This 1977 effort continues their hitmaking streak of one of fusion and R&B's durable and respected units. While this album's predecessor, Back to Back, was credited to the Brecker Brothers Band and featured members including David Sanborn and Steve Khan, it came off as underdone and facile. Don't Stop the Music does present their gifts in a more cogent fashion, but not without a few odd detours. The title track and "Finger Licking Good" are pure disco efforts, with pushy rhythms and ingratiating backing vocals. Although they are both a little silly, they have great horn riffs and boast a potent production. Despite those danceable offerings, Don't Stop the Music also features some of the brothers' most challenging work. The funky and quirky "Squids" features Randy Brecker's customarily offbeat and singular electric trumpet work. Hiram Bullock's articulate guitar also shines on that track and he fit into the Breckers sound like no other player. "Funky Sea, Funky Dew" is a reflective, urbane mid-tempo offering that has great tenor solos from Michael Brecker. The just-as-strong "Petals" features a poignant trumpet work from Randy Brecker. Don't Stop the Music enlists rock producer Jack Richardson, and he and co-producer Steve Backer both capture the more powerful aspects of the duo. Recorded at Atlantic Studios and engineered by Gene Paul, Don't Stop the Music boasts an interesting sound, and is one of the Brecker Brothers' better efforts.
by Jason Elias
Tracklist:
1
Finger Lickin' Good 3:58
Lyrics By – Ticky Brecker
Written-By – Randy Brecker
2
Funky Sea,Funky Dew 6:13
Written-By – Michael Brecker
3
As Long As I've Got Your Love 4:14
Written-By – Beverly Billard, Doug Billard
4
Squids 7:42
Written-By – Randy Brecker
5
Don't Stop The Music 6:30
Written-By – Jerry Friedman
6
Petals 4:20
Written-By – Randy Brecker
7
Tabula Rasa 8:19
Written-By – Randy Brecker
Credits:
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax] – Lou Marini
Arranged By [Horns And Strings] – Doug Riley
Backing Vocals – Beverly Billard
(tracks: 3), Christine Faith, Doug Billard
(tracks: 3), Josh Brown, Robin Clark, Will Lee
Baritone Saxophone [Baritone Sax] – Lew Del Gatto
Bass – Will Lee
Bass Trombone – David Taylor
Cello – Jesse Levy, Richard Locker
Concertmaster – Gene Orloff
Congas – Sammy Figueroa
(tracks: 7)
Drums – Chris Parker
(tracks: 1 to 3, 5), Lenny White
(tracks: 7), Steve Gadd
(tracks: 4, 6)
Electric Guitar, Electric Guitar [Electric 12 String Guitar] – Steve Khan
Electric Piano – Jerry Friedman
(tracks: 5)
Guitar – Hiram Bullock
(tracks: 2 to 4, 6), Jerry Friedman
(tracks: 1), Sandy Torano
(tracks: 1, 3)
Keyboards – Don Grolnick, Doug Riley
Percussion – Ralph MacDonald
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Flute – Michael Brecker
Trombone – Barry Rogers
Trumpet – Alan Rubin
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Trumpet [Electric Trumpet] – Randy Brecker
Viola – Alfred Brown, Lamar Alsop, Richard Maximoff
Violin – Aaron Rosand, Ariana Bronne, Guy Lumia, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, Matthew Raimondi, Paul Gershman, Peter Dimitriades, Sanford Allen
Composed By – Tchaikovsky
