Union's release in 1988 announced a bold, incendiary new voice in the singer/songwriter sweepstakes in
Toni Childs. The well-traveled
Childs, the short-term original lead singer for
Berlin, draws upon the vast experiences of her life and delivers them with an urgency that is hypnotically compelling. It's all tied together by
David Tickle's production and aided by first-rate backing by musicians including songwriting collaborator
David Ricketts, drummer
Rick Marotta and guitarist
David Rhodes. The single "Don't Walk Away" kicks things off in high gear and
Childs rarely looks back. Her take-no-prisoners vocal drives the funky, horn-driven track, which is backed by the gospel swell of the background vocalists. Although the rest of the album is a little more sedate,
Childs never loses the urgent edge to her dusky voice. "Stop Your Fussin'" is sung to a restless lover over a Caribbean rhythm and "Hush" has a playful bounce to it. Elsewhere, "Zimbabwae" is a parable detailing African strife complete with chanting background vocals and "Dreamer" provides her with a bed of keyboards that shimmer like stars. The twice Grammy-nominated
Union received universal critical acclaim and is riveting right through the moody poetry of the final track, "Where's the Ocean." ~ Tom Demalon