After recording two albums under the direction of
Chic leaders
Nile Rodgers and
Bernard Edwards,
Sister Sledge surprised the R&B world by working with
Narada Michael Walden on
All American Girls. The Philadelphia siblings had become identified with the
Chic sound, and were ready for a change. It was a gamble that paid off artistically more than commercially. Far from a bomb but not as successful as it deserved to be, the album (reissued on CD in 1995 with informative liner notes by music journalist Gary Jackson) boasts its share of gems, including the hit title song (which, ironically, does have a few
Chic-ish touches), the rock-influenced "He's Just a Runaway" and the infectiously funky "Make a Move." Interestingly, "Runaway" didn't became a hit until given a reggae remix that isn't nearly as exciting as the version heard on
All American Girls, clearly one of the group's finest accomplishments. ~ Alex Henderson