The Changing of the Gard was an appropriate title for
Stargard's third album because it was, in some respects, a departure from the female trio's two previous albums. With this LP,
Stargard switched from
MCA to Warner Bros. -- and while
Stargard and What You Waitin' For were both produced by
Mark Davis,
The Changing of the Gard found
Rochelle Runnells,
Debra Anderson, and Janice Williams working with Robert Wright and
Earth, Wind & Fire's
Verdine White. So, not surprisingly,
Stargard becomes a bit more
Earth, Wind & Fire-ish at times, and the Wright/
White team gives the group a sleeker sound on gems like "Take Me Back," the ballad "(Once in a Lifetime) Dream Come True," and the exuberant single "Wear It Out." But
Stargard still has plenty of grit and passion; like
EWF's 1970s recordings,
The Changing of the Gard manages to sound polished and gritty at the same time. Those who expect
Stargard to provide uninhibited, extroverted party jams won't be disappointed by "Footstompin' Music," "Put on Your Rollerskates," and other funk smokers. Now for the bad news: this LP didn't do nearly as well as it should have. While
The Changing of the Gard is full of pearls that deserved to be major hits, this record didn't receive as much attention as
Stargard's two previous albums. It goes without saying that justice doesn't always prevail in the music world, and
The Changing of the Gard is a perfect example of a fine album being a commercial disappointment. ~ Alex Henderson