Lucy Pearl – Lucy Pearl

My copy has an unlisted alternate take of "La La" that follows the final track "Lucy Pearl Tells".

After the so called dissolving of "Tony Toni Tone'" (or even before it), "Raphael Saddiq" was making his way as a Producer and Solo Artist....After finding success in such classics as "Ask Of You" (from "Higher Learning") and "Get Involved (from "The PJ'S" and featuring "Q-Tip" who just dissolved Hip Hop Super Group "A Tribe Called Quest"), you would think that a Solo album would be in the works...

Interestingly though, something happened...

"Raphael" would start hanging out with "Ali Shaheed Muhammad" (also from ""A Tribe Called Quest") and "Dawn Robinson" who left "EnVogue" right in the height of their popularity....The result was the start of Supergroup "Lucy Pearl"....

Now, I don't know how the group name came about...Maybe you guys could educate me on that one....

I'm not going to lie...I stumbled on this by pure accident!!!! I was walking into "Target" one day, and just happened to walk by the CD section....I wasn't looking to get anything from there because I was EXTREMELY TIRED!!!!! But, then I happened to see "Raphael's" face on the cover...THAT"S ALL I NEEDED!!!! So SNATCH!!!!!

Once I put it in my CD Player, it was ON!!!!!!

The album starts off with "Lucy Pearl's Way"...It was a Segway to what's to come, but at the same time, it showed where all the elements came from, including the Lyrics of "Ask Of You", "Dawn" singing "Don't Let Go" and Hold On" from "EnVogue", and "Ali" scratching in elements of "Electric Relaxation" from "a Tribe Called Quest"....

The next joint in "Trippin'", has a nice BUMPIN' Beat, with great Scratching on the Rhythm and Guitars..."Raphael" and "Dawn's" Vocals blends VERY VERY well...

The Massive Hit in "Dance Tonight", was the joint that introduced the Trio into the world...In fact, I didn't hear the song on the Radio until I got the album...After that though it was constantly PLAYED!!!!!

"La La", also showed how well "Raphael" and "Dawn's" Vocals blended well (with great support from "Ali" on the Turntables)....

"Everyday" was also OUT OF SIGHT!!!! I love how it started, with the Piano and Drums muted, then it just THUMPS, with terrific Guitars all over it!!!!!!

"Can't Stand Your Mother" was HILARIOUS!!!!!! I'm sure this started conversations in relationships, while Groovin' to the Mid Tempo joint!!!!

"Good Love" was also a great Mid Tempo Groove, and laid with some terrific Turntable work by "Ali"...."Dawn" was given total Lead on this one, with "Raphael" coming in later with great support Vocally...

Now "Without You" though....

100% PURE UNCUT BOMB!!!!!!!

This is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE on here!!!!!! This is totally "Raphael" here...The Piano, the Guitars, The Drums, OMG!!!!! It is one of those "Here We Go With The Isaac Sways Joint"!!!!! My Wife says that this is another joint she has seen me just lose IT!!!!!!

"Don't Mess With My Man" was the other HIT on the album, having "Dawn" sounding like she was ready to THROW DOWN with any Woman trying to get at her Man!!!!!

"Hollywood" was an "Heavy Metal" inspired joint, about how the group just had it with, well "Hollywood"....

"Remember The Times", was a pure GEM!!!! The theme of Childhood over great Hip Hop Beats, great Acoustic Guitar, and Scratching, Priceless!!!!!

I will say that the songs "They Can't" and "Do It For The People", are not strong as the rest of the album...Good thing is they didn't diminish the album...

The Final HIt, "You" (featuring "Q-Tip" and "Snoop Dogg"), is as Classic as it gets!!!!! You can tell this was straight "Raphael" though, but that wasn't a bad thing, because it was a great close to closing of the album....

"Lucy Pearl Tells" just finishes this great album with having a Marching Band do a version of "Dance Tonight"....

The extra track is actually a Remix of "La La" (which it pretty good)....

Yes, you guessed it...It a total Ultimate Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel album...

I honestly didn't know where this was going to go next...But, unfortunately, it would die here...Internal strife would start, having "Dawn" leave the group, which would lead to the groups demise....I really will never understand these kind of things when it comes to Music Groups, but then again, I am on the outside looking in ....Everyone would go their seperate way, with "Raphael" finally establishing himself as a Solo Artist....

Be that as it may, do yourself a FAVOR....Please check this one OUT!!!!!!!!!!

This is a flawless reissue! Beautiful color variant and the sound is clear without skips. Record is not warped!

Now available: recordstore 2021 Exclusive Double Pearl White Vinyl 2LP, strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide.
Buy it at recordstore.co.uk - still available for about 33€. Some people are already selling it here for over 100€. Not so kind as this is a total fresh repress and not even gained value!

It's pretty cool that this record was pressed in my city (Edmonton). I didn't even know we had a pressing plant here. Even better, it's a really amazing pressing. I wasn't sure what to expect (Unidisc doesn't have a great track record based on previous purchases) but the pressing & mastering are both clear and dynamic. It's well worth owning if you like the album.

Can anyone comment on the sound quality of this release? Thanks!

This is a eu release, check the back credits!!