Search - Narada Michael Walden :: Victory

Another fave from the 80s

Olukayode Balogun | Leeds, England | 01/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This one is another of my faves from the 80s. I had it on tape for years and then it got nicked. I searched for it on CD for years to no avail and then just simply gave up.



Then two things happened more or less around the same time: I found out on Amazon last summer that it was to be re-released in January 2008 and as if to remind me of what I'd been missing, I heard the sample of "Alone Without You" (one of my favourite tracks on the album) 9th Wonder used at the tail end of the title track of The Listening when I picked it up, also last summer. I couldn't wait for this to come out.



Other favourite tunes are "The Real Thing", "I Want You" (with its funky bass solo), "Take It To The Bossman", "You Will Find Your Way" and part c of "Victory Suite" titled "Victory For The Hero-Soldiers", a beautiful instrumental ballad. I just love the way the bass, guitar and strings do their thing on that tune and with all the stuff going on around the world these days, even though I am avidly antiwar, the song has a special significance when I listen to it now.



But it's a great album overall. Anyone who read my review for Walden's greatest hits set, Ecstasy's Dance: The Best of Narada Michael Walden, will know how I feel about him and his musicianship - okay (albeit unique) vocals but phenomenally good songs and production. Apart from performing the lead vocals, Walden plays drums, piano and percussion. Other noteworthy contributions come from Corrado Rustica on guitar and cowbell, Frank Martin on keys and synths, Marc Russo on tenor and alto sax and Randy Jackson (yes, he of "American Idol" fame) on bass. Jim Gilstrap, Vicki Randle, Carla Vaughn and Dee Dee Dickerson provide backing vocals. And despite what it says on the back of the CD, this particular album is produced by Walden AND engineer Bob Clearmountain, who'd also done some work with Chic.



A bit of trivia: I used to think, given the amazing clarity of his work, that Clearmountain's name was made up. Apparently it's his real name."

A Victory For All Involved!

Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 01/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"'Victory' finds Narada entering the 80's adding a lot of meat to his already high key disco jazz-funk-pop style-along with a far crisper production then Narada's late 70's recordings such as Awakening or I Cry, I Smile. The first three tunes "The Real Thing","I Want You" and "Take Me To The Bossman" are strong funk grooves with loud horns,beat heavy (Narada's a drummer remember?lol) and bass driven break downs and Narada's confidant,gospel inflected vocals."Alone Without You" actually takes the same musical idea and applies it to a dramatic "slow jam" and of course it's back to the funk on "Get Up!" and I do not think the audience noise is fake-I think it's like The Isley's "Take Me To The Next Phase"-a live jam that was just too hot not to include on the album! In the end Narada reminds us of his fusion roots with the drum extravaganza on the "Victory Suite" ending with a majestic ballad section called "Victory For The Hero Soldiers". This year 'Victory' finaly saw the light of day when Wounded Bird records reissued it with the last remaining bits of the early 80's Narada Michael Walden catalog and it's definately a worthwhile album in every way."