Search - Shalamar :: Go For It

Going For It... Almost

X. F. Johnson | 11/05/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I waited for the release this album on CD for a long time. I remember when I orginally purchased this album on vinyl back in the day, but this album wasn't up to the quality of past Shalamar discs. It seemed (to me) to signify the beginning of the end for the group. To start with; the album was released on the heels of their enormously successful "Three For

Love" album and even when "Go For It" was originally released it seemed to be a "Rush-And-Release" situation. Over all the project was poorly put together and NO thought was placed into the making of this album. Did the record company just throw eight tracks together and say "Here's the album"?

I never liked Jeffery Daniels as a vocalist. Plain and simple- HE CAN'T SING... So what were they (the record company, the group ect.)thinking in letting him write(and sing) FOUR of the eight titles on this disc- the title track, "Appeal" (lead vocal by Jody Watley), "Rocker" (lead vocal by

Howard Hewett) although "Rocker" has a killer groove. The worst track on this album (although I have a hard time dogging one of my all-time favorite vocalists; Stephanie Mills)is "The Final Analysis". "Analysis"

was recorded during the courtship and eight month marriage of Daniels and Mills (they also penned "Magic" for her 1981 album "Stephanie"- out at the same time). the album's saving grace is... Well... the other four.

The single "Sweeter As The Days Go By" is GREAT and well suited as a first

single. The only problem I have with this gem (If you can call it a problem) is it's not long enough. they should have run it about 5 1/2 or 6 minutes. "You've Got Me Running" is a great mid-tempo track co-written by Hewett and a then-unknown James Ingram. "Good Feelings" is another superior track co-written by Howard Hewett. And Then there is my favorite track on the album "Talk To Me" with lead vocals handled by Hewett. This track is 6 1/2 minutes of funky-groove heaven. The final two albums to feature the original threesome 1982's "Friends" and "The Look" in 1983 seemed to put the group back on track, with "The Look" generating the group's biggest hit since "The Second Time Around" in late '79 early '80

("Dead Giveaway") Over all "Go For It" is a good album IF you can get past Jeffery Daniels."