When
Nile Rodgers and
Bernard Edwards were leading
Chic in the late '70s and early '80s, the producers' main focus was disco funk. But after
Chic's breakup, they went their separate ways, became increasingly diverse, and produced their share of rock-oriented projects. The fact that
Edwards had both rock and R&B credentials made him the ideal producer for
Grayson Hugh's
Road to Freedom. Released in 1992 -- three years before
Edwards' untimely death -- this generally appealing, if slightly uneven, CD has one foot in roots rock and Americana and the other in '60s-style soul. Fans of
Bruce Springsteen,
John Cougar Mellencamp, and
Tom Petty should have no problem getting into earthy originals like "Lost Avenue" and "Soul Cat Girl," but at the same time,
Road to Freedom also has a lot of soul appeal --
Otis Redding,
Ike & Tina Turner, and
Sam Cooke are all prominent influences. When this CD came out, one reviewer compared
Hugh's phrasing to that of
the Isley Brothers'
Ronald Isley -- which isn't a bad comparison because
Cooke was a major influence on
Isley. And even if
Isley isn't a direct influence on this album, there is no denying that
Isley and
Hugh have a mutual influence in
Cooke. But whoever
Hugh is compared to, he's a talented artist in his own right. And while
Road to Freedom falls short of perfect, it is generally rewarding and is arguably the singer/songwriter's best release.