L.T.D. – Devotion

Album Revolution #4:

After 3 FANTASTIC albums, "L.T.D." has found themselves in a pressure situation....Why? Because the group has found themselves in a, "NOW you have to REALLY KEEP IT UP!!!!! Even though that is the case, at the same time, "Jeffrey Osborne" was being TRUELY recognized for his distinguished Vocals....

With that being said, "L.T.D." and "Bobby Martin" went back into the Studio and Recorded "Devotion".....

I will save my overall thought about the album until the end (there is a reason)....

The album starts off with the JUMPIN' "One On One"....Written by " Abraham Miller, Jr.", "Jeffrey Osborne" and "John McGhee", this joint shows that the groups chops are still in tact....If I have one criticism about this, the song sounds kind of forced at times (even though it has a nice Groove).....

"Henry Davis" serves up that Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate "L.T.D. Slow Jam" in the form of "Share My Love"...."Henry's" knack for Writing these FANTASTIC Slow Jams, was almost becoming unfair!!!!!! I also believe that "Henry" was to "Jeffrey Osborne", as "Chris Jasper" was to "Ronald Isley" of "The Isley Brothers" and "Thomas McClary" to "Lionel Richie" of "The Commodores"....It was like he studied "Jeffrey's" Voice to really craft these BEAUTIFUL songs!!!!!!

"Stand Up L.T.D." (a total group Written effort), again, sounds like it would have came from the "Gettin' Down" sessions....Even though the concept is excellent, I have to say, again, it sounds like a FORCED effort....I can't prove it, but it just sounds like some of the members of the group wasn't feeling it as much...

That also seems to go for the "Henry" and "Jeffrey" penned, "Say That You'll Be Mine".....It just seemed like it was just Recorded out of obligation, instead of for the joy of making Music....The Cord changes are nice though....

Now I will say that the Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel, "Dance 'N' Sing 'N'" is THE BOMB!!!!!! It may have that TOTAL "Disco" Vibe, but because of the Drivin' FUNK Bass Line, it's a "Disco" joint that will keep you ON THE FLOOR!!!!! Also, as always, "Jeffrey's" Vocals just GLIDES perfectly over the track....

"Sometimes" ("The Brothers Osborne") sounds like a "L.T.D. Experimenting How To Sound Like Stevie Wonder" joint.....It's not bad, I think it just threw me off a little....The Melody is a tab bit too fast, but manageable....I admit I will have to listen to this one again, to maybe get the essence of it.....

I have to admit that I never paid attention to "Promise You'll Stay" before....Written by "Jeffrey" and "James", this Crown Jewel kind of sounds like the group was listening to "Cameo" (when they were a 10 Man Band), and said, "Let's Try That"!!!!!! I will say that it sounds FANTASTIC (especially the Horns), and unlike a couple of songs I mentioned, it doesn't sound FORCED!!!!!!

The next Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate "L.T.D Slow Jam" Crown Jewel, "Stranger", is another BOMB!!!!! I will admit that I couldn't STAND this song when I was a Kid...It just sounded annoying because it had "Jeffrey" repeating the same thing OVER and OVER again...But as you grow older, you look at things differently, and as I always say, I have grown tremendously since then... "Bobby Martin's" Strings surrounds this joint PERFECTLY, giving "Jeffrey" the support he needs to deliver this the way he does.....

"Feel It" (Written and Performed by "Billy") sounds like "Billy" was pushed ALL THE WAY to the end of the album....It is not a bad song, but you tell that even if the Band is playing, with outside Background Vocals (which include "Angela Winbush"), it feels almost like an after thought....It also sounds like "Jeffrey" was nowhere to be found here....Not an ideal way to end an album....

Well....I said I would hold my thoughts until the end, so here it goes....

Even though I included this in the groups Album Revolution, this still feels VERY uneven...In fact, this feels like "Jeffrey" was becoming VERY uninterested in staying with the group....Now, I don't know if it was on his end, or if it was resentment from members of the group because the Public was REALLY into "Jeffrey" as a Vocalist (even suggesting that he leave the group), I just know that the album had THAT feel to it...

Be that as it may, even though it is a little uneven, this is still a MUST HAVE album from the "L.T.D." catalog!!!!!!!

Stil is funk/soul, just 2 disco tracks and seven funk and slow tracks