Note: the CD I listened to was the 2002 Spy reissue.
In 2020, I picked up a copy of Brenda Russell's 1981 album, Love Life, quickly fell in love with it and announced it as "the best new-to-me album I heard in 2020" and bluntly stated "I love the thing." For the record, both statements still hold true. Soon after, longtime friend o' the blog Dirk Digglinator let me know that if I liked Love Life, I absolutely needed to check out its follow-up, Two Eyes. And he was most certainly correct. Russell's brand of smooth soul-pop goes down easy, plus there's plenty of recognizable names in the credits: Bill LaBounty, James Newton Howard, David Foster, Michael McDonald, Don Grusin, Nathan East, Jeff Porcaro, Jerry Hey, and Stevie Wonder.
The good news: the album is produced by Tommy LiPuma.
The bad news: after Love Life, the A&M label dropped Russell; this was Russell's only release on the Warner Bros. label and WB did almost nothing to promote Two Eyes.
The best news: it's a dang good album.
Detailed liner notes from the 2002 reissue by David Nathan.
Press of the time:
- High Fidelity: "Brenda Russell's voice is so fine...that it's a crime her songwriting isn't better." [note: I'm guessing the reviewer was having a bad day when he wrote this review as he later refers to Jeff Porcaro's playing as "inimitably boring."]
- Billboard: "[Russell] finds crossover connections strengthened under producer LiPuma"
Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Tracks: Two singles were released from the album, I Want Love To Find Me and the title track. Neither charted, although they should have and either single would have been equally at home on the Hot 100, R&B, or Adult Contemporary charts. Dirk told me the highlight of the album was the tribute to Al Jarreau, simply titled Jarreau. It's plenty good for sure, but my favorite track is Hello People, co-written by Michael McDonald. I recognized track 2, It's Something, from Leslie Smith's recommended 1982 album, Heartache. I'll See You Again isn't the greatest, but it features a harmonica solo from Stevie Wonder, so it's a keeper. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the album closer, Look Down Young Soldier.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: see above
Previously revisited for the blog:
Get Here (1988)
Love Life (1981)
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