Produced by
the Crusaders'
Joe Sample and
Wilton Felder,
David T. Walker's final solo LP
On Love ably captures the gauzy, romantic atmosphere its title promises, but like most of
Walker's output as a leader, atmosphere is pretty much all this record has to offer -- for all its shimmering beauty, the music lacks substance. The plush sophistication of the production is more a minus than a plus -- never one to the command the spotlight in the first place,
Walker completely defers to the overall mood and texture throughout
On Love, and regardless of his technical brilliance, one can't but wish he would simply cut loose and break off a memorable, impassioned guitar solo or two. As usual, he also sticks to familiar pop melodies -- "Windows of the World" and "Lovin' You," most notably -- but does little to reinvent or revitalize them. This is music so smooth it slips between the cracks.