October 05, 2024

Giorgio Moroder & Joe Esposito - Solitary Men (1983) (Reissue 2013)

This is a great album. A great collaboration between Giorgio Moroder and Joe Esposito. Joe Esposito had an amazing voice. 
Favourite songs on this album are My Girl, lady, Lady, Face to Face, to Turn the Stone(which I’d never heard before), and I love his rendition of Nights in white Satin.

This elusive 1983 title from one of the music industry's most celebrated European synth guru and pop's (way underrated) male vocalist capture the solid pop rock atmosphere of the 80's. 
Despite the liner notes and essay inside the cd jacket this is by no means a "disco" project. The project harkens a strong resemblance to the Flashdance sound that was popular in its hey day. After all Moroder was the driving force behind that soundtrack.
Gone are the wah-wah disco sounding guitar ingredients of Love to Love You Baby or I Feel Love.In place is a more refined solid synth rock sound without sounding cheaply contrived for even the flashy 80's. 
The so-called typical computerized auto pilot sound found on so many similar artists' records of that era is absolutely absent here; it's all rock and soul. In addition, the soulful throaty and smokey r&b lead vocals by Joe "Bean" Esposito are undeniably his, yet,sound like a cross between Benny Mardones(Into the Night) and a hint of Michael McDonald (blue-eyed soul sound)!
the strongest tracks are Solitary Man, Show Me the Night, Too Hot To Touch,Lady,Lady,Lady (from Flashdance) and to Turn the Stone (originally performed by Donna Summer and Abba's Frida). 
The bonus tracks are nothing spectacular, but hey they're included for free. The re-make of Moroder's Chase theme from Midnight Express has been given a pre-techno (1985) re-working...
This is the album where Moroder demonstrated that he could leave the disco production tag behind and move into the 80's. This is truly an 80's treasure find...


Tracklist

1.  Solitary Man - 3:50
2.  Show Me The Night - 3:52
3.  My Girl - 3:54
4.  Too Hot To Touch - 3:29
5.  Diamond Lizzy - 3:22
6.  Washed In The Neon Light - 4:09
7.  A Love Affair - 3:49
8.  Nights In White Satin - 4:03
9.  Lady, Lady - 4:13
10.  White Hotel - 4:33
11.  To Turn The Stone - 3:13
12.  Face To Face  (Bonus Track) - 3:56
13.  Chase  (Remix 1985) - 4:22
14.  Valley Of The Dolls  (Bonus Track) - 10:36


Companies, etc.
Credits

Notes
Released: 1983 (2013 Reissue, Remastered)
Genre:  Electronic, Pop
Style:  Synth-pop, Disco
Runtime:  100:59

Label - Repertoire Records

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