By the mid-'80s,
Rick James' funk had become a very tired cliché. Hits like 1984's "17" found an artist who had been so exciting only a few years earlier sounding increasingly formulaic and predictable. But he got out of his artistic rut in a major way with the excellent
Glow. In interviews,
James had expressed a desire to record an all-out rock album, and while
Glow doesn't fit that description, he does incorporate rock and pop elements with splendid results on everything from the new wave-ish "Can't Stop" to the sweaty "Rock & Roll Control." But make no mistake: this is an R&B album first and foremost, and seductive numbers like "Moonchild" and the title song would be worthy of
Kashif or
Luther Vandross. Regrettably,
James' risk-taking didn't pay off, and
Glow was far from a major hit. Next to
Garden of Love,
Glow may be the most underrated album of
Rick James' career. ~ Alex Henderson