Radio M.U.S.C. Man
Studio album by
Released1985
GenreSoul, pop
LabelElektra
Womack & Womack chronology
Love Wars
(1983)
Radio M.U.S.C. Man
(1985)
Starbright
(1986)

Radio M.U.S.C. Man is an album by the American soul duo Womack & Womack, released in 1985.[1][2] The pair were dropped by Elektra Records shortly after the release of the album.[3]

The album peaked at No. 56 on the UK Albums Chart.[4]

Production

The album contains a cover of George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun".[5] The composition of the album's sixth track, "Love's Calling", was started by the soul singer Sam Cooke (the father of Linda Womack).[6] Many members of the Womack family contributed to the making of Radio M.U.S.C. Man.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Robert ChristgauB+[9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[10]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[12]

Robert Christgau praised the "relaxed groove and wavering back-porch harmonies that go into their unique sound—lazy, tender, patient, long-suffering, tired of fighting."[9] Billboard wrote that the album "showcased this couple's extraordinary writing skills and enticing vocal interplay."[3] The Gazette called the album "brave and beautiful," writing that the duo "make the sweetest music in the whole world, propelled by effortless, hip-deep dance grooves, ballads to swoon over, and vocals—duets!—that make you wonder how this wonderful music ever went out of style."[13]

The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed it "excellent," praising how "Linda's smokily ethereal tenor rubs against the rough edges of Cecil's craggy baritone."[14] The Washington Post wrote that the Womacks "[tear] apart all the conflicts, temptations, betrayals and insecurities of marriage, swapping lines, verses and songs, always espousing two clear points of view in danceable, classic soul style."[15]

NME listed Radio M.U.S.C. Man as the 34th best album of 1985.[16]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."No Relief"4:27
2."Maze"5:52
3."Night Rider"4:58
4."Eyes"4:13
5."Radio M.U.S.C. Man"4:10
6."Love's Calling"5:48
7."Strange and Funny"4:30
8."Romeo & Juliet (Where Are You?)"5:37
9."Here Comes the Sun"3:06

Personnel

References

  1. "Womack & Womack | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  2. "Cecil Womack obituary". the Guardian. February 5, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "One writer's picks for the best of '85". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. January 11, 1986 via Google Books.
  4. "Womack & Womack | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  5. Lee, John (13 Jul 1985). "Reviews". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. p. 13.
  6. George, Nelson (Jun 29, 1985). "'New' Sam Cooke Songs on the Way". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 26. p. 48.
  7. Swenson, John (Oct 1985). "Spins". Spin. Vol. 1, no. 6. p. 31.
  8. "Radio M.U.S.C. Man - Womack & Womack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  9. 1 2 "Robert Christgau: CG: Womack". www.robertchristgau.com.
  10. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 750.
  11. Davis, Francis; Lloyd, Jack (28 June 1985). "Albums". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F28.
  12. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 783.
  13. Griffin, John (18 July 1985). "Womacks' soul says something". The Gazette. p. D3.
  14. Tucker, Ken (7 July 1985). "In Dell Concerts, a Sense of Purpose". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D1.
  15. "One More Time: The Top Pop of '85". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  16. "NME's best albums and tracks of 1985". NME. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
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