The Dazz Band didn't usher in the synth-funk era all by themselves; they had help from the System, André Cymone, the Deele, Midnight Star, and others. But they were certainly important and influential contributors. Synth-funk took a big leap forward in 1982 with the Dazz Band's 1982 smash "Let It Whip," which was irresistibly funky but not in the horn-powered way that so many of the great Midwestern funk gems of the '70s were funky; on "Let It Whip," keyboards were used to let the funk flow. And the Dazz Band continued to emphasize keyboards and synthesizers on 1983's Joystick and 1984's Jukebox. Originally released by Motown as vinyl LPs, Joystick and Jukebox were reissued back-to-back on a 79-minute CD in 2011 by Funky Town Grooves (a Brooklyn-based label that specializes in reissues of R&B albums from the late '70s and '80s). Although not quite as essential as 1982's Keep It Live (the album that contained "Let It Whip"), both Joystick and Jukebox are solid albums from the synth-funk era. That isn't to say that no horns at all are heard on this CD; some horns are used, but keyboards are the driving force on infectious jams such as "Swoop (I'm Yours)," "To the Roof," and "Rock with Me" from Joystick and "Undercover Lover," "She's the One," "Keep You Comin' Back for More," and the hit "Let It All Blow" from Jukebox. And even though uptempo synth-funk dominates both albums, there are some romantic ballads and appealing slow jams on this disc as well (including "Now That I Have You" and "Until You" from Joystick and "Heartbeat," "So Much Love," and "I've Been Waiting" from Jukebox). Clearly, the quiet storm audience wasn't the Dazz Band's primary target in 1983 or 1984; Joystick and Jukebox were generally aimed at the dancefloor, but when the albums do offer ballads and slow jams, the results are pleasing. Joystick and Jukebox both did well for Motown, and it is nice to have them side by side on the same CD.