In 1977,
Slave's self-titled debut album (which boasted the number one R&B smash "Slide") earned the Dayton outfit a reputation for playing sweaty, aggressive, in-your-face funk. But when
Slave provided its fourth album,
Just a Touch of Love, in 1979, it was clear that the Midwesterners were determined to soften their approach. "Funky Lady (Foxy Lady)," "Roots," and the hit title song (all of which boast
Steve Arrington on lead vocals) are definitely the work of a smoother, sleeker
Slave -- and yet, the band still had plenty of grit. This excellent album left no doubt that
Slave was still a funk band, although it wasn't as in-your-face as the
Slave that gave listeners "Slide" and "Screw Your Wig on Tite" in 1977.
Arrington, who first recorded with
Slave on 1978's
The Concept, played a major role in its evolution -- and two other lead vocalists who make important contributions to this LP are Starleana Young and
Curt Jones (both of who went on to form
Aurra, the group that hit big with "Are You Single" in 1981).
Arrington, Young, and
Jones weren't original members of
Slave, but all of them proved valuable when
Slave opted to embrace a smoother style of funk. And all of them do their part to make
Just a Touch of Love one of
Slave's finest albums. ~ Alex Henderson