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Format:MP3 Download
'Adventures In The Land Of The Good Groove' was originally released at a time when the dance scene was changing rapidly. Real musicians were on the way out (replaced by snyths and drum machines) and the once mighty 'Chic' had completely lost their way (via the AWFUL 'Tongue In Chic' album) and were in steep decline sales wise...
It was in this musical atmosphere that Nile launched his first solo album. An attempt to both keep to what he did best (write songs with simple lyrics but musically irresistible melodies) AND to go with the times 'Adventures' kind of fell between the gap in between and failed to get the recognition it deserved.
This said, it was as easy back then as it is today to see why the album failed to take off. Take the title track opener for example, the song has some incredibly funky guitar playing from Nile on it but for the most part the song just 'lops along' carrying the "Oh Man, I want to go to, the land of the good groove" chant without ever really catching fire. This is pretty typical of most of the songs on the album as well. As catchy and repetitive as some of Chic's finest moments, there just seems to something lacking in the groove department which leaves you feeling a bit frustrated...
Back in the day, 'Get Her Crazy' with its incessant chant and (for once) full blown guitar funk attack was the hottest track from the album in the U.K. and got played a fair bit on radio shows like 'Steppin' Out'. 'Yum Yum', 'Beet', Rock Bottom' and 'Most Down' all fall into pretty much the same boat as the aforementioned title track though 'Rock Bottom' reminds me more of Chic than the rest.
The lone slow song on the album is 'My Love Song For You' and of all the tracks here it has probably dated the best. Rodgers was never noted for his vocal range but his style of singing compliments Sarah Dash's vocals nicely here and you wonder how an album of slower material could have worked for Nile had he chosen to try a different tack altogether?
'All In Your Hands' is another chant and guitar licking track but is not aimed at the dance floor and that is it really....
I suppose the way to view this album is thus:
If you like the Chic sound you will probably like this album.
If you liked the album at the time, you will not find it has stood the test of time that well, however.
If you have never heard this album and have only heard bad things about it, you should definitely give it a listen as you might be pleasantly surprised.
'Adventures In The Land Of The Good Groove' is I guess just a record created at the wrong time, with the wrong groove for the time. It did not fit in with changing times back in 1983 and it still doesn't fit in - whatever, it is worth exploring at least...
1983 Rating 8 out of 10
2011 Rating 7 out of 10.
It was in this musical atmosphere that Nile launched his first solo album. An attempt to both keep to what he did best (write songs with simple lyrics but musically irresistible melodies) AND to go with the times 'Adventures' kind of fell between the gap in between and failed to get the recognition it deserved.
This said, it was as easy back then as it is today to see why the album failed to take off. Take the title track opener for example, the song has some incredibly funky guitar playing from Nile on it but for the most part the song just 'lops along' carrying the "Oh Man, I want to go to, the land of the good groove" chant without ever really catching fire. This is pretty typical of most of the songs on the album as well. As catchy and repetitive as some of Chic's finest moments, there just seems to something lacking in the groove department which leaves you feeling a bit frustrated...
Back in the day, 'Get Her Crazy' with its incessant chant and (for once) full blown guitar funk attack was the hottest track from the album in the U.K. and got played a fair bit on radio shows like 'Steppin' Out'. 'Yum Yum', 'Beet', Rock Bottom' and 'Most Down' all fall into pretty much the same boat as the aforementioned title track though 'Rock Bottom' reminds me more of Chic than the rest.
The lone slow song on the album is 'My Love Song For You' and of all the tracks here it has probably dated the best. Rodgers was never noted for his vocal range but his style of singing compliments Sarah Dash's vocals nicely here and you wonder how an album of slower material could have worked for Nile had he chosen to try a different tack altogether?
'All In Your Hands' is another chant and guitar licking track but is not aimed at the dance floor and that is it really....
I suppose the way to view this album is thus:
If you like the Chic sound you will probably like this album.
If you liked the album at the time, you will not find it has stood the test of time that well, however.
If you have never heard this album and have only heard bad things about it, you should definitely give it a listen as you might be pleasantly surprised.
'Adventures In The Land Of The Good Groove' is I guess just a record created at the wrong time, with the wrong groove for the time. It did not fit in with changing times back in 1983 and it still doesn't fit in - whatever, it is worth exploring at least...
1983 Rating 8 out of 10
2011 Rating 7 out of 10.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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4 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Rodgers Solo
19 Sep 2009
Format:Audio CD
Alongside his 80s production duties with Bowie, Madonna, B52s, etc, and his own group's Chic lps of 81, 82, and 83, Rodgers made some idiosyncratic forays on his own or in groups highly attuned to the NY club scene. There are four of these club-oriented projects that constitute a "Nile Rodgers" project for the 80s: Material's *One Down* of 81, Rodgers' solos of 83 and 85, and Outloud's eponymous 87 lp recorded as a trio with Phillippe Saisse and Felicia Collins. Together, they comprise a surprisingly cohesive sound and personal statement. 1983's *Adventures* uses the club sound for a clever examination of male-female intimacy. The Good Groove plays a metaphor on both the rhythm and anatomy of sex. The sound ranges from fast electronic grooves to mid-termpo percussive meditations to a gorgeous ballad; the subject matter involves a man's blindness in sex tripping him up and then revealing deeper emotions. A very tight recording, sadly overlooked at the time. Why these Rodgers projects were overlooked is a mystery. Just as the three Material tracks sporting the imprimatur of Rodgers stumbled saleswise ("I'm The One" hitting only #43 on the Dance chart), *Adventure's* tracks did not chart on Dance, R&B, or Pop charts. These would have been easily paired with the Prince and Yaz, ESG and Peech Boys cuts of the day.
Long lost classic
15 April 2011
I have been looking for this album for damn near 25 years. A real lost gem from back in the day.The album title speaks of New york city below 14 street where on any given night back in the 80's you could get your groove on. Never could understand why this album did'nt do better when it originally came out. There is not a weak cut on the album but personally speaking the two classics on here are the title track and all in you hands. Nile was a great guitar player who never really got the credit he was due for his fluid style of play. I remember hearing land of the good groove at paradise Garage sometime around 82 or 83 and it rocked the crowd then and still holds up 25 years later. Very happy to have this classic back in my collection after all this time.
Great solo album from an R&B and pop genius
2 April 2010
Format:Audio CD
One of the most prolific producers ever and a founding member of Chic, one of the most well-regarded groups in the much-maligned genre of disco, Nile Rodgers somehow managed to find some time in the 80s to record a couple of intriguing solo albums alongside all of the production work he was involved with at the time. This 1983 solo debut from Rodgers is a deeper, more organic-sounding album than his efforts with Chic, but still contains much of the uber-catchy grooves that have become the legacy of Nile Rodgers over the years. The title track (minus the words "Adventures In") and "Beet" are two of the best examples of Rodgers' signature brand of funk, and he also throws in a sweet, haunting ballad "My Love Song For You," in which he duets with female singer and former Supremes member Sarah Dash.
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