Genre: disco
Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: Closer
Company: Atlantic
Catalog: SD-16042
Year: 1981
Country/State: Montreal, Canada
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: minor ring wear
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4884
Price: $5.00
I have no idea why I bought this album other than I thought I remembered Gino Soccio's name from some article I'd read. Turns out Soccio wasn't the person I was thinking about. As a result of my mistake I ended up with early 1980s disco album.
Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec Gino Soccio had enjoyed some radio and club successes as the driving factor behind Kebekelektric (think Quebec Electric) and as a producer and arranger. 1981's self-produced "Closer" was Soccio's third album for Ray Caviano's RFC Records. Musically the album remained firmly entrenched in disco, but side one tracks like 'Try It Out' and 'Street Talk' modified his earlier approach with a strange mix of soul vocals (courtesy of singers Erma Shaw and Elisabeth Smith) and spare, Krautrock influenced sound. At least to my ears Soccio was far more impressive on the isolated blue-eyed soul numbers like '(It's Been) Too Long' and 'Love Is'. Best of the lot was the jazzy instrumental title track. Sound strange? It was, but apparently did pretty well on the dance charts.
"Closer" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Try It Out (Gino Soccio) -
2.) Street Talk (Gino Soccio) -
3.) (It's Been) Too Long (Gino Soccio) -
(side
2)
1.) Hold Tight (Gino Soccio) -
2.) Love Is (Gino Soccio) -
3.)
Closer (instrumental) (Gino Soccio) -