Hot Spot

Afterbach – MatineeDazz Band - Hot Spot. By the mid-eighties the Dazz Band had delivered seven albums for the mighty Motown, had scored gold status selling singles, had picked up a Grammy Award and were widely regarded as the next generation of hit acts to take the label forward with their unique blend of synth-funk that had become one of the hallmarks of the first-half the decade. Fuelled by a continual chart presence their albums sold in respectable numbers and enabled the act to tour year-on-year. By 1985, Marlon McClain (who had previously played in the Fantasy Records disco acts Pleasure, Taxxi and Shock) and Keith Harrison (formerly of Heatwave and Faze-O) had been drafted in to replace the departed Fearman and Frederick for the recording of the Dazz Band’s seventh, and final Motown album, Hot Spot; Steve Cox (keyboards) was also added to the line-up. Fusion keyboard maestro Jeff Lorber featured on the melodic “Slow Rap”, while acclaimed songwriter Gary Taylor (Anita Baker, Jennifer Holliday, Michael Wycoff) penned the set’s opener, “If Only You Were In My Shoes”, on the album that was recorded at Sound Castle and Motown/Hitsville Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Ironically, despite the hyperbole the new sound became a seller peaking on the Billboard’s Hot 100 and even in the R&B listings. Before the year was out the group had said hasta la vista to Motown and were recording their Geffen debut, Wild And Free. Includes Five Bonus Tracks Re-Mastered from the ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES by Kevin Reeves, Universal Studios Liner Notes by Lewis Dene 1. If Only You Were In My Shoes 5:492. Hot Spot 5:103. Paranoid 5:194. All The Way 3:365. S. C. L. & P. (Style, Class, Looks And Personality) 4:206. She Used To Be My Girl 4:307. When You Need Roses 4:338. Slow Rap 5:44 Bonus Tracks 9. Hot Spot (Club Mix) 6:50 10. Heartbeat 7:03 (12″ version) 11. Let It All Blow (Special Disco Re-Mix) 6:41 12. Swoop (I’m Yours) 8:30 (12″ version) 13. Joystick (Vocal) 6:13