Released: December 1980
This is one of the great pop albums of the early 1980s even if pop (white) audiences did not give it the love it deserved. Don’t worry, Black folks upheld their end of the bargain helping the album go platinum despite the lack of “pop” support.
It was truly a testament of staying power because Three For Love’s highest position on the R&B album charts was #8, but still managed to be the sixth best selling R&B album of the entire year. That means it just steadily sold all throughout 1981.
And best of all for Shalamar, this album proved the singers were full-fledged artists since they contributed mightily to the writing. Leon Sylvers kept his role as an ace producer and also played nasty bass guitar.
“Full of Fire” is a disco ballad written by Jody Watley, who also handles the lead vocals. It’s the weakest song on the album and it’s still good. The biggest failing is that at 6:12 it goes on a tad too long for a song that has no striking instrumental solo (there is a very brief guitar solo). Deliver a blazing sax, guitar, or keyboard solo and we got justification for 6:12.
SOLAR label mates from the band Dynasty (Wardell Potts, William Shelby, and Kevin Spencer) contributed the next song, “Attention to My Baby”. It’s a breezy disco number. Love it.
The SOLAR family again comes through as Lakeside’s Otis Stokes joined Shelby and Ernest Reed to write Shalamar’s first top-notch ballad: “Somewhere There’s A Love”. Not only is it a great song, it’s a great jazzy song. Howard Hewett takes on the role of a lounge singer and there’s a splendid saxophone solo.
Side One concludes with the workout “Some Things Never Change” blazing a trail of dancing mischief.
Side Two begins with “Make That Move” a tour de force of disco-pop hooks. Hewett has the primary lead, but Watley and Jeffrey Daniel provide ample support as they come in and out with their own showcases in this 6:15 juggernaut. The vocal balance is done so well that all three should be considered leads on this one.
The album’s second single after “Full of Fire” flopped (#24 R&B, #55 pop), “Make That Move” did not do much action on the pop charts (an absurdly low #60) but charged to #6 on the R&B side.
The album’s final single was the titanic ballad, “This Is For the Lover In You”. It hit a decent #17 R&B, but don’t let that fool you. This song is a classic. It’s a showcase for Hewett (who co-wrote the song) to absolutely chew up the entire scenery. Also, the strings here. The strings! They are gorgeous.
Coming off the heels of that barnburner is the relaxed “Work It Out” another song written and sung by Watley.
The album concludes with Jeffrey Daniel getting his first solo lead on “Pop Along Kid”, which is a quasi-autobiographical tune about his superb dancing skills. And Daniel could fucking dance, so this became his signature song. And it’s actually a really good song for popping.
And a moment to appreciate the sequencing of Side Two.
Make That Move (a charging dance track about having enough courage to “make that move” and fall in love) -> This Is For The Lover You (a man pledging dedication to his love in a burst emotional balladry) -> Work It Out (a mellow track that provides a release and respite from all the drama of the first two songs) -> Pop Along Kid (caps off the album with truly enjoyable mindless fun).
ALBUM GRADE: A-
A fan of early 80s R&B, pop, and/or post-disco? Get this shit.
Song Scores
Full of Fire: 7/10
Attention To My Baby: 7.5/10
Somewhere There's a Love: 8/10
Some Things Never Change: 8/10
Make That Move: 9/10
This Is For The Lover In You: 9/10
Work It Out: 7.5/10
Pop Along Kid: 8.5/10