Quincy Jones – Body Heat

Album Revolution #5:

Since 1969, "Quincy Jones" has put himself in a position to not only to continue to be LOVED by his "Jazz" crowd, but now he has ENDEARED himself to the "Fusion", "Pop", and now the "Soul & R&B" crowd...In fact because of his "You've Got It Bad Girl" album, the "Soul & R&B" Folks were coming in DROVES!!!!

With his LOVE for "Soul & R&B" GROWING, "Q" continued in that direction, by Releasing his next offering, "Body Heat".....

As usual, "Q" would have TONS of Friends helping out like, "Bob James", "Richard Tee", "Eric Gale", and "Hubert Laws"...But, because his Musical "Soul" Palliate was GROWING, other Artists like, Guitarists "Dennis Coffey", "Wah Wah' Watson", "Phil Upchurch", "Mr. WILD Organ Man, Billy Preston" and "Mr. Fusion Head Hunter" himself, "Herbie Hancock", were invited to the party.... There are other Artists that I will mention later....

The album starts with the FANTASTIC "Title Track"...The Melody has that LOVELY SPOOKY SEXY Sound!!!! The Mystical Keyboards SWOONS throughout this t giving it the Allure needed....Most of the Lead Vocals were handled by "Leon Ware" (who also helped Write the song), bringing a Sexy Vibe that I'm sure "Q" wanted in his Music...

This Sexy Track also set the Sample Community on HIGH!!!! The ones to truly benefit from it was "How Do U Want It" by "2Pac" featuring "K- Ci and Joj-Jo" from "Jodeci" from "Pac's" "All Eyez On Me" album, and "Temperature's Rising" by "Mobb Deep" from the "The Infamous Mobb Deep" album...Unlike most "Old School" Artists, "Q" NEVER had a problem with "Hip-Hop" Artists sampling his stuff...In fact, when it happened, it ALWAYS brought People back to "Q"!!!!!

"Soul Saga (Song Of The Buffalo Soldier)" sounds like it could have been on either, "Gula Matari" or "Smackwater Jack"..."Q" again brings us to the "Old Time Spiritual" Vibe, mixed with a FUNKY Groovy Track...."Jim Gilstrap's" Vocals are SURROUNDED by the TERRIFIC Vocals of, "Jesse Kirkland", "Joe Greene" and "Tom Bahler"....There are also Vocal Effects by the ONE and ONLY, "Al Jarreau", who could do just about ANYTHING with his VOICE!!!!!

Vocalist, "Bernard Ighner" brought "Q" the OUTSTANDING Composition, "Everything Must Change"...This Moody, Thought Provoking t is just a WOW!!!! The Keyboards and Piano helps "Ighner" LAY OUT his FANTASTIC Lyrics...The Groove is also PARAMOUNT to the Song, also having a FIRE Trumpet as a platform....There is a Reprise of this as well....On my "Made Up Anthology", I combined the two...It sounds AWESOME!!!

"Boogie Joe The Grinder" almost sounds like a "Funky Disco" Version of "Killer Joe"..., "The Disco Movement" was in SUPER BLOOM at that time, and I am sure that with EVERYTHING "Q" was EMERSED in, he couldn't HELP HIMSELF for GETTIN' DOWN with The Movement!!!!!

The 2nd Side starts with "One Track Mind"....It is a FUNKY Track about a Lady that only has one thing on Her "Mind" (You know what that means)....The Vocals of, "Carolyn Willis", "Jesse Kirkland", "Jim Gilstrap", "Joe Greene", "Myrna Matthews", and "Tommy Bahler", along with the BUMPIN' Sexy Mood of the Music, sets up the PERFECT Sultry Allure that "Q" was looking for....

"Just A Man" is somewhat of a "Q" Autobiography...It is a simple Tune with RIGHTEOUS Guitar and subtle Background Vocals..."Q" also handles Lead Vocals...As I always say, "Q" isn't the best of Vocalists, but when he goes there, IT FITS!!!!!

"Along Came Betty" is a "Jazzy" t, with a "Salsa" twist..."Q" kind of goes back to basics here with his Orchestra, but still being able to GET DOWN on a Groovy Moody Track...It almost sounds like it came from, "Walking In Space", but I am SOOO GLAD it's is on "Body Heat"...

On the last Track, "Leon Ware" brought another GIFT to "Q" in the form of, "If I Ever Lose This Heaven"...Another Sultry Track (that "Ware" was known for), it is SMOOTH and Groovy at the same time...We also have "Al Jarreau" on Vocal Effects and the ONE and ONLY "Minnie Riperton" helping "Ware" with Sexy Lead Vocals...It's CRAZY, because "The Average White Band" copied this on their "Cut The Cake" album a year later...But when I was a Kid, I was going NUTS trying to find out who did it first (LOL)!!!!!

Well, another Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel album from "Q"....

Unfortunately, "Quincy" didn't really get to celebrate the SUCCESS of the album...That's because "Q" SUFFERED not 1, but 2 Brain Aneurysms after this...It was such a TRYING time for his Family...After his Surgery, he had to Rehab, and had to relearn how to do things all over again...THANK GOD "Q" RECOVERED!!!! And guess what, he would get RIGHT BACK TO WORK!!!!

I said before, that this was the first album by "Quincy Jones" that I heard...Now, I'm GLAD I own it...If You Guys give this a shot, YOU WILL BE GLAD TOO!!!!!

Not only is this one of my personal favorites, it's also such a good pressing. The bass is deep, rumbly and very pronounced. The instruments are clear, the vocals are clear and the overall sound is very smooth and "dark" sounding. If you see this one out in the wild grab it.

While I have a great deal of respect for Quincy Jones - Mellow Madness. Ain't that a bitch?