose Royce proud.
(also would like to point out that legendary drummer James Gadson and guitarist Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire are all over this LP. Gadson would also be a longtime player on Rushen albums).
Love the title to “Stepping Stones” because it is pleasant soulful jazz that in my mind is Rushen winking to the fact that “pure jazz” may have been her origins, but her musical outlook would be broader than that. Jazz in essence was the stepping stone to her continued growth.
And like most experiences we go through, she’d never leave that stepping stone behind. Jazz would always influence her recordings… at least through the mid-80s… that’s when things got rough. But unpleasantness is far ahead in the future!
“Let Your Heart Beat Free” is the first real inkling toward Rushen’s later commercial success with an infectious fusion of pop-soul-funk-jazz. The song itself did not make any impact at the time, but it’s great to hear these first rumblings.
A key to this track and her future hits is that sincerity present in her delicate voice. She was never going to belt. In fact, she couldn’t belt. Don’t let that stop you from appreciating the charm in her approach.
Well, after a pretty good run of four songs the album starts to slip.
“Roll with the Punches” has too much slap bass action. Slap bass for the sake of slap bass has never been something I’ve enjoyed. However, the clavinet and keyboard work from Patrice ultimately balances out the over-active bass.
God, I miss clavinets being in music.
“Let There Be Funk” is perfunctory late 70s funk. It definitely ain’t bad, just by the numbers.
Okay, we actually have two bad songs to conclude the album. We have a high-pitched synthesizer alert on “Yolon”. Wow, we get some prog rock on “Sojourn”. Too bad it stinks.
ALBUM GRADE: C
The first side of this LP is good. The second half starts off okay and then drops off badly. Those good songs are very enjoyable for fans of funk and jazz-funk. And this type of music served as an inspiration for the acid jazz and British soul groups that arose in the late 80s and early 90s to save America from New Jack Swing’s excesses.
Song Scores
The Hump: 7/10
Shout It Out: 7/10
Stepping Stones: 7/10
Let Your Heart Beat Free: 7/10
Roll With the Punches: 6.5/10
Let There Be Funk: 6/10
Yolon: 4/10
Sojourn: 3/10