Hot 'n' Sassy

Michael Stokesプロデュースによるレディ・ファンクの傑作！奥方Linda Stokesが在籍したMagic Ladyの2ndが世界初CD化！当時の空気が凝縮されたダンサンブルなファンク・チューンから鬼メロウなスロウまで、Michael Stokesのナイスすぎる仕事っぷりが光り輝く悶絶盤ですぞ！

Making a rather drastic transition from the soft, understated feeling of the group's first outing, Magic Lady's sophomore effort concentrates on passable, if sometimes generic, radio funk grooves. Save for the glowing mid-tempo number "Give It Up" and the quiet storm treat "Hold Tight" -- the latter of which appears on several U.K. rare groove compilations -- the bulk of material rests in rhythmic ditties like "Sexy Body," "Shake," and "Stand Up." Presumably, the trio was trying to cash in on the impact of Vanity 6 with the album's concept and titles like "Get Off" and "Red Hot Stuff," though it's all much more subtle than the way Prince's girls were doing it. But Magic Lady is much more musical in its approach. Their voices are light and sweet in tone, but firm in diction and strong in resonance. Notably, the group members all take on instrumental roles as well. It's just unfortunate that most of the songs don't go anywhere. They stay on one or two chords throughout and don't have all that much fire in their arrangements to make up for the sameness. ~ Justin M. Kantor