Deodato Love Island CD

1978's Love Island found Deodato in pretty much the same space he'd been for much of the decade, concocting his own ineffable brew of fusion and funky disco, with the help of friends and cover songs along the way. Love Island finds him unleashing yet another passel of songs which are all pleasant to the ear, if not completely fresh -- what makes it most interesting is that it could almost be considered a concept album, every song title apparently revolving around jungle tropics, warm winds, sandy beaches, and, more likely than not, a few beauties bearing cocktails to complete the picture. The album kicks off with "Area Code 808," which places the initial action in Hawaii, a twitchy extended fusion revolving around quite a nice funk bassline. The remainder of the set carries on from there, with the groove ebbing and flowing from the punchy "Whistle Bump" to the pleasant and decidedly mellow strains of "San Juan Hut," and on to the title track. It is unfortunate hindsight alone, and no fault whatsoever of Deodato's, that it conjures up nothing so much as scenes from The Love Boat. Damn pop culture. Also of note is "Tahiti Hut," co-written by Deodato and Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White, and buoyed by guest appearances by three more EW&F members: Verdine White, Freddie White, and the percussive genius of Philip Bailey. A pleasing piece of easy listening, Love Island probably won't thrill the pants off anyone but the most rabid fan. By this late in the decade, one had kind of heard it all before. But if you should need to hear it all again, Love Island sounds great when the sun is shining. ~ Amy Hanson

Liner Note Author: Garth Cartwright.

Recording information: Capitol Recording, CA; Hollywood Sound, CA; House Of Music, NJ; Media Sound, NY; Warner Bros. Recording Studios, CA.

Photographer: Claude Mougin.

Arranger: Deodato.

Personnel: Deodato (vocals, whistling, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, congas, percussion); Deodato (whistle); Erica Norimar (vocals); George Parrish, Jr., George Parrish, Ray Gomez (guitar); Paul Winter , Stanley Pollock, Charles Lisbove, Tony Posk, Michael Comins, Sandra Billingslea, Michael Spivakowsky, Paul Winter Consort, Jesse Levy, Charles McCracken, Max Pollikoff, Richard Sortomme, Selwart Clarke, Kermit Moore, Irving Spice (violin, cello); Victor Feldman, Charlie Conrad (strings, flute, horns, percussion); Romeo Penque (flute, wind); Wally Kane, Walter Kane, Joel Kaye (flute); John Gatchell, Randy Brecker, Bob Millikan (trumpet); Brooks Tillotson (French horn, horns); James Buffington (French horn); Sam Burtis, Wayne Andre, Gerry Chamberlain (trombone); Toni Price (tuba); Bill Buffington (horns); Gordon Edwards, Verdine White, Pops Popwell (bass instrument); Fred White (drums); Larry Carlton (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); George Benson , John Tropea, Al McKay (guitar); Philip Bailey, Ray Armando, Jimmy Maelen (strings, flute, horns, percussion); Freddie White, Harvey Mason, Sr. , Rick Marotta, Joe Correro (drums).

Audio Mixers: Jeffrey Kawalek; Al Schmitt.