At long last, that elusive Sylvia Striplin LP arrives from reissue-land. And I'm glad to say it actually lives up to the hype in its own quiet way. The cornerstone artist on Roy Ayers' own independent label Uno Melodic in the early 80s, Ms. Striplin's LP is a shining example of sleek, melodic, post-disco 80s soul of the type once heard on WBLS during the latter-day Frankie Crocker era. Think Shalamar, Patrice Rushen, Evelyn "Champagne" King or the Jones Girls. Yeah, like that! With the handclaps! Of course, everybody's familiar with "You Can't Turn Me Away," the source material for Junior MAFIA's "Get Money" among quite a few others. And the LP's title track is another dance-R&B stormer used by everyone from Armand Van Helden to the Madd Rapper. The rest of the album provides a nice listen (and more DJ playlist material) as well, with the imaginative rethink of the Ayers classic "Searchin'" a standout, along with "Look Towards The Sky" and "You Said." Fully produced by Roy Ayers and his keyboardist James Bedford, and using Roy's whole backing band, this fully deserves the title of "lost 80s classic."

• 180g black double vinyl pressing
  
• high-quality Japanese import w/ obi strip
  
• plays at 45rpm
• remastered audio
• limited edition
• original release year: 1981
• music label: P-Vine 2022

reviewed by gregcaz 10/2005