George Duke - Rendez Vous (LP)

Side A
A1.  Got To Get Back To Love  (5:28)  
A2.  Stay Awhile  (2:58)  
A3.  Secret Rendezvous  (4:50)  
A4.  Thinking Of You  (4:06) 

Side B
B1.  Take It On  (3:51)  
B2.  She Can Wait Forever  (4:01)  
B3.  Better Ways  (4:23)  
B4.  Your Life  (2:55)  
B5.  Ipanema Lady  (3:36)

Release: 1984
Label:  Epic Records
Catalog#  EPC 26059

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George Duke - Thief In The Night (1985)

Artist:  George Duke
Title:  Thief In The Night
Release:  1985
Format:  LP
Label:  Elektra Records
Catalog#  960398-1

George Duke´s album “Thief In The Night”, his Elektra debut from 1985. What does seperate this album from Duke’s others is not only it’s total abandonment of jazz but of funk and fusion as well.George Duke consentrates on either techno pop/dance or rockier new wave type music here and all of these songs have vocals.The dance music includes “I Surrender”, “We’re Supposed To Have Fun”-both of which are about as pop/R&B perfect as a period Narada Michael Walden composition and the strong,sexy title song-actually one of his finest moments composing pure pop gold that finds Duke musing about a mysterious lady with “see through underwear”. On the spiky ‘Ride’ and the uncharacteristic monster ballad “Why” (the latter even including another singer besides Duke) find him exploring far rockier material.But the strongest song here is “Remembering The Sixties”,where George Duke and Stevie Wonder muse about nostolgia through love and Duke manages a dead on Wonder vocal impression that’s almost eerie.It’s so catchy it’s almost sing a long-very much Wonder fare. Stevie shows up (singing this time) again on the largely instrumental “Jam”,the closest thing to funk on this release.Of course being a George Duke album he brings the Brazillian feel back into play on “La La” to close things out and delivers a nice ballad in “Love Mission”. “Thief In The Night” will likely not be to every George Duke fans taste-it’s not a jazz or fusion recording and couldn’t be more mid 80’s. It showcases the style he perfected as a pop producer instead. But aside from all that the composition is very strong and his abilities in this area are obviosly very high. The first time a George Duke fans listens to this they might lose interest but the more you listen the more you love it and my even find yourself singing and jittering along while dancing yourself silly.


Side one
1.  I Surrender  (3:32)
2.  Thief In The Night  (4:47)
3.  Remembering The Sixties  (4:34)
4.  We’re Supposed To Have Fun  (4:25)

Side two
1.  Ride  (3:54)
2.  Love Mission  (4:24)
3.  Jam  (5:11)
4.  Why  (4:12)
5.  La La  (3:37)

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George Duke - Dream On (1982)

Artist:  George Duke
Title:  Dream On
Released:  1982
Format:  LP
Length:  46:24
Label:  Epic Records
Catalog#  85215

On his R&B-oriented records of the late ’70s, George Duke often shared the lead vocals with such band members as Lynn Davis, Josie James, and Napoleon Brock, but none of them are employed on 1982's “Dream On”, which finds him handling most of the lead vocals himself. And that isn’t a bad thing, because Duke is a soulful and charismatic singer there is no reason why he shouldn’t hog the microphone on his own albums. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a lot of first-rate material to work with on this competent, if uneven and unfocused, LP. “Dream On” isn’t a bad album; sleek R&B ballads like “I Will Always Be Your Friend,” “Let Your Love Shine,” and “You” are pleasant, but they aren’t remarkable, and while Dream On simmers, it never burns and never explodes. Even “Son of Reach for It (The Funky Dream)” a sequel to Duke’s 1977 smash “Reach for It” isn’t all that exciting. The best thing on the record is a remake of the mellow soul ballad “Someday,” which he had previously recorded for 1975's I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry.


Side one
1.  Shine On   (5:12)
2.  You   (4:37)
3.  Dream On   (4:01)
4.  I Will Always Be Your Friend   (3:27)
5.  Framed   (3:18)

Side two
1.  Ride on Love   (5:25)
2.  Son of Reach for It (The Funky Dream   (4:25)
3.  Someday   (3:51)
4.  Positive Energy   (3:33)
5.  Let Your Love Shine   (4:27)

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