Potentially viewed as something of a warm-up for
Quincy Jones before producing
Michael Jackson's wildly successful
Off the Wall and
Thriller albums,
the Brothers Johnson's first two releases spawned hits like "I'll Be Good to You" and brought George and
Louis Johnson to a mass audience of their own. (
Louis, in fact, would go on to play bass on those first two sessions by the King of Pop.) As with the
Jackson discs,
Jones creates a seamless mix of pop and funk on
the Brothers sophomore release
Right on Time, helping to create the group's second chart-topper "Strawberry Letter 23" as well the equally effervescent, minor R&B hit "Runnin' for Your Lovin'." With
Earth, Wind & Fire's airy dancefloor hits in mind,
the Brothers also deliver polished funk tracks like "Right on Time" and "Never Leave You Lonely," as well as more pop-friendly material like "Free Yourself, Be Yourself" and "Love Is." And with one of the best jazz arrangers in the business behind the board,
the Brothers couldn't forgo some instrumentals here as well, specifically the breezy, funk-in-a-quiet-storm number "'Q'" and the less intriguing, synthesizer jam "Brother Man." An enjoyable and even infectious collection that, in its sophistication, certainly avoids being just some sort of dry run for
Jones. ~ Stephen Cook