Rating:
Genre:
R&B
Release Date: 05/29/2007
Both creatively and commercially,
Radiant was a major step forward for
Atlantic Starr -- and the person they can thank is
James Carmichael. This 1981 release was the first album that
Carmichael produced for the band, whose two previous LPs (
Atlantic Starr in 1978 and
Straight to the Point in 1979) were decent but not great.
Atlantic Starr needed to get to the next level, and
Carmichael obviously gave the White Plains, NY, combo the sort of guidance, direction, and constructive criticism it needed to make the transition from decent to excellent.
Radiant gets off to an impressive start with the haunting single
"When Love Calls," and the material that follows is equally strong. That is true whether
Atlantic Starr is getting into sentimental
soul ballads (
"Am I Dreaming," "Send for Me") or tough, gritty
funk (
"Think About That," "Under Pressure"). One of the band's greatest assets on this LP is lead singer
Sharon Bryant;
Carmichael brings out the best in her, and she really soars on
"When Love Calls," as well as
"My Turn Now" and the hit
"Am I Dreaming" (a male/female duet with fellow lead singer
David Lewis). But
Bryant isn't the only lead vocalist who excels on this record.
David and
Wayne Lewis are also fine singers;
"Send for Me," in fact, boasts one of
Wayne's most memorable performances. And once again,
Carmichael deserves much of the credit -- he pushed
the Lewis Brothers to excel just as he pushed
Bryant to excel. With
Carmichael's help,
Radiant went down in history as one
Atlantic Starr's finest and most essential albums.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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