LP Review: This Is My Dream
Released: 1980
LP Charts: #21 R&B, #85 pop
After the splendid Reaching for Tomorrow, could Switch keep up the goodness with This is My Dream?
Well, the opening track doesn’t bode well. Switch really struggles to do hard funk and one listen to “Believe In Yourself” shows that off in spades. The group just tries too hard to find the groove, which is ironic given that the lyrics are about being true to yourself and your aspirations.
With “Love Over and Over Again” (#9 R&B), Switch actually gets true to themselves, albeit by going back once again the “I Call Your Name” well. The last time they did this on “My Friend in the Sky” from Reach for Tomorrow, they had made a natural extension of “I Call Your Name”. This time around “Love Over and Over Again” sounds like a rush job taking advantage of the “I Call Your Name” motif. Lucky for them that motif still holds up on this ballad.
“Just Imagine” is a better song than “Believe in Yourself”, but its got the same, lame message. Far better is “All I Need Is You”, which isn’t hard funk, but it is kinda sleazy thanks to Tommy DeBarge’s slap bass.
Hey, these boys close out Side 1 with the feathery “You And I”. Now this is a great song.
“What A Feeling” lives up to the title with strong influences from Earth, Wind & Fire. That kind of feelgood groove only early ‘80s R&B can give you. Phillip Ingram and Bobby DeBarge do their vocal thing here.
Following that joyful track, two ballads. “Without You In My Life” is okay, while “Why'd You Let Love Fall” isn’t much better, but it does have a little sexy heft to it.
The album ends with an interlude (“We Can Make It Better”) and the title track. “This Is My Dream” is the kind of powerful ballad this band clearly had a knack for at this point. Written by Bobby and Bunny DeBarge it is a great example of sequencing the right song to close an album.
Plus I’m a sucker for harp. This song has harp. It also has a great call-and-response chorus between the vocalists and the horns. It’ll make you pump your fist.
ALBUM GRADE: B-
This definitely has some damn good high points, but can’t deny the fluff. Overall, a good listen, though.
Song Scores
Believe In Yourself: 5/10
Love Over and Over Again: 7/10
Just Imagine: 6/10
All I Need Is You: 7/10
You And I: 8/10
What A Feeling: 7.5/10
Without You In My Life: 6/10
Why'd You Let Love Fall: 6.5/10
We Can Make It Better: 7/10
This Is My Dream: 8.5/10