Sure, Mother’s Finest have deviated on occasion, but not so that their legacy has been compromised. One of those deviations was 1989’s ‘Looks Could Kill’ which fuses R&B, funk, soul, rock, pop and urban hip-hop/rap.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Mother’s Finest
ALBUM: Looks Could Kill
LABEL: Capitol
SERIAL: 48988-2
YEAR: 1989
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Joyce Kennedy – vocals * Glenn Murdock – vocals * Moses Mo – guitars * Jerry ‘Wyzard’ Seay – bass * Dion Derek – drums, percussion
TRACK LISTING: 01 For Your Love * 02 I’m ‘n’ Danger * 03 Legs And Lipstick * 04 Dream Come True * 05 Stilloveach Other * 06 I’ll Never Be The Same * 07 Brave And Strong * 08 Your Wish Is My Command * 09 Cherish Your Love * 10 Heartbreaker * 11 Call Me Mister * 12 Too Serious
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Mother’s Finest have a huge following here at Glory Daze. Considered by many to be a pure rock band, the band have been pigeon-holed into every other genre by people who have no clue.
Sure, Mother’s Finest have deviated on occasion, but not so that their legacy has been compromised. One of those deviations was 1989’s ‘Looks Could Kill’ which fuses R&B, funk, soul, rock, pop and urban hip-hop/rap. It’s heavy on thick bass and percussive aspects, but considering Mother’s Finest had been out of commission since 1983, they can be excused for such dalliances. It was the 80’s after all.
It’s true that this seemed to be a logical follow-on from Joyce’s solo albums during the mid 80’s, and that the whole affair isn’t really Mother’s Finest at all, but enough, I digress.
The Songs
Big brash percussion and synth bass announces the opener ‘For Your Love’, this is so 80’s I can feel the breath of that decade’s pop culture fold in all around me.
Even more centered on that decade is ‘I’m N Danger’, I’m thinking the worst here, but Mother’s Finest are only exploring what was popular at the time.
At 6 minutes, ‘Legs And Lipstick’ is high on electronic arrangements, perhaps too much, it’s followed by the ballad ‘Dream Come True’ which is far better, even if it is a copycat for Chaka Khan.
‘Stilloveach Other’ (that’s the way it’s spelt on the credits) is my favourite song on the album, as close as it gets to melodic rock, and compares nicely to Robert Hart‘s band from the same year Distance.
‘I’ll Never Be The Same’ returns to the hi-tech percussive funk groove heard earlier, it’s got a fantastic hard chorus which adds toughness to the overall effect.
‘Your Wish Is My Command’ is mid-tempo melody with a hint of rock, it’s carried by Joyce Kennedy’s amazing vocals. ‘Cherish Your Lover’ is commercial ballad material which blends into a slow jam, I like it.
‘Heartbreaker’ is more big and brash funk, ‘Call Me Mister’ is just too urban for my liking, the closer ‘Too Serious’ doesn’t add much to what’s gone before.
In Summary
Released in late August 1989, the album didn’t set the world on fire in the rock demographic (not surprisingly), but did touch up the R&B market, ‘I’m N Danger’ making it to #11 on Billboard’s R&B charts.
Producer Attala Zane Giles had worked with the likes of Gladys Knight, Con Funk Shun and Vesta, and tried to change their sound to fit in with the territory he was familiar with, but ultimately, Mother’s Finest are a rock band first and foremost. Not one of their best albums, but an interesting sidetrack nonetheless.
Mother’s Finest on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
