By the time A&M Records released the groups fourth album Brilliance in March 1982, Atlantic Starr were riding the crest of a wave of success that began with their 1981 LP, Radiant (produced by James Carmichael, known for his work with The Commodores and Lionel Richie) which contained the nine-member bands first Top 5 R&B hit, When Love Calls. Formed originally in 1976 in White Plains, New York with brothers Jonathan, David and Wayne Lewis as the core creative team and founding members alongside singer Sharon Bryant, bassist Clifford Archer, drummer (and backing vocalist) Porter Carroll Jr, trumpeter William Sudderth III, saxophonist/flautist, Damon M. Rentie and percussionist Joey Phillips, Atlantic Starrs move to Los Angeles in 1978 proved to be the turning point when they were signed to A&M Records after a live audition with label co-founder Herb Alpert. Building their credibility as a solid R&B/funk band through their first three albums, Brilliance became the groups first gold album, a No. 1 R&B chart topper and Top 20 pop LP. The set featured three charted hit singles, most notably the now-classic Circles (US #2 R&B, #38 pop) and Love Me Down (US #14 R&B). Other standout cuts included the soulful Sam Dees-penned Your Love Finally Ran Out, and the funky cuts Sexy Dancer and Love Moves.
M**.
classic soul
love this album
M**H
Five Stars
Fantastic !
A**N
Not a remaster but very good soul
I agree that this is not a remaster in the digital sense - it is ripped from the vinyl and yes, the quality is not what should be expected but let's put that to one side for now.'Love Me Down' and 'Circles' - both released as singles on A&M records in 1982/83, are superb. I believe this is an Atlantic Starr recording period that is often forgotten. In these two songs, you have the very foundation of Atlantic Starr, why they were so popular and why A&M put their trust in them.Sadly, I always find that Atlantic Starr just became too commercial as their singles became radio hits and were not true to their earlier underlying principles. Shame really but never mind. With commercialism came money and hit records in mainstream pop charts - thus they became well known to a wider more generic 80s audience. After the album 'Brilliance' I was not as impressed and did not buy any of their other albums. I don't think I missed out. Besides, their later singles were on radio playlists for years!!!
A**Y
'Sweet 80's Soul'
'Brilliance' dates from 1982 at that time gave the band their first U.S R&B chart no 1 album. The albums sales fueled dramatically by the incredibly catchy, commercial but soulful single 'Circles' which reached no 2 in the U.S R&B charts. Astonishingly, though played to death here in the clubs at the time 'Circles' failed to dent the pop charts in the U.K (what were we all on!! HA HA). Listening to this track some 20 odd years later I still find that fact hard to believe! Other U.S singles from the album were the gorgeous, mid tempo, Sharon Bryant led 'Love Me Down' (U.S R&B no 14) and the less essential but still good mid pacer 'Perfect Love' (U.S R&B no 32). The album as a whole is a super smooth mix of mid tempo soul, slow ballads and in 'Sexy Dancer'(pretty average) and 'Love Moves'(better but still not essential) funkier tracks. Of the slower material, 'Let's Get Closer' and 'You're The One' are nice but the killer song (and highlight of the whole album bar 'Circles') is the SAM DEES penned 'Your Love Finally Ran Out'. In typical Dees fashion, this ballad literally oozes emotion and with great harmony and alternate lead vocals from the band the song brings out the very best in the group. In fact, If you don't own this track, this album is worth buying for this track alone. Great stuff.
R**W
Five Stars
From the golden era of soul music this album is essential listening.
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