The Clarke/Duke Project, Vols. 1-3

In 2010, Great Britain's imprint began re-releasing s recordings, which include the three records he made with as the between 1981 and 1990. To listen to this double disc is to hear an aural portrait of the fusion scene as it really met and and melded with adult contemporary and '80s R&B. The first album issued in 1981 included drummer ( ) and some guests, and both men on vocals. The first set netted them a crossover hit single in an unlikely midtempo groove ballad. (It hit number 19 on the pop chart and number six at R&B.) The sheer imagination on the first record is startling in its reach, from the accessible melodic fusion of its opener and its funk cover of (that, criminally, never made it onto any of the various-artists collections that showcased the legendary tune), to the -drenched to the '80s soul ballad The second set was issued in 1983, and from its opener, it showcased the degree that drum machines began to dominate rock, soul, and pop. The trio was also joined by renowned session players and guest vocalists and ), and . It reflected more than anything the kinds of productions was doing for other artists at the time. It also reveals the attempts at pop songwriting both men were doing at the time -- clearly they enjoyed being on the charts. That said, it's musically consistent despite its production excesses. The third album released in 1990 was as slick as its predecessor. replaced on the drum kit, and returned from the previous outing. Rappers appear on which also features a stellar sung lead vocal from a teenage . make guest appearances on On the album's best-remembered track, a cover of 's appear. There isn't any bonus material included, but the remastering is excellent and there is an historical liner essay by . ~ Thom Jurek