Search - Gladys Knight & The Pips :: Visions

Certainly IS An Unusually Obscure Masterpiece!

Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 04/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll tell you something right now about Gladys Knight & The Pips-this 1983 recording certainly put the almost stagnant group back into the spotlight.And most of the reasons for this lay in the tastefully modern production of Leon Sylvers and Knight's exuberant,sensually soulful voice.Featuring brilliant songwriting "When Your Far Away","Ain't No Greater Love",

"Seconds","Just Be My Lover" and of course the brilliantly pulsating "Save The Overtime For Me" are wonderful,funky uptempo

R&B boogie tunes with plenty of animated,soulful delivery!That plus one fabulous funk splatter "Oh La De Da" will give one the sense that 'Visions' is dominated by uptempo tunes,and it is.But of course some credit should go to the ballads-"Heaven Sent" is a classic for Knight in her familiar style but "Hero" (yes it's a renamed cover of "Wind Beneath My Wings") gets Knight's dramatic,churchy delivery that (sorry) would drown Bette Midler if she's heard it-she utterly trancends any sentimentality the song possessed in classic soul style and turned it into more of a gospel then a love song.All of these songs come in to make 'Visions',as highly underrated as it is one of the groups best full lengh albums of all time!"

Old School Junkie

Richmond Bean | SATX | 06/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you know anything about fish frys and spaghetti at your favorite aunt's house on Fridays or all night bid wis/spade card games,or the early days of the Quiet Storm, then this GK&the PIPs ensemble is a treasure. Not a commercial success, it did give those true fans out there another moment to yell.."SING GLADYS" Strong orchestra backgrounds and eighties electric brings GK into the 80s with the soul stirring love of pure R&B she represented and noutured for others to sample nowadays. My favorites include "Number One and Just be my Lover" Oh how that GK can sing. BUY this treasure and let it play while your dusting the house or playing cards with your old school friends that appreciate what MS GK and the Pips are laying down. Someone is bound to say... is that new?"