Released: February 1987
Whole lotta drama on Patrice Rushen’s one and only Arista release. The head of Arista, Clive Davis, is/was notorious for being a controlling jack ass. Rushen didn’t really need anybody telling her how to work in the studio. And no one really had over the previous decade. Nonetheless, she was usurped as producer on three of the album’s songs.
An unheard of state of affairs for Rushen.
The standoff between Rushen and Davis meant a three-year delay in releasing Watch Out. Despite the dispute over the direction of the album, this thing is an improvement over Now, but the experience left Rushen frazzled, so she stopped recording new music for seven years and instead focused on being a music director.
A very successful musical director, I might add. Lots of awards show with her fingerprints on it.
Anyhoo, on to Watch Out!.
The Bookends, The Best Ends
“Watch Out” and “Tender Lovin’” open and close the album, respectively, and are the best two songs on the LP. “Watch Out” reprises the bass heavy, catchy hook formula of “Feels So Real” from Now, which was itself a derivation of “Forget Me Nots”. Given its lineage, the song is fairly decent and has its charm. Released as a single it reached #9 R&B and was Rushen’s last hit.
“Tender Lovin’” is more adventurous and I wish more of the album was in its vein. “Watch Out” has the edge in being more pop-ish, but “Tender Lovin’” just jams on. Also has a marvelous Rushen keyboard solo. And are those the sweet sounds of horns I hear? Those things were completely absent (minus saxophone solos) from Now.
Mall Pop!
“Anything Can Happen” is quintessential mall pop shimmering in synth keyboards. Very bright and sunny. “Breakin’ All The Rules” and “Burnin’” are also mall pop, but less effective.
Other 80s Fare
You can throw “Long Time Coming” at someone from the future wondering what standard R&B sounded like in 1986.
Meanwhile, “All My Love” is the only ballad here that captures hints of what Rushen was able to do on previous albums. And even it merely captures hints, not the full glory. It’s much better than “Somewhere” and “Till She's Out Of Your Mind”
ALBUM GRADE: C-
An uneven album that really slumps on the backend. “Watch Out” and “Tender Lovin’’” are the two songs I’d push you to listen to. And “Anything Can Happen” if you like bright 80s pop.
Otherwise for the devoted Patrice Rushen fans only.
Song Scores
Watch Out: 7/10
Breakin' All The Rules: 5/10
Long Time Coming: 6/10
All My Love: 6.5/10
Somewhere: 5/10
Anything Can Happen: 6/10
Burnin’: 4/10
Till She's Out Of Your Mind: 3/10
Come Back To Me: 4/10
Tender Lovin’: 7.5/10