Rodney Franklin - Learning To Love (1982)/Marathon (1984)/Skydance (1985)/It Takes Two (1986)

UK Import

2019 two disc set from Cherry Red Records featuring the jazz/R&B pianist's fifth through eighth studio albums (1982-86). I prefer his earlier albums, but that doesn't mean there's not good stuff here to enjoy. To this listener, disc two is better than disc one.

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LEARNING TO LOVE (1982)
8 tracks, 43 minutes

By this point in his career, Franklin had fully opted to move away from a smooth jazz sound to pop/R&B tunes. Produced by Stanley Clarke, this (not surprisingly) sounds a lot like a Clarke solo album at times. Other recognizable names include Nathan East, Michael Sembello, Abraham Laboriel, Tom Scott, Alex Acuna, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, and Alphonse Mouzon.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "power and sophistication"
• CashBox: "synth-saturated fusion, soulful ballads, scorching bod-shakers and fast-paced funk"
• Stereo Review: "quality pop-soul fare with just enough of a jazz flavor to make it sound sophisticated"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #190
• Billboard Jazz: #9
• Billboard R&B: #45
• CashBox Jazz: #6

Tracks: Enuff is Enuff (#68 R&B) is a pleasant enough shuffle and the theme to the 1982 movie, "One Down, Two to Go." Clarke even breaks out the talkbox and a piccolo bass solo on that one. Tom Scott steals the show on a couple of tracks here: That's The Way I Feel 'Bout Your Love (#64 R&B) and the cover of the Christopher Cross hit, Sailing. The only track that approaches fusion is track 6, a nine minute medley of sorts titled Genesis/New Day/Nature's Way/Early Morning/Let There Be Light which offers a fantastic drum solo from Mouzon.

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MARATHON (1984)
7 tracks, 36 minutes

Definitely '80s pop that is of its time. Clarke on the boards again, calling on friends such as Ronnie Laws, Gerald Albright, and enough synth drums to last a good while.

Billboard, February 4, 1984, p. 53

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #187
• Billboard Jazz: #15
• Billboard R&B: #54
• CashBox Jazz: #7

Tracks: The single was Stay On In The Groove, which peaked at #72 on the R&B charts. The above Billboard blurb mentions Let's Talk and that's a fun little funk piece, mainly because of Gary Calvin's bass line. Speaking of bass lines, the hard-workin' Louis Johnson (of The Brothers Johnson) is the star of Searchin' For - enough so that I stopped what I was doing and looked up the credits once that track started. Clarke doesn't play as much on this album as one might guess. But, all things considered, my preferred tracks here are Lumière (Franklin's solo shines) and the ballads, Love Is The Answer (with vocals from Darryl Coley and Lynn Davis and a soprano solo from Laws) and the New-Age-ish Reflection Of A Dream, the latter of which is simply Franklin at a Steinway piano.

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SKYDANCE (1985)
6 tracks, 41 minutes

Not as many synths on this one, which is surprising for a 1985 release. Produced by orchestral arranger Paul Buckmaster instead of Clarke. Not as many big name guests, either, meaning the focus is on Franklin's playing, as it should be. Things settle down and relax; this is the strongest album in this 2 CD set.

Press of the time:

• Stereo Review: "Franklin seems to have found his groove"
• Billboard: "Pleasant if predictable"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: did not chart
• Billboard Jazz: #31
• CashBox Jazz: #6

Tracks: All are enjoyable, but my top picks come from what was side one: Song For You, Destiny, and Fiesta. Although Fiesta saw a limited release as a promo single, there wasn't a hit single to drive album sales, unfortunately.

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IT TAKES TWO (1986)
8 tracks, 35 minutes

And we're back to the familiar sound of the mid-'80s with lots of programming and synthdrums. Franklin takes over production duties alongside French composer/arranger/conductor Michel Colombier, but only writes 3 of the 8 cuts here. Not much jazz to be found, but there's some tasty, if a bit preachy, poppish R&B with occasional contributions from Gerald Albright.

Press of the time:

• Stereo Review: "likely the best album Franklin has recorded to date"
• Billboard: "stylish fusion"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: did not chart
• Billboard Jazz: #34
• CashBox Jazz: #14

Tracks: The lead track was written by Colombier and Jeff Lorber and is high-energy and features dazzling work from Franklin. The released single was Look What's Showing Through, written by Eddie Schwartz (most famously known for writing Pat Benatar's Hit Me With Your Best Shot). Even with vocals from the incomparable Brenda Russell, that single only reached #59 on the R&B chart. Also good are The Eagle And The Condor and the final cut, Let There Be Peace, which is a beautiful solo piano piece. Also included is a completely unnecessary cover of Mr. Mister's Broken Wings.