Search - Pointer Sisters :: Yes We Can Can: The Best of the Blue Thumb Recordings

Essential Early Pointer Sisters

Tyler Smith | 12/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I like this collection a lot: lots of jazzy-flavored type songs that will make you smile. I like "Jada" and "Black Coffee", very nice songs. Although they are best known for later hits like "Slow Hand" and the hits from the album "Break Out", this is a welcome edition for another side of the Pointer Sisters that some may not have thought existed.If you purchased the 2-CD collection of hits "Fire: The Very Best Of The Pointer Sisters", then you may have noticed that only 4 of the 14 songs from this album are on that collection. Thus, the best of the Blue Thumb is NOT a supplement but an essential buy even for the casual fan."

New appreciation for the Pointers

eclectictastes | Columbus, OH USA | 09/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Until the recent death of youngest sister June, I hadn't given the Pointer Sisters any thought in years. But after recently purchasing this CD, I realized the group is sadly underrated.



I first became aware of the Pointers with their 1972 version of "Yes, We Can, Can", a funk and R&B number a lot of listeners either are unaware of or forgot they recorded. That song coupled with their 40s style of dress and jazzy vocals were among my early childhood memories. But for many listeners, the Pointers would remain under the radar until they teamed with Richard Perry in the late 70s and crossed over into pop.



Unfortunately because most people are only familiar with their 80s hits where their vocals were often overshadowed by Perry's synthesized pop production, many critics find it easy to dismiss them as nothing more than a run of the mill fluffy pop girl group. This point was brought home recently during two separate conversations I had with individuals, who familiar with only the 80s songs, expressed surprise at how strong and diverse the sisters' vocals were after hearing their earlier 70s works.



If you really want to hear what the Pointers were capable of early in their career when they were four members strong, listen to this CD. I bet a lot of R&B fans who dismiss the 80s Pointers as too pop will be surprised at how funky the sisters are on songs such as "Going Down Slowly" and "How Long". They also show they're more than capable of handling jazz and swing on "Steam Heat" and "Jada." There's even a country song on here (Fairytale.) Another thing this CD brings to light is that the sisters, Anita and Bonnie in particular, had impressive songwriting skills. They composed "Jada", "How Long" and "Fairytale." It appears they did less songwriting in their 80s work.



It's a fun CD to listen to as the group obviously had a more musically adventurous side than their 80s hits would suggest. Check out their style before Bonnie departed and the remaining sisters took a more commercial and lucrative route."