| Radio M.U.S.C. Man | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|  | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1985 | |||
| Genre | Soul, pop | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Womack & Womack chronology | ||||
| 
 | ||||
Radio M.U.S.C. Man is an album by the American soul duo Womack & Womack, released in 1985.[1][2] The pair were dropped by Elektra Records shortly after the release of the album.[3]
The album peaked at No. 56 on the UK Albums Chart.[4]
Production
The album contains a cover of George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun".[5] The composition of the album's sixth track, "Love's Calling", was started by the soul singer Sam Cooke (the father of Linda Womack).[6] Many members of the Womack family contributed to the making of Radio M.U.S.C. Man.[7]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating | 
| AllMusic |      [8] | 
| Robert Christgau | B+[9] | 
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |      [10] | 
| The Philadelphia Inquirer |     [11] | 
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |      [12] | 
Robert Christgau praised the "relaxed groove and wavering back-porch harmonies that go into their unique sound—lazy, tender, patient, long-suffering, tired of fighting."[9] Billboard wrote that the album "showcased this couple's extraordinary writing skills and enticing vocal interplay."[3] The Gazette called the album "brave and beautiful," writing that the duo "make the sweetest music in the whole world, propelled by effortless, hip-deep dance grooves, ballads to swoon over, and vocals—duets!—that make you wonder how this wonderful music ever went out of style."[13]
The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed it "excellent," praising how "Linda's smokily ethereal tenor rubs against the rough edges of Cecil's craggy baritone."[14] The Washington Post wrote that the Womacks "[tear] apart all the conflicts, temptations, betrayals and insecurities of marriage, swapping lines, verses and songs, always espousing two clear points of view in danceable, classic soul style."[15]
NME listed Radio M.U.S.C. Man as the 34th best album of 1985.[16]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length | 
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No Relief" | 4:27 | 
| 2. | "Maze" | 5:52 | 
| 3. | "Night Rider" | 4:58 | 
| 4. | "Eyes" | 4:13 | 
| 5. | "Radio M.U.S.C. Man" | 4:10 | 
| 6. | "Love's Calling" | 5:48 | 
| 7. | "Strange and Funny" | 4:30 | 
| 8. | "Romeo & Juliet (Where Are You?)" | 5:37 | 
| 9. | "Here Comes the Sun" | 3:06 | 
Personnel
- Cecil Womack - vocals
- Linda Womack - vocals
References
- ↑ "Womack & Womack | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ↑ "Cecil Womack obituary". the Guardian. February 5, 2013.
- 1 2 "One writer's picks for the best of '85". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. January 11, 1986 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Womack & Womack | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
- ↑ Lee, John (13 Jul 1985). "Reviews". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. p. 13.
- ↑ George, Nelson (Jun 29, 1985). "'New' Sam Cooke Songs on the Way". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 26. p. 48.
- ↑ Swenson, John (Oct 1985). "Spins". Spin. Vol. 1, no. 6. p. 31.
- ↑ "Radio M.U.S.C. Man - Womack & Womack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- 1 2 "Robert Christgau: CG: Womack". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 750.
- ↑ Davis, Francis; Lloyd, Jack (28 June 1985). "Albums". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F28.
- ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 783.
- ↑ Griffin, John (18 July 1985). "Womacks' soul says something". The Gazette. p. D3.
- ↑ Tucker, Ken (7 July 1985). "In Dell Concerts, a Sense of Purpose". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D1.
- ↑ "One More Time: The Top Pop of '85". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ↑ "NME's best albums and tracks of 1985". NME. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2021.