L.T.D. – Shine On

Album Revolution #5:

After Producing their first in a while semi- sub par album in "Devotion", "L.T.D." and "Bobby Martin" would come together and release "Shine On".......

Now, we knew that soon, the ONE and ONLY "Jeffrey Osborne's" stock with the group would run it's course, and it would be right here with this album....But before he would go into the Solo sunset, the group (I'm sure) would convince "Jeffrey" to stick it out for one more album....So he did....

The album started with "You Gave Me Love"...Written by "Len Ron Hanks" and "Zane Grey", the song is ok, but compared to joints like "Every Time I Turn Around" and "Holding On (When Love is Gone)", it's just no contest....At times it sounds VERY manufactured, and even though "Jeffrey" sings it well, he sounds uninspired!!!!!!

Now the Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate ,Ultimate Crown Jewel "Where Did We Go Wrong" is THE BOMB!!!!! This "L.T.D. Slow Jam" is HANDS DOWN the best song on here...."Jeffrey" (along with "Sam Dees") wrote a MONSTER here!!!!! It also has that "Bobby Martin" Arranged touch to it!!!!! If you were going to have "Jeffrey" give you a "Going Away Present", this would be IT!!!!!

I know I say this a lot with "L.T.D.", but "Getaway" ("Jeffrey" and "Henry E. Davis") sound like it was from the "Gittin' Down" sessions....It not bad at all (even with the outside Background Vocals), but this also sounds like a "Let's Just Fill This Album With This One" joint.....

The 2nd Crown Jewel in "Will Love Grow" is VERY ,VERY NICE!!!!!! I have to be honest though, even though "Jeffrey" and "Jimmie Davis" wrote it, it sounds like it was helping "Jeffrey" truly go Solo.....

Even though "Love Is What You Need" ("Jeffrey" and "John") has a pretty good Melody, again it sounds Manufactured....I think it is because of the outside Background Vocals.....

"Lovers Everywhere" is a VERY NICE Crown Jewel....Written entirely by "Jeffrey", again it sounds like he was ready to go out the door...The Keyboard Melody, and the Percussion touch just sounds INFECTIOUS!!!!

We talked about "Jeffrey" so much, that we forget that this was "Billy Osborne's" last album with the group as well....With that, he offers his VERY LAST composition in "Lady Love".....Again, he wasn't a better singer than his Brother, but again, he lays this joint OUT enough for it to be a Crown Jewel....

"Don'tcha Know", again gives the vibe that "Jeffrey" was on the way out the door...Also again, nice Melody, but again manufactured.....It was also a weird way to end the album.....

Now last but certainly not least

I believe that the "Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate last Crown Jewel with "Jeffrey" "Title Track", is the "L.T.D." swan song for him....It sounds like that group was saying good-bye to him, thanking him for helping them to become the Classic group that they turned out to be!!!!! It also should have been the LAST song of the album!!!!!

Well, this was it!!!!!

"Jeffrey" was leaving, and nothing could stop him...He would move on and become a Mega Star in the Music World...You kind had that feeling from the beginning....Let's not forget that "Billy Osborne" left as well, and he was also a VERY VITAL piece of the Band.....With "The Osborne Brothers" leaving, I believe that also prompted "Bobby Martin" to exit as well...In my opinion, those 3 elements truly affected the chemistry of the group to the EXTREME!!!!!!!

With that said, "L.T.D" would continue on with Mixed results, but I will get into that on the next album....I just know one thing, things for "L.T.D." would NEVER be the same!!!!!!!!

PS: This also ends the Album Revolution for the group.....

It's all about the great dancefloor tracks, "You gave me love" and "Love is what you need" on this LP for me...

standout 2 step groove track on this album is 'Lovers Everywhere'.

'Lovers Everywhere'. A classic stepper I first heard played by North London's pioneering reggae/soul sound system 'The Funky Express' and went on to become a very popular song on the 2 step circuit circa late 80's. Later appearing on a couple of bootlegs!

Featuring classic stepper 'Lovers Everywhere', Jeffery's vocals soar on this song.