Released in 1981,
Show Time was the last album that
Steve Arrington recorded with
Slave. The singer/drummer had been a valuable part of the Dayton funk combo, providing lead vocals on such hits as "Watching You" and "Just a Touch of Love." So you can say that
Show Time (which was produced by Jimmy Douglass) was the end of an era for
Slave. Creatively, the band was on quite a roll during its
Arrington era, and those who had savored 1979's
Just a Touch of Love and 1980's
Stone Jam found this LP to be equally strong. From "Smokin'" and "Funken Town" to the single "Snap Shot,"
Show Time proved to be a consistently rewarding addition to
Slave's catalog. All of the tracks are immediately recognizable as
Slave offerings; during its
Arrington period,
Slave favored a very distinctive style of funk that was sleek and gritty at the same time. And even though
Arrington wasn't an original member -- he didn't start recording with the band until its third album,
The Concept -- he was a main ingredient of the
Slave sound from 1978-1981.
Show Time is recommended to funk addicts without hesitation. ~ Alex Henderson