Scritti Politti - Provision (1988)

Scritti's Cupid & Psyche 85 is my favorite album of 1985, but for some reason (probably the three years between albums), I didn't pick this up in 1988 and I should have because it's more of the same: synth-dance music with funky rhythms, lots of drum programming, and granular production detail. There's no stand-out track and the choice to use Roger from Zapp on a talk box was an odd one, but the grooves are good and there's Marcus Miller on bass with a solo from Miles Davis, so I can dig it. Shuffle these tracks with those of Cupid and it's an enjoyable couple of hours of dance music that's very easy to listen to.

Press of the time:

• Smash Hits (6½ out of 10): "extremely clever, dreamy, crisp songs"
• Robert Christgau (C+): "a flighty funk of positively offensive banality"
• CashBox: "takes a common synth-dance formula and invigorates it with spunky rhythms, insinuating vocals, literate lyrics and production detail."
• Billboard: "subdued synth -pop notable for its tunefulness"
• Stereo Review: "sweet, ethereal vocals and sharp, earthy rhythms"

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #113

Tracks: I'm tempted to call this "all filler, no killer," and while I wouldn't skip any tracks, there are admittedly some songs that have more hooks than others. Plus, this is one of those albums that gets better on each listen. The lead track, Boom! There She Was, was the third single released from this album and was the most successful in the US in terms of chart positions: #12 on the US Billboard Dance Songs chart and #53 on the Hot 100. The other two singles, First Boy In This Town (Lovesick) and Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy) a.k.a. "The One With Miles," are definitely catchier than the other tracks, so their choice as singles seems obvious, especially in retrospect.

Because it was the 80s, we're also treated to a couple of extended mixes/dubs of Oh Patti and Boom! as the final tracks.

Exclusive CD longbox photo courtesy of
Dirk Digglinator of the Hambonian Archives.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None as it is a recent purchase. Even though this was released in June 1988, there's no memories attached to it from what I commonly call "The Lost Summer of Mark." Fortunately.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Cupid & Psyche 85 (1985)