Sister Sledge Bet Cha Say That To All The Girls CD

Personnel: Al Jarreau (rap vocals); Michael Sembello, Peter Rafelson, Charles Fearing (guitar); Dorothy Remsen (harp); Gerald Vinci, Assa Drori, George Kast, Joy Lyle, Reg Hill, Robert Sushel, Brenton Banks (violin); David Schwartz, Rollice Dale, Allan Harshman, Samuel Boghossian (viola); Frederick Seykora (cello); Larry Andrew Williams (flute, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Ronnie Laws (soprano saxophone); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Lou McCreary (trombone, bass trombone); George Duke (keyboards, drum machine); Ricky Lawson (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).
With veteran jazzman-turned-funker George Duke at the production helm and a plethora of well-known musicians -- including Al Jarreau, Michael Sembello, and Jeffrey Osborne -- arrayed behind them, a late-in-the-day Sister Sledge released Bet Cha Say That to All the Girls to moderate success in 1983. While the band's blend of light urban dance was certainly urbane, the sisters were well past the days of the powerhouse R&B diva posturing that brought them to the top of the charts in the 1970s. Sister Sledge was instead bent on bright pop. Leading with the strong charting single "B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Baby)," the rest of Bet Cha Say That to All the Girls unreeled in much the same manner. The superb harmonies and lush strings and horns swing from smooth R&B to light funk and back to classic mainstream pop with ease, as the beautiful ballad "Once in Your Life" and the funky closer "Thank You for the Party," as well as the title track, emerge as the album's real highlights. With perhaps a little too much emphasis placed on a light, bright sound which ultimately sacrifices substance, it's no surprise that this set foundered. Too much sugar can spoil even the sweetest dessert. ~ Amy Hanson