After providing three LPs for Prelude,
France Joli made her major-label debut when she recorded her fourth album,
Attitude, for Epic in 1983. This LP signaled a major change of direction for the French-Canadian singer, who was best known for disco and R&B/pop during her Prestige years but emphasizes pop/rock and Europop on
Attitude. If you notice that much of the record has a European flavor, it's no coincidence.
Attitude was produced by Pete Bellotte, who is best known for his Euro-disco work with
Donna Summer -- and the executive producer is Bellotte's German colleague
Giorgio Moroder. Further, Richie Zito (who co-produced
Berlin's "No More Words" with
Moroder and is no stranger to Euro beats) is employed as an arranger, guitarist, and keyboardist. People who were expecting another "Come to Me" or "Gonna Get Over You" from
Joli were disappointed; however, those who were open to hearing her exploring pop/rock and Europop found a lot to admire about infectious tracks like "Dumb Blonde," "Mad About the Boy," and "Girl in the '80s." The closest
Joli gets to R&B on this album is an inspired remake of
the Four Tops' "Standing in the Shadows of Love," which employs the Pips as background vocalists. So instead of
Gladys Knight & the Pips, you get "
France Joli & the Pips." Unfortunately,
Attitude wasn't the mega-hit it should have been, but that doesn't make the LP any less appealing. ~ Alex Henderson