PATTI AUSTIN ~ Love is Gonna Getcha

THE BEST VOICE IN MUSIC OFFERS HARMONIC DELIGHTS FOR THE EAR REVIEW

By now Patti Austin is a living legend to those in the know and this, her first album/CD on the GRP label after her time with Quiny Jones' Qwest Records, is a harmonic treat. David Pack's warm "Through the Test of Time" starts of this wonderful set and it is no surprise that the former Ambrosia member was responsible for Austin's "All Behind Us Now" and "Any Way You Can" on her self-titled Qwest album of 1984. Next up, Pack's frequent co-writer Michael MacDonald supplies "Too Soon to Know", mostly a rocker with a lil' bit of sassy R&B. There are some surprising vocal moments at the song's outro when Austin and the b.g. singers let loose! Die hard Patti Austin fans will already be familiar with the beautiful "In My Life", from the singer's own pen; a "musical makeover" of a tune originally recorded at a different tempo for Austin's first album, "End Of A Rainbow" (CTI Records). Here, the song is presented in a thoughtful, lush Grammy-worthy arrangement. It is emotional magic. "Love Is Gonna Getcha" is a fun-loving jazz-soul hybrid at which the singer excels. Austin's trademark humour comes to the fore on her own "Ooh-Whee (The Carnival)" with a decidedly fun look at the ups and downs of this thing we call LIFE.

"Believe the Children" is a soulful plea where lead and background vocals are particularly lovely.

On the delightfully moody "Wait for Me" the artist does her jazzy-soul thing with decidedly Brazilian leanings. This song creates the mood for love; is like a nice day at the beach.
"First Time Love" might be my favourite song here, though it's always hard to pick one over the other when it comes to Austin's musical treasures. Austin wrote lyrics to an old Dave Grusin (the "G" in GRP) instrumental and the result couldn't be more pretty ... an old fashioned love song with incredible orchestral contributions. When Austin sings: "It's so hard to remember/all my sad yesterdays/but from now 'til December, it's Christmas always ..." you believe her. "In My Dream" offers up a vocal menage with the best voice in music multi-tracked over a sensual bed of rhythm and melody perfect for a romantic night with that special someone. "The Girl Who Used to Be Me" is a terrific song from Marvin Hamlish and Alan & Marilyn Bergman("The Way We Were"), featured at the opening credits to the film "Shirley Valentine". Nominated for an Oscar, it is an "adult song" with a lyric that many can relate to.

I give this CD four and a half stars and recommend it to music lovers everywhere.