LP Review: Reaching For Tomorrow
Released: 1980
LP Charts: #23 R&B, #57 pop
With this release I think Switch finally coalesced into something special.
Reaching for Tomorrow opens with three songs written by co-lead singer Bobby DeBarge. And the first two of those three songs were co-written with his sister Bunny DeBarge.
“Power to Dance” is the most tuneful dance song yet from Switch. Even has some electric guitar reminiscent of Ernie Isley. “My Friend in the Sky” ably recycles the mood, feel, and groove of “I Call Your Name” from Switch II. Normally, I’d be underwhelmed at such antics, but they take the song’s sentiment from romantic to heavenly while giving the track a stronger back beat. It’s tighter and more focused as well. Lastly, the song becomes a duet between Bobby DeBarge and Phillip Ingram. In the end, I think “My Friend in the Sky” is actually a smidge better than “I Call Your Name”.
The finale of this opening trio of greatness is “Don’t Take My Love Away”. The slowest of the three songs, it’s still got an insistent beat that guides the sugary song on its gorgeous way. All three of these tracks belong on a yacht soul/rock playlist, by the way.
We finally move on from the DeBarge suite to a contribution from trumpeter Gregory Williams. His “Keep Movin’ On” is light, struttin’ disco-funk. Although not without its own charm, it is a clear step down from where ole Bobby (and Bunny) left us.
Side 2 of the LP opens with friend of the band Jermaine Jackson’s “A Brighter Tomorrow (Interlude)” and “Reaching for Tomorrow”. And man can you tell they’re Jermaine tracks from the vocal arrangements. The symphonic interlude is pure sap. The actual song is funkier and a steppers’ tune all the way with its chicken-pluckin’ guitar and laid back groove. And at 6:06, it has the potential to get stale, which it almost does, but halfway through a saxophone solo reinvigorates the song.
Thereafter the album kind of peters out with “I Finally Found Someone New”, “Honey, I Love You”, and “Get Back With You”. Three slightly above average examples of R&B’s transition from the late ‘70s to the early ‘80s.
ALBUM GRADE: B
Despite easily being the best Switch album yet, this did not have a hit single or reach the top 10 of the R&B album charts. Shows you how fickle the public could be. Whatever. If you dig super early ‘80s old school soul, this LP is for you.
Song Scores
Power to Dance: 7/10
My Friend In The Sky: 8.5/10
Don’t Take My Love Away: 8/10
Keep Movin’ On: 6.5/10
A Brighter Tomorrow (Interlude): 8/10
Reaching for Tomorrow: 7.5/10
I Finally Found Someone New: 6.5/10
Honey, I Love You: 6/10
Get Back With You: 6/10