Radio M.U.S.C. Man
| Radio M.U.S.C. Man | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1985 | |||
| Genre | Soul, pop | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Womack & Womack chronology | ||||
| ||||
Radio M.U.S.C. Man is an album by the American soul duo Womack & Womack, released in 1985.[1][2] The pair were dropped by Elektra Records shortly after the release of the album.[3]
The album peaked at No. 56 on the UK Albums Chart.[4]
Production
The album contains a cover of George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun".[5] The composition of the album's sixth track, "Love's Calling", was started by the soul singer Sam Cooke (the father of Linda Womack).[6] Many members of the Womack family contributed to the making of Radio M.U.S.C. Man.[7]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | [8] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[9] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [10] |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer | [11] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [12] |
Robert Christgau praised the "relaxed groove and wavering back-porch harmonies that go into their unique sound—lazy, tender, patient, long-suffering, tired of fighting."[9] Billboard wrote that the album "showcased this couple's extraordinary writing skills and enticing vocal interplay."[3] The Gazette called the album "brave and beautiful," writing that the duo "make the sweetest music in the whole world, propelled by effortless, hip-deep dance grooves, ballads to swoon over, and vocals—duets!—that make you wonder how this wonderful music ever went out of style."[13]
The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed it "excellent," praising how "Linda's smokily ethereal tenor rubs against the rough edges of Cecil's craggy baritone."[14] The Washington Post wrote that the Womacks "[tear] apart all the conflicts, temptations, betrayals and insecurities of marriage, swapping lines, verses and songs, always espousing two clear points of view in danceable, classic soul style."[15]
NME listed Radio M.U.S.C. Man as the 34th best album of 1985.[16]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No Relief" | 4:27 |
| 2. | "Maze" | 5:52 |
| 3. | "Night Rider" | 4:58 |
| 4. | "Eyes" | 4:13 |
| 5. | "Radio M.U.S.C. Man" | 4:10 |
| 6. | "Love's Calling" | 5:48 |
| 7. | "Strange and Funny" | 4:30 |
| 8. | "Romeo & Juliet (Where Are You?)" | 5:37 |
| 9. | "Here Comes the Sun" | 3:06 |
Personnel
- Cecil Womack - vocals
- Linda Womack - vocals
References
- ^ "Womack & Womack Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ "Cecil Womack obituary". The Guardian. February 5, 2013.
- ^ a b "One writer's picks for the best of '85". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. January 11, 1986.
- ^ "Womack & Womack Full Official Chart History". Official Charts.
- ^ Lee, John (July 13, 1985). "Reviews". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. p. 13.
- ^ George, Nelson (June 29, 1985). "'New' Sam Cooke Songs on the Way". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 26. p. 48.
- ^ Swenson, John (October 1985). "Spins". Spin. Vol. 1, no. 6. p. 31.
- ^ "Radio M.U.S.C. Man Womack & Womack". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "Womack & Womack". Robert Christgau.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 750.
- ^ Davis, Francis; Lloyd, Jack (June 28, 1985). "Albums". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F28.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 783.
- ^ Griffin, John (July 18, 1985). "Womacks' soul says something". The Gazette. p. D3.
- ^ Tucker, Ken (July 7, 1985). "In Dell Concerts, a Sense of Purpose". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D1.
- ^ "One More Time: The Top Pop of '85". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
- ^ "NME's best albums and tracks of 1985". NME. October 10, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2021.