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Progetto pilota della mitica label Goody Music, diretta dal compianto producer Jacques Petrus e dal grande Mauro Malavasi (in seguito produttore di gruppi Italiani come Bennato e la Nannini).
"The Glow of Love" è il loro disco d'esordio. Prodotto nel 1980 dal duo Petrus & Malavasi. esso raggiunse rapidamente le più alte posizioni della classifica R&B di Billboard, proiettando il gruppo verso le più alte vette della discografia internazionale. "The Glow of Love" è inoltre, uno dei momenti migliori del genere negli 80s. Dopo la morte (solo sulla carta) della discomusic, e la crisi del Funk, sembrava che il mondo si fosse improvvisamente stufato di sentire questo genere di musica, grazie all'avvento di fenomeni come il Punk. Petrus quindi cercò da subito di prendere le distanze dal mondo delle discoteche, ricercando un suono che tentasse di mediare il groove ipnotico della disco, a quello del pop più sofisticato, in modo da accontentare così, una larga fascia di pubblico.
I Change dovevano in pratica fare da "ponte" tra i due mondi.
Per dare fondo alle sue idee, Petrus si circondò di ottimi turnisti di fama mondiale; come Luther Vandross, producer come Jimmy J Am e Terry Lewis, di grandi musicisti come Paolo Gianolio, Davide Romani e fonici esperti come Michael Brauer; pronti da subito ad imprimere il loro grande stile al servizio della band.
L'album si apre con la stupenda "A lover's holiday", che include una strabiliante performance vocale di Vandross, sostenuta da un efficace coro in stile gospel; la parte ritmica del pezzo invece, ricorda immediatamente gli Chic di Neil Rodgers, anche se, come vedremo negli album seguenti, Davide Romani; il bassista, riuscirà a tirar fuori un suo personale timbro, che caratterizzerà il suono della band e non solo. "It's a girl's affair" invece, porta con sé reminiscenze di certa Eurodisco di fine Settanta, dato che il progetto stava nel mezzo delle due decadi. Si continua poi con "Angel in my pocket", un estasi groovistica con ipnotico giro di basso funk, suonato sempre da Romani, e sostenuto da efficaci accordi di piano e violino."The Glow of Love" è un altro grande classico dell'r&b; campionato da centinaia di producers negli anni novanta (R. Kelly ne ha tratto una hit, presente nel disco "R"), oltre ad aver avuto una grande influenza nei nuovi gruppi musicali di area black. Sia questo che il pezzo seguente ("Searchin'"), sono ancora una volta impreziositi dall'ottimo contributo vocale del compianto Luther Vandross, al tempo proiettato verso una carriera musicale in grande ascesa. In chiusura di album troviamo "The end". La song è una sorta di jam strumentale che gioca molto con degli arpeggi di synth à la Giorgio Moroder, contribuendo ad arrichire di un flavour epico tutto l'album. Come chiusura non è affatto male, anche se alla lunga è l'unica song che sente un po' il peso del tempo.
Petrus successivamente darà alle stampe altri cinque dischi dei Change. Da segnalare sicuramente i primi due ("Miracles" e "Sharing your love" prodotti nel periodo 1982-83), contribuendo ad espandere ulteriormente il percorso artistico della band, che virerà sempre più verso un sofisticato pop-soul, con alterni risultati nel corso degli anni.
Il più grande merito dei Change, e della Goody Music tutta, fu quello di portare la musica dance made in Italy alla ribalta internazionale. Purtroppo l'assassinio in Guadalupe del producer Jacuqes "Fred" Petrus ha posto fine, nel 1986, alla mitica label; oggi risorta dalle ceneri grazie alla ristampa internazionale di tutti i suoi dischi da parte di etichette di aficionados del suono soul-funk sparsi in ogni angolo del globo.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 A Lover's Holiday (06:30)
Not a cloud showed out in the sky
That very night in Pitch Black City
I was so damned scared, it was dark
It was so dim, it was a shame
Just then a man walked up to me and said
Didn't I see you here before
The lights were low and the party was so dull
Just not good enough
Holiday (Ey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
Holiday (Holiday, what you say)
Holiday
Celebrate (Ah yeah)
Holiday
Holiday (Alright)
Holiday
Celebrate
Then we both held hands in each other's
For a chance to start it moving
He reached deep inside of his vest
And in his hand he held a ring
Let's have lunch, picnic or a brunch in the wintertime
Let's disco down in a rollerskating ring in Alaska town
Holiday (Holiday)
Holiday (Come on, come on celebrate)
Holiday (Woo, woo, woo, woo)
Celebrate
Holiday (Got the feeling, come on, keep ahead)
Holiday (Reelin' holiday, yea, yea)
Holiday
Celebrate
Not a cloud showed out in the sky
That very night in Pitch Black City
I was so damned scared, it was dark
It was so dim, it was a shame
Just then a man walked up to me and said
Didn't I see you here before
The lights were low and the party was so dull
Just not good enough
Holiday
Holiday
Holiday
Celebrate
(Repeat)
04 The Glow of Love (06:14)
Flower’s bloomin’, mornin’ dew
And the beauty seems to say
It’s a pleasure when you treasure
All that’s new and true and gay
Easy livin’ and we’re givin’
What we know we’re dreamin’ of
We are one havin’ fun
Walkin’ in the glow of love
Walking, ooh, whoa, ho...oh...whoa...
