Track Listing

1. All American Girls
2. He's Just a Runaway
3. If You Really Want Me
4. Next Time You'll Know
5. Happy Feeling
6. Ooh, You Caught My Heart
7. Make a Move
8. Don't You Let Me Lose It
9. Music Makes Me Feel Good
10. I Don't Want to Say Goodbye

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #115312 in Music
• Released on: 2007-09-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .19 pounds

Album Description
Sister Sledge were an R&B vocal group from Philadelphia consisting of sisters Debra, Joni, Kim & Kathy Sledge. They issued numerous albums throughout the1970's & 1980's. They are best known for their big hit "We Are Family". Even though that album has been issued on CD, most of their other albums have not. We now rectify that situation with the release of seven of their albums, all but one making their worldwide CD debuts

Customer Reviews

Typical 80s; huge fun
Maybe it was the relatively disappointing response to 1980's Love Somebody Today (which I reviewed recently and bought at the same time as this), maybe Bernard and Nile were busy, or maybe the girls just fancied a change but whatever it was, in 1981, it led them to them turn to Narada Michael Walden for their next album. At that time, Walden had already had worked with people like Weather Report, Jaco Pastorius, Jeff Beck and Carlos Santana, and had had some success in his own right and as a producer with teenage pop star Stacy Lattisaw. His sound definitely gave the sisters more freedom to move around and express themselves vocally. He also presented them with the opportunity to co-write and co-produce - something I doubt the Chic guys would ever have gone for.

The end result was bright and breezy, with lots of rhythm guitar licks, horns and synthesized strings working alongside the real thing. Walden took inspiration from the Chic sound and is even quoted as saying he wanted his music to be "a melding of Chic's rhythm and vocal trademarks with those of Earth, Wind & Fire's [Phoenix] Horns". He did a great job and tunes like "Next Time You'll Know", "Happy Feeling" and "Don't You Make Me Lose It" could easily have been produced by Chic though in fairness to Walden, they do offer just that little bit extra. The rock-edged "He's Just A Runaway" is the one tune I could've happily done without but my favourite all these years has always been "If You Really Want Me", with its crazy sax solo. All in all though, this is a great album, typical 80s and huge fun to sing along to. I'm glad they decided to reissue it - and with the original album cover this time - as my vinyl copy was getting a bit worn. If you're a lover of the 80s sound like I am, this is definitely worth checking out.

Some trivia if anyone's interested: Walden played drums, percussion and keys on this album but included in his 'The Brothers Sledge Band' were Randy Jackson, now of "American Idol" fame, who played some excellent bass, provided "Inspiration" and even co-wrote the down and funky "Ooh, You Caught My Heart" and alto saxophone player Marc Russo, who was part of The See America Horns here but went on to become a member of one of my favourite bands of all time, Yellowjackets.

Simmering 1st half, lame 2nd half.
First of all, the Rhino CD re-issue I have contains(thankfully) the original version of 'Runaway'. Secondly, the first (or what was side 1 on the LP) half of the album is fantastic. But unfortunately, the post-disco/synth/early new wave flavor of the early '80's, really dooms the second half the CD. The only exception is the closing song- which aptly describes the sister's career after this album.

EVERY ONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINION...
...even if it IS wrong! This is EASILY the best Sister Sledge LP and EASILY beats out anything they did after it. And yeah, I might go so far to say that is EASILY beats the previous "Love Somebody" album. But, why is this reissued with the remixed version of "He's Just a Runaway" rather that the rockish, euro-disco version on the original? It was just HOT how "All American Girls" segued right into "He's Just a Runaway". and how that song segued into the next. Three hot numbers right off the bat got this album started right. "Ooh, You Caught My Heart" is another hot, funky number. It is such a shame this is not in print. I really need this on CD. The ballads, are just as nice and some of the girls best. "Next Time You'll Know" and "I Don't Want to Say Goodbye" are standouts. I swear to God, Niles and Bernard of Chic could not write songs this good on their best day. Their lyrics left MUCH to be desired. "We Are Family" was a hit not just because it was a great song, but Kathy's performance just begged this song to be played over and over and over. I think this album sounds as fresh today as it did in 81.