Face To Face : Expanded Edition

As the 1980's progressed, Evelyn "Champagne" King switched producers more frequently, in an effort to keep up with the more quickly changing patterns of dance-driven R&B music. This relatively sterile album didn't make any great leaps for her career, but it did keep her name on the market. Two singles released from the album, "Action" and "Shake Down," are the strongest entries: the former is an assertive, well-produced jam with pop sensibilities; the latter is a midtempo funk romp with sparse production and widely spaced vocals. Indeed, King is not necessarily the "main attraction" on "Shake Down," as Andre Cymone's production is quite an integral part of the song. But, unlike the other tracks he produced on Face to Face, it's still complementary to King and doesn't overshadow her flair. It's on caustic and overdone numbers (which Cymone also wrote) like the titlecut and "Teenager" that her performances seem as bored as the tracks themselves. Even on cuts handled by the production team of Leon Sylvers III, Foster Sylvers, and Joey Gallo, the "tracks"are emphasized and treated so much that they become numbing all too soon. Ultimately, besides "Action" and "Shake Down," there aren't any remotely interesting moments. ~ Justin M. Kantor|