Smilin’ faces, goin’ places
It’s a wonder, it’s so clear
By a fountain, climbin’ mountains
As we’ll hold each other near
Sippin’ wine, we try to find
That special magic from above
As we share our affair
Talkin’ in the glow of love
Oh, oh, ooh...
In the glow of love
Ooh...ooh...ooh...
(Here in glow of love) You’re a shinin’ star
(Here in glow of love) No matter who you are
(Here in glow of love) So I want to let you know you move me, yeah, yeah
(There is no better way to be) Hold me, caress me
(I’m yours forever and a day) We are a sweet bouquet, ey, hey
(Seasons for happiness are here) Can you feel it all around you
(Reason we’re filled with cheer is we’re in rapture it in the glow of love)
Ooh...ooh...ooh...ooh...oh...
05 Searching (08:03)
Hit the town in the cold of the night
Looking round for the
warmth of the light
There was fog all around
So I guess no one saw me arriving
I was tired and awake for some time
Then my lights hit a welcoming sign
It said if you're alone
You can make this your home
If you want to
Owwww
Searchin, Searchin (For so long)
Searchin (Searchin)
Searchin, Searchin (I
just wanted to dance)
Searchin
Stepped outta the night
It was brighter inside
Someone come and asked me my name
Taken back by surprise
What I saw with my eyes
A girl in a love's disguise
(Chorus)
She said stop! stop! stop!
Get out your heart
Haven't got a lot
But play the part
Mister stop! stop! stop!
Get out your heart
What I've got's hot stuff
The night is ours
Coffee glass that had
fell from my hand
Like a child couldn't
quite understand
What was I doin there
Far away from nowhere
On my own
I was tired and awake for some time
Just the light playing
tricks with my mind
Was she there in a crowd
Was the music too loud
Was I dreaming
Searchin, Searchin (For so long)
Searchin (I dont want
romance I just want my
chance searchin)
Searchin, Searchin (Yeah)
Searchin
Just came by here by chance
Only wanted to dance,
No news, no her, no, no, no one
Taken back by surprise
What's in front of my eyes
This girl in a love's disguise
(Repeat Chorus)
07 Searching (09:03)
Hit the town in the cold of the night
Looking round for the
warmth of the light
There was fog all around
So I guess no one saw me arriving
I was tired and awake for some time
Then my lights hit a welcoming sign
It said if you're alone
You can make this your home
If you want to
Owwww
Searchin, Searchin (For so long)
Searchin (Searchin)
Searchin, Searchin (I
just wanted to dance)
Searchin
Stepped outta the night
It was brighter inside
Someone come and asked me my name
Taken back by surprise
What I saw with my eyes
A girl in a love's disguise
(Chorus)
She said stop! stop! stop!
Get out your heart
Haven't got a lot
But play the part
Mister stop! stop! stop!
Get out your heart
What I've got's hot stuff
The night is ours
Coffee glass that had
fell from my hand
Like a child couldn't
quite understand
What was I doin there
Far away from nowhere
On my own
I was tired and awake for some time
Just the light playing
tricks with my mind
Was she there in a crowd
Was the music too loud
Was I dreaming
Searchin, Searchin (For so long)
Searchin (I dont want
romance I just want my
chance searchin)
Searchin, Searchin (Yeah)
Searchin
Just came by here by chance
Only wanted to dance,
No news, no her, no, no, no one
Taken back by surprise
What's in front of my eyes
This girl in a love's disguise
(Repeat Chorus)
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