Gladys Knight & The Pips - Visions
It was all a dream -yesterday - when Gladys Knight & The Pips signed off to a new era of dance music that swept the nation (BreakDancing). Otherwise known for their everlasting career in soul music from Motown, It totally surprised me to see Gladys singing from a street corner to the mega jam "Save The Overtime (For Me)". The cut made the album, "Visions" a certified gold album & the single became a #1 smash. So much for a group whose bigger hits were in the mid to later 60's-70's, Gladys seemingly ageless voice kept the radar spinning & unleashed another popular groove for the kids rockin' those pair's of Adidas tennis shoes & sweat suits. I flash backed the other day to the music video & couldn't snatch my eyes nor ears away from the tube. And if you do not know how to break or do the kickworm, please stay away from the cardboard laying in the street. Don't even try to spin on your back. You might pull a muscle or something.
They don't make great videos like this anymore. Nor has the boombox rocked the block like it used to. Fashion, style & charisma was written all over The Pips, as Gladys made this song & video bigger than a romantic call out to her loved one. The backdrop of people coming out to a block party made you really think back on those days of everyone coming together to dance & have a good time. Every color, ethnicity, you got it. This has to rate way up there on my all time video fav's. Next to Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'.
"Visions" had some other cuts on there too that mattered. I remembered back then in 1983 how significant Gladys Knight & The Pips meant to R&B music. To think that many Motown legends scored big hits in their earlier careers & then tried to come back & do it all over again was a feat seriously challenged. I mean who can go wrong with Glady's Voice? Rare, distinctive & everlasting, you can pick up on Gladys voice anywhere her music was broadcasted.
And The Pips knew how to groove with her. They rocked "When You're Far Away", another one of those solar records sound-alike compositions similar to Shalamar, Dynasty & others. And the song was written by James Harris & Terry Lewis (I figured T would be interested in knowing about this.) They funked, "Don't Make Me Run Away", "Ain't No Greater Love", "Seconds" & "Oh La De Da".
Gladys knew how to slow everything down & supplied the slow cuts in "Just Be My Lover", "Heaven Sent", & the classic "You're Number One (In My Book)" . Just for fun - "You're Number One" made my slow jam compilation cassette hits list back in 1983. Easily making me push the rewind button.
One of Solar Records leading commandos, Leon Sylvers III, contributed on much of the music given, leaving all indicators pointing high in the sky about some of the arrangements done on the record.
I recommend a playback of this album if you have it. Take a look at the video too & turn up your volume.
Peace,
Charles F. Sherard
The Urban Music Scene
Charles. Good review! You forgot about the roller skates. this sent me back in time brotha! Gladys looked hot with that hat on. You know it!
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