Product Description

The Italian and American dance/funk/Euro-disco outfit Change began itscareer with the 1980 debut LP The Glow Of Love, a Billboard® Top 10R&B/#29 pop album. On stand-outs including the title track and Searching, both featured on this essential 14-cut, career-spanning compilation, the innovative group showcased the vocal talents of Luther Vandross before he went on to solo stardom. Other highlights and more from Change's subsequent albums for Atlantic through 1985 include A Lover's Holiday, Hold Tight, This Is Your Time, and The Very Best In You.

Track Listing

1. Lover's Holiday
2. Searching
3. Glow of Love
4. Paradise
5. Hold Tight
6. Very Best in You
7. Hard Times (It's Gonna Be Alright)
8. This Is Your Time
9. Don't Wait Another Night
10. Change of Heart
11. You Are My Melody
12. Say You Love Me Again
13. Turn on Your Radio
14. Let's Go Together

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9466 in Music
• Released on: 2008-02-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Customer Reviews

Music from heaven!
As a researcher in black music in general and of Change in particular a brief history of the group could be nice to have before buying this record. Change is one of the most over looked groups in the early 80's that should earn much more credit for their fantastic achievements even though it's 18 years ago they released their latest album. It all started in Italy in 1979 where the Guadeloupe born (executive) producer Jacques Fred Petrus and his closest companion, the Italian mastermind musician Mauro Malavasi decided to launch a new group after working together a couple of years (formed Goody music records around 75). The groups name became Change and the men behind it were originally based in Bologna and Milan in Italy but later also in New York. Right from the start Petrus and Malavasi used Italian musicians (Mauro Malavasi, Davide Romani and Paulo Gianolio among others) and American vocalists (LutherVandross, Diva Gray and later James "Crabs" Robinson and Timmy Allen) of whom the lead vocalist from Change's debut, Luther Vandross later became the most well known character from the time (he later became a big name on his own with several albums).

From the beginning Change was just a studio concept though, with several "Change" touring around America, but in 82 they became a group in the right meaning of the word. After a poor release in 85 they split up and Change was history. Jacques Fred Petrus was sadly murdered in 86 in his native country of Guadeloupe after an argument outside his club in Saint-Anne that got out of hand. Mauro Malavasi however, is today a successful songwriter and producer in Italy that been producing Andrea Bocceli and other great singers.

This lovely and brilliant CD, recorded in a superb and professional way with some generous liner notes, covers a tasteful mix of tracks from all their albums between 80 and 85, from the early disco influenced albums to the later much more R&B influenced ones. You can for example hear the whole 12" version of the hits "A lover's holiday" and "Searching" from 80, the smooth dance track "Hold tight" and Chic-like "Paradise" from 81 and the Jam/Lewis hits of "Change of heart" and "You are my melody" from 84. It also includes the great, but much more unknown tracks of "The very best of you" from 82 and "This is your time" from 83, all perfectly re-mastered.

The only downside is that the three tracks from the 1980 debut album are not full album versions, just single versions. Luckily though the rest of the tracks are full album versions. Despite that mistake this CD gives nonetheless an excellent introduction to Change for the never-heard-of-it persons and a comprehensive collection of their best music for the already convinced ones. But even if you like dance music the slightest little bit, try it out, you wont be disappointed!

Music is a universal language of peace!

More than a Chic RIPOFF
Many may have considered Change to be a clone of Chic. Granted, there are some similiarities: both featured dynamic bass lines in their music; they were fronted by mostly studio singers; they both had their time in the spotlight during the late 70's and early 80's. However, Change did score on the charts with some significant dance tunes.

"A Lover's Holiday," the group's debut single, is a very danceable tune that fits nicely with the current crop of pop hits. "Searching" and "The Glow of Love" benefit immensely from the vocals of the then-unknown Luther Vandross.

My favorite selections are the dynamic "Paradise," "Change of Heart," and "Turn On Your Radio."

The only regret is that Rhino chose not to include the tune "Stop for Love," a gem that is beautifully sung and orchestrated.

A great collection of 80's dance-soul!
This is a wonderful collection of songs from Change and it's about time they had a "Greatest Hits" released as they certainly did release great hits back in the day. It's easy to take your pick here really as ALL the tracks are that good! From the early days when Luther fronted the group to their later releases featuring James "Crabs" Robinson, Deborah Cooper and Rick Brennan. My favorite track is "Hold Tight" which has a haunting chorus and superbly executed, we're talking high quality music here folks! And I'm also referring to the fact that not only is the singing remarkable but also the music itself speaks volumes of the high musicianship that were always so evident on all their albums. Nuff said, other highlights for me are of course the late chart hit "Change Of Heart" which in a way paved the way for Jam & Lewis. It's also great to see the lesser known tracks such as "Don't Wait Another Night" which did chart back in the Summer of 1983 and the vibrant "You Are My Melody". I don't have anymore to say except, go and BUY IT NOW you won't regret it. On a positive note, it's reassuring to know that the Japanese know quality music when they see it as they released "Miracles", "Sharing Your Love" and "Change Of Heart" on CD back in 2000. However, there is a new US release on its way (November 19) which contains both "Miracles" and "Change Of Heart". It would be nice to see those other 2 that are still missing in CD format, "This Is Your Time" and "Turn On Your Radio" to be finally released on CD as well.