Search - George Duke :: Don't Let Go

My eyes well up with joy!

Kheru Djhuti | Brooklyn, NY | 10/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oh my god! I have this album on wax and have had it since I was a child. It is one of the albums I bought with my allowance while other girls my age were buying nail polish and now 'n' laters! I bought it for the hit at the time "Dukey Stick" (which I am pleased to say, sounds as good 25 years later), because I was a Parliament Funkadelic fan and this is very George Clinton and Bootsy Collins-ish. But even back then with my immature ears and attention span, I was able to play and love nearly every track (called back then, "sides" or "cuts.") While I am quite sure the Blues, Jazz and Soul purists of the generations preceding mine had none too kind things to say about George's use of synthesizers and this album's appeal to the Funk, R&B and Disco crowds, it is albums like these that may be responsible for why people of my generation have so little tolerance for what passes these days for music (real hip hop, a few R&B artists and the so-called "neo-soul" aside, which samples and remakes from artists like George Duke, of course). I wish all the music of my childhood were available on CD. But this should help keep me happy until it is! Ow!"

Funk. Jazz, Latin. Soul. Defies all categories

Tall Paul | San Diego, CA United States | 02/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow what an album. If you think the best song is Dukey Stick then you are wrong. Duke combines so many styles of music and made it so energetic and real. Even though Duke's music was already full of fire and energy on his previous albums, the induction of Sheila E (at the mere age of 18) into the band takes the energy to another level. Sheila is all over this album and she even writes one of the tracks that features her "Percussion Interlude". Other standout tracks are "The Way I Feel" thats starts off as 3/4 Soul groove and then breaks into a 6/8 Latin groove! Another standout track is The Future (my favorite track) that shows Duke's genius with synthesizers. The only thing missing from the CD is the group photo that was on the vinyl artwork! But the clarity of the CD pretty much makes up for that. ANOTHER NOTE: I noticed the CD was mastered at a slower speed than the LP version. So all the songs on the CD are almost a half step lower than the LP. It seems like a mastering error in the digitizing process. Hopefully Sony will digitally remaster this CD in the future. If you want to hear this album at the correct speed you will have to find it on vinyl."

Skunk Funk and More....

Duce | Atlanta, GA | 10/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"WOW....what I love about hearing this particular Duke LP is, of course, the old memories, but more than that, how versatile he was even back then. I love the way George can move from latin, african and even indian feels of jazz music to plain old FUNK. Josie James and Lynn Davis were two of the best female singers EVER and "The Way I Feel" is a great demonstration of their voices....Sheila Escavedo (E); was so cold on the percussions and you can hear her youth and talent throughout....



This is the real deal....this is AFTER George has played with Cannonball, Zappa and many, many others.....A must have in your Duke library."