Pristinely recorded at Philadelphia's legendary
Sigma Sound Studios
and initially issued in April 1982,
Keni Burke
's second
RCA
LP,
Changes
, yielded the classic
"Risin' to the Top."
A favorite among both the steppers and hip-hop crowd, it was written by
Burke
,
Allan Felder
, and former
Chic
member
Norma Jean Wright
. It's on numerous compilations including
Rhino
's
Smooth Grooves After Hours
issued in January 2000. The track has been sampled by numerous artists including
Mary J. Blige
(
"Love No Limit"
) and
Doug E. Fresh
"Keep Risin' to the Top"
) .Other highlights are the crucially chuggin'
"Shakin',"
the mid-tempo ballad
"One Minute More"
(another steppers favorite), and the sparse, floating sl-o-o-w jam
"Who Do You Love."
, keyboardist
Dean Gant
Average White Band
drummer
Steve Ferrone
were quite a rhythm section.
was issued on CD by
/
BMG
with two bonus tracks from
You're the Best
and reissued by
Japan on both CD and vinyl in 1995.
's next album was 1998's
Nothing but Love
. ~ Ed Hogan