Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio were amidst a successful career when album number four, A Woman Need Love, hit stores in 1981. The album’s first single “is “A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do.) The song was written as a counterpoint to the group’s previous hit, “Jack and Jill.” That song was is written from “Jack’s” viewpoint of being neglected, just as “A Woman Needs Love” is written from “Jill’s” perspective, as the lyrics indicate: “by the time poor Jack returned up the hill, someone else had been loving Jill.”
“It’s Your Night” takes things to the dance floor and gives the band a chance to show off their instrumentation skills. “That Old Song” is a fan favorite that talks about a former love that anyone can relate to when you think about an ex before finding the right one. “All in the Way You Get Down” finds the group dabbling in a sound popularized by Heatwave and Rod Temperton. Honestly, hearing this song would feel right at home on Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall.
“You Can’t Fight What You Feel” and “Old Pro” are both solid album tracks, while “Still in the Groove,” a follow-up to the instrumental funk hit “For Those Who Like to Groove,” should gratify fans looking for a good time. The album closes out with the sappy ballad “So Into You.” As we all know, Parker would go onto a successful solo career, so maybe his heart wasn’t entirely in this project. Nevertheless, A Woman Need Love features enough likable material to close out the group’s brief four-album catalog.
Final Grade: B-
A Woman Need Love is available on all streaming platforms.
Songstress Ashanti was experiencing significant success with two platinum albums at the time of the release of her inaugural holiday project, “Ashanti’s Christmas,” on November 18, 2003. Her label head, Irv Gotti, produced most of the album. This project comprises four original songs co-written by Ashanti, in addition to six cover versions of traditional Christmas standards and carols.
Vocal quartet A Few Good Man contributed two songs to the project: a cover of “Silver Bells” and the ballad “Merry Christmas My Dear,” both of which were produced by Daryl Simmons. Demail Burks, David Morris, Aaron Hilliard, and Tony Amey were the members of the group, and after introducing themselves in the festive video for “Silver Bells,” it was only fitting that they delivered a ballad on the album.
R&B legend Luther Vandross had already solidified his place in R&B when he released his first holiday album, “This Is Christmas. Arriving in stores on October 24, 1995, “This Is Christmas” validates Vandross’s ability to sing anything.