Rupert Holmes - Partners In Crime (1979)

"Partners In Crime" is an album by Rupert Holmes, includes the hits "Him" and "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)".
Before the release of this successful 1979 album, Holmes released four albums that failed to capture him at his best. Shortly before this, Holmes made his mark as songwriter. He penned the kitschy cannibalism tale "Timothy" for the Buoys. From his 1976 effort Singles came "The Last of the Romantics" which was covered to great effect by Engelbert Humperdinck. Partners in Crime finds Holmes more focused with pop savvy and a great batch of songs. The effort's biggest hit, the ingratiating "Escape" (The Pina Colada Song)," though skilled, is cutesy enough to make some people's eyes roll. Despite the nature of that track, Holmes was also willing to tackle more interesting issues. With the slightly disco-fied title track, he deftly examines the male/female dynamic as business deal. Throughout the song, Holmes is having a lot of fun with every salacious detail. "Nearsighted" has him going the power pop route and all but wringing tears out of seeing "slightly out of focus." As "Partners In Crime" goes along, what becomes striking is some of the tracks' subtle use of R&B flourishes. "Him" depicts Holmes as the cuckold and has a beautiful string arrangement, a great hook, and strong, vivid lyrics. The album's best ballad, "The People That You Never Get to Love" has Holmes again giving a warm and confident vocal and is poignant rather than weepy. Although there are a few waste cuts, on the whole "Partners In Crime" is a thought-provoking and polished album.

Tracklist:

01.  Escape (The Piña Colada Song)  - 4:34
02.  Partners in Crime  - 5:14
03.  Nearsighted  - 2:49
04.  Lunch Hour  - 4:38
05.  Drop It  - 4:10
06.  Him  - 4:04
07.  Answering Machine  - 3:33
08.  The People That You Never Get to Love  - 3:46
09.  Get Outta Yourself  - 4:43
10.  In You I Trust  - 4:49

Released:  October 5, 1979
Genre:  Soft Rock
Label:  MCA
Producer:  Rupert Holmes, Jim Boyer
All tracks composed by:  Rupert Holmes

Personnel
Rupert Holmes - vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, saxophone
Dean Bailin - guitar
Leo Adamian - drums
Steve Jordan - drums on "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)"
Peter Gordon - French horn
Wayne Andre - trombone
Bob Gurland - trumpet on "Get Outta Yourself"
Chrissy Faith - background vocals on "Answering Machine"
Gene Orloff Section - strings