LP Review: Switch V and Am I Still Your Boyfriend?
SWITCH V
Released: 1981
LP Charts: #48 R&B; #174 pop
Well, this is a big ole disappointing album, from the album title (Switch V, really?!) right on down to every song. A big problem is that co-lead vocalist Bobby DeBarge only sings on “I Luv It”, which is a ho-hum funk track. With DeBarge basically out of the picture, Phillip Ingram handles most of the vocal duties. He’s a good, capable vocalist; but not a great vocalist like DeBarge.
And if you’re relying on a capable vocalist, the band and music must be cracking and great. Sadly, that’s not the case here. Furthermore, DeBarge also didn’t write a single song here. It wasn’t a rule, but it was trend that the best Switch songs either featured Bobby writing and/or singing the song.
So the best songs here wind up being “I Do Love You” and “Call on Me”, which are fine. On previous Switch albums, they would have been nice filler instead of high points, though. Can’t really recommend this album as a whole for anybody, even diehard funk/soul/R&B fans of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.
ALBUM GRADE: D+
Song Scores
I Do Love You: 6/10
Call On Me: 6/10
You Keep Me High: 5/10
I’ll Always Keep: 5/10
This Is Just For You: 5/10
The Best of Love: 5/10
I Luv It: 5.5/10
Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right: 4/10
Push The Switch (High Energy Switch): 4/10
AM I STILL YOUR BOYFRIEND?
Released: 1984
LP Charts: nada
After Switch V totally bombed, Switch went on hiatus for three years. When they released Am I Still Your Boyfriend? they were no longer on Motown and had a few lineup changes, most notably the full departure of the DeBarge brothers (Bobby and Tommy) plus Phillip Ingram. That left only Jody Sims, Gregory Williams, and Eddie Fluellen around as longtime band members. They got some replacement players, but I’d rather not mention them because this album stinks.
But let’s be positive—at least for a moment.
“Keeping Secrets” has a nice groove. And “Am I Still Your Boyfriend?” is legitimately good ‘80s synth-pop. There. We had a moment.
“Spend My Life With You” is a curio that does show exactly how far Switch had fallen. The backing track sounds like it was left over from a 1980 or 1981 recording session and subsequently gussied up with some mid-80s studio tricks. But since it lacks Phillip Ingram or Bobby DeBarge to chew into the lyrics it lacks the old magic to work. We already saw on the previous album how a lack of DeBarge could be fatal. Now no DeBarge and no Ingram? Just asking for musical trouble.
Anyways, this was the last studio album from Switch. A wise choice.
ALBUM GRADE: D-
Song Scores
I’m So Satisfied: 5.5/10
Switch It Baby: 4/10
It’s All Up To You: 5.5/10
Lovers Don't Hold Back: 3/10
Keeping Secrets: 6/10
Treason: 5/10
Am I Still Your Boyfriend?: 7/10
Just Can’t Pull Away: 4/10
I Won't Give Up: 4/10
Spend My Life With You: 5/10