Lonnie Jordan – The Affair (1982/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time – 38:50 minutes | 734 MB | Genre: Soul, Funk
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Boardwalk Records
While a lot of the 70’s most successful funk bands were still around in the early 1980’s? There successes seemed to greatly. War,on the other hand were having tremendous success with their ‘Outlaw’ album and it’s singles “You Got The Power”,”Cinco De Mayo” and the title song. In fact things were going so well? War were already planning a follow up album for the next year. Since Lee Oskar had himself released a solo album the previous year? Lonnie Jordan decided to take another try at solo recording. It had been five years since his debut. And War had been consistently active during those years interestingly enough. So Lonnie himself now had an even broader pallet to paint his music with on his own too.
“Love Me Like” and “I Think Out Of This World” are both gospel inflected,mid-tempo “countrypolitan” type ballads. “I Do Love You” and “Fine Foxy Lady” on the other hand go into the world of hardcore boogie funk-with phat drums,high on the neck guitar riffs and Lonnie’s orchestral synthesizers-with a strongly hyper melodic EWF flavor on the former. “Just Be Faithful” deals with a slow,electric piano led funk groove while “Paco Taco” emerges as a wonderfully inventive,rhythmic acapella number with it’s roots in Afro-Latin style modern dance and ballet. “Ain’t Nuthin’ To It”,with it’s sped up accessory vocals,has Lonnie’s spin on the P-funk sound while “I Don’t Really Know” has a slower pop-jazz Bossa Nova rhythmic style.
“The Affair” is an elongated quiet storm ballad-complete with spoken recitation right down to the sound of champagne being poured. “My Little Debby” ends the album-another strikingly distinctive piece revolving around layers of organ/harpischord playing a salsa rhythm with synthesized melodic accents. Compared to Lonnie’s first solo album? This album is conceptually and instrumentally quite a lot more powerful and diverse. Many of the songs complete deviate from anything Lonnie would’ve ever done as a member of War. Interestingly enough? It seems to be so obscure,most are unaware he recorded it. But along with his debut? I suggest those interested in diverse funky albums of the early 80’s to do some hard crate digging to locate this album. You’ll likely be very pleasantly surprised.
Tracklist
1. Lonnie Jordan – Love Me Like (You Did Before)
2. Lonnie Jordan – I Think You’re out of This World
3. Lonnie Jordan – I Do Love You
4. Lonnie Jordan – Just Be Faithful
5. Lonnie Jordan – Paco Taco
6. Lonnie Jordan – Fine Foxy Lady
7. Lonnie Jordan – Ain’t Nuthin’ to It
8. Lonnie Jordan – I Don’t Really Know
9. Lonnie Jordan – The Affair
10. Lonnie Jordan – My Little Debby
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