Search - Ronnie Laws :: Every Generation

Well, It's About Damn TIME!!!

C.T. Chase | Arlington, VA USA | 12/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Very seldom do you ever hear an album where there is not one note, one phrasing, one single feature that you can't find some flaw in. This is one of those rare birds.



I had only cursory knowledge of Ronnie Laws and his discography when I first heard this gem back in the Eighties, during a very dark time in my life. It was music like this that got me through, but it was this particular album that led me on a feverish two year search, before I finally stumbled on the first vinyl (!!!) reissue of it while browsing through a record store. I still have that copy and the cassette version as well, both of which I very nearly wore out. I told friends and family that right up there with contemporary jazz fusion albums like Art Porter's essential LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME, Jonathan Butler's eponymous release and George Benson's BREEZIN', this is one of the best ever.



From the plaintive soulfulness of NEVER GET BACK TO HOUSTON, the playful jazz-funk of YOUNG CHILD, to the phreaky Hancock-flavored O.T.B.A. LAW and the moving, contemplative title cut, I haven't heard an album since that gets stuck in my CD player for days on end as often as this one. Buy one for each and every person in your life who means something to you, then buy two more copies for yourself...so you'll have a spare when you wear out the FIRST one!



If Ronnie's still kicking around, I sure hope someday that lightning like this will strike with his one-of-a-kind talent again!"

24 Years Of Searching

visuals | Philadelphia PA | 10/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Man....I must have been about 15-16 yrs. old when I first heard "Every Generation" back in the early 80's. I'm almost certain that anyone who was around during the pre internet years that listened to Black R&B radio stations remembers how frustrating it was when you would call in to the station to see if they could tell you the name of a song and who sang it. Seemed like every time the DJ's would play a tune that you liked, You sat on the edge of your sanity waiting patiently to hear who the artist was........Only to hear a commercial or the song mixed into the next tune and so you sat and waited for that one to end also......... they STILL didn't tell you.



I have to say that "Every Generation" was one of those songs for me. I was young when I first caught it on the radio. Never really knew the lyrics but loved the tone of the music and the sax solo in the middle; which was usually where I seemed to catch this song or near the end and I was never close to a tape recorder. Years went by and this brother's melodies and vocal tones stayed in my head. By me not knowing the lyrics, I tried to hum the chorus to other people so maybe they could tell me who this was but no one knew.



Fast forward 24 years to Oct.12,2005. I was at work that day and we always keep the radio on and this song came on. Happy as a kid in a candy store, I stood frozen for a moment trying to focus on what I was hearing. We have to keep the volume low so I had to listen carefully. I motioned for some of the workers to come get a quick listen but still no one knew who it was. I managed to make out the chorus and kept it in my head. I went online at lunch that day and found the local station's website. To my great delight, They had a list of the last 10 songs played. There it was...#6) Ronnie Laws - Every Generation.



Thanks to good ears, good memories and the internet, I have since ordered this CD and am waiting patiently for its delivery early next week. What I am trying to say in closing of this review is that if a song can stay in a person's memory for so long and still sounds & makes you feel just as good as it did when you first heard it even after all these years, It's gotta be good! This is classic soul....grown folks music mind you. I am now 40 years old and have long learned to respect and appreciate good music. Even though I wasn't the biggest fan of 80's music (due to disco and the use of drum machines and electric synthesized music which killed the need for a real band whom played their own instruments), This is REAL music for REAL folks. REAL songs with REAL meaning. Get this and his sister Debra's album "Very Special". This is as good as good gets."

One of the BEST CD by this artis

K. Frazier | NJ United States | 07/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"SO GLAD this is on CD now. THis is a must have...plus pick up Friends and STRangers.. Every song is wonderful. My fav are Every Generation, and Loves' Victory (with his sister, Miki Howard, and Jean I think it's his sister that is singing as libs, and sounds oh so good. This is a very sexy, cool CD. throw this on with your special someone and see what happens....It worked for me...lol GREAT CD...I could listen to this over and over again....Thank you Ronnie for great music that sounds Great hard to believe this is over 20 years old...no way! He was just ahead of his time. I do not think we will still be jamin to Cieara or 20 years from now this is a clasic!"