Rhythm Heritage's second album,
Last Night on Earth, is best remembered for
Michael Omartian and
Steve Barri's memorable disco arrangement of the instrumental "Theme From Rocky (Gonna Fly Now)," and the producers are equally enjoyable when they give "Theme From Lipstick" the disco treatment. But this very uneven 1977 LP certainly isn't without its flaws. "Disco Queen" (not to be confused with the
Hot Chocolate song) and "Dance the Night Away" (which was written by jazzman
Victor Feldman but isn't jazz) are mechanical disco numbers that offer little in the way of feeling or imagination, and a medley of
Steely Dan's "Do It Again" and
War's "The Cisco Kid" is equally disposable. While side one offers the very things one expected from
Rhythm Heritage -- disco originals and disco versions of movie themes -- side two is a pleasant, if imperfect, surprise. Perhaps
Omartian and
Barri grew tired of hearing
Rhythm Heritage described as mindless; if so, that explains why they tackle social and political issues on side two, which is devoted to a three-song, 17-minute medley called "Last Night on Earth." Reflecting on the world's troubled state, the medley gets off to an impressive start on the assertive "Angry World" but loses some steam on its second and third songs. Nonetheless,
Omartian and
Barri deserve credit for trying something different -- they could have easily made side two a replica of side one.
Disco-Fied remains
Rhythm Heritage's best album (flaws and all), but this sophomore effort does have its moments. ~ Alex Henderson