This album finds Sax player Tom Scott searching for a new sound after exploring the world of Pop music. This album has the feel of a pop music album with jazz-tinged funk, fusion, and a Jazz-rock feel. This album sort of dates itself with all of the electronic synthesizer effects, but is kept afloat by the killer backing musicians and vocalists that Scott has accompanying him on this gig. To name a few: Harvey Mason (drums), Paul Jackson (guitar), Ian Underwood (synth), Jerry Hey (trumpet), Jim Horn (bari sax), Ernie Watts (saxes), Dick Hyde (trombone), and others.
This album contains some schmaltzy ballads that were meant to be left in the 1980s. The Cheesy singing begins with "Come Back to Me," which features Kenny James on vocals. Maria Muldaur sings on "He's Too Young," which sounds dated enough, but also adds Synth drums. Lee Ving, former lead singer of Los Angeles hardcore band Fear, raps and plays harmonica on "Gotta Get out of New York," which is a bit bizarre. Aside from these oddly placed vocal ballads, there are some great moments on the instrumental tracks such as "Lollipoppin'," which features some killer Fender Rhodes work by Victor Feldman and great synthesizer by Ian Underwood. "The Biggest Part of Me" and "Burundi Bump" feature solid bass lines, tight horns, and everyone is locked in the groove.
If you are searching out some of Tom Scott's lesser known albums, or want to hear what he sounded like before his move to GRP records, this is where it's at. Some crazy synthesized music, cheesy ballads, and excellent backing band totals up to an interesting listen on this somewhat dated album from a master saxophonist and composer.
