LP Review: Numbers
Released: 1979
LP Charts: #15 R&B; #81 pop
AS THE RUFUS TURNS (where we keep track of band members)
Kevin Murphy (keyboards)
Chaka Khan (vocals) — on hiatus
Tony Maiden (guitar and vocals)
Bobby Watson (bass)
John Robinson replacing Richard Calhoun (drums)
David “Hawk” Wolinski (keyboards and vocals)
With Chaka Khan officially a separate music act now, Rufus recorded their first album without their lead singer. The public promptly lost interest in the band without Chaka’s vocals. But was that lack of attention given to this album justified?
Largely, sad to say.
The opening “Ain't Nobody Like You” is a pretty decent yacht ballad with Tony Maiden sharing lead vocals with Helen Rowe. Their vocals are good enough, but it’s the violins and guitar that really make the song work, insofar as it does work.
“You’re To Blame” has a prototypical late 70s dance-pop beat. It works well enough all things considered. The main issue was that Hawk Wolinski sang lead. His voice is nondescript, so you wind up not being all that interested in the lyrics. But this is a dance song, so would you be anyways?
“Dancin’ Mood” doesn’t even really bother with lyrics. Just an extended groove with the band every now and often telling you they got the power to put you in a dancin’ mood. The high-steppin’ “Red Hot Poker” has no lyrics whatsoever as the band once more dabbles in jazz fusion.
“Life In the City” fuses the jazz fusion with rock. It probably shoulda just been an instrumental as the vocal portions are forgettable while instrumental passages are mildly interesting.
Some of the less interesting songs…
“Keep It Together (Declaration of Love)” — sleepily boring ballad
“Bet My Dreams” — breezy yacht music that leaves no impression
“Pleasure Dome” — stupid concept, stupid execution
“Are We?” features guest vocalist Maxayn Lewis. The song is okay.
ALBUM GRADE: C-
This album has enough decent album/filler tracks, but lacks anything to anchor the material.
Song Scores
Ain't Nobody Like You: 6.5/10
You’re To Blame: 6.5/10
Keep It Together (Declaration of Love): 3/10
Dancin’ Mood: 5/10
Red Hot Poker: 6.5/10
Bet My Dreams: 5/10
Pleasure Dome: 4/10
Are We?: 5/10
Life in the City: 5.5/10