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6 Degrees Entertainment

Title - Object Of My Desire: Elektra Recordings 1983-1990
Artist - Starpoint

Built around the nucleus of the four Maryland-based Phillips brothers – Ernesto, George, Orlando and Greg – the group became Starpoint in 1980 with the addition of gifted Nigerian bassist Kayode Adeyemo and dynamic lead vocalist Renée Diggs, who!s five-octave range is a wonder of Whitney-like proportions.

They hit big with the electro-funk dancefloor juggernaut Don’t Be So Serious in 1983, which lead to the band signing to Elektra. Their most-lucrative period followed, including the massive crossover success of 1985 album Restless co-produced by Billy Ocean hitmaker Keith Diamond – featuring the hits Object Of My Desire! and What You Been Missin’.

Other key hits that followed include the feisty pop-funk top 10 R&B hit He Wants My Bod, co- produced by Preston Glass (Aretha/Whitney) and slamming top 10 dance smash I Want You – You Want Me produced by New Jack Swing superstar Teddy Riley (Bobby Brown/Michael Jackson).

This six-disc set, Object Of My Desire: Elektra Recordings (1983-1990) (releasing December 9th, 2022 via Cherry Red Records, UK), beautifully showcases the stellar funk and soul recordings of underrated ’80s R&B stalwarts Starpoint – a group who thrillingly navigated their way through an ever-changing R&B landscape of the decade from post-disco electro-funk to searing power ballads and hip- hop-driven New Jack Swing.

CD 1: It’s So Delicious (Expanded)
1. Don’t Be So Serious
2. Put Your Love On Me
3. Somethin’ In Your Eyes
4. It’s So Delicious
5. Behind Your Back
6. Give Real Love A Try
7. I’m So Crazy ‘Bout You
8. I Got The Love
9. Let Go
10. Don’t Be So Serious (Short Version) [Bonus Track]
11. It’s So Delicious (Dance Mix Edit) [Bonus Track]
12. Let Go (Edited Version) [Bonus Track]
13. It’s So Delicious (Dance Mix) [Bonus Track]
14. It’s So Delicious (Instrumental Dub) [Bonus Track]

This lavish 6CD box set showcasing the entire Elektra Records catalogue of ’80s electro-funk/R&B titans Starpoint opens with their 1983 album It’s So Delicious, to my mind, one of Starpoint’s better album efforts.

OK, sure, there’s no real killer dancefloor track, but the general high standard is pretty consistent throughout, and opens on the titular Don’t Be So Serious (No 14 U.S R&B), which is much like a jittery rendition of Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough, to be fair.

An obvious departure from the bands earlier more gritty and funky Wanting You and Bring Your Sweet Lovin’ Back style of music, it still works well and grows on you the more you hear it, although my own personal favorite here is the power ballad Somethin’ In Your Eyes. While lyrically a little cheesy, Renée Diggs’ vocals will just blow you away!

Elsewhere, Behind Your Back is a good track and perhaps more typical of the band, another jittery dancer in Give Real Love A Try, a male-sung ballad, I Got The Love, which is also a nice mid-tempo song in the vein of All Night Long, and Let Go, a funky, but rocky workout.

CD 2: It’s All Yours (Expanded)
1. It’s All Yours
2. Am I Still The One
3. Satisfy Me Lover
4. Send Me A Letter
5. Breakout
6. This Is So Right
7. Use Me
8. Always On My Mind
9. Breakout (Edit Version) [Bonus Track]
10. Am I Still The One (Edit Version) [Bonus Track]

One of the more underrated albums from Starpoint, for they were, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the ’80s best bands for groovy, funky R&B, 1984’s It’s All Yours features some of the group’s best work, including the throbbing, pulsating workout Breakout, and the bouncy, energetic Satisfy Me Lover.

In truth, as a vocalist, Diggs was just so underappreciated for the quality of her voice and the range she displayed on their music. This is a band that is sorely missed, even today, and not just by me, trust me on that!

While the band’s earlier albums, especially 1980’s Keep On It were more funk than R&B, vocalist Diggs brought the R&B elements to the forefront with her powerful vocals which had both presence and sophistication, coupled with perfect pitch and fantastic tone.

CD 3: Restless (Expanded)
1. Object Of My Desire
2. One More Night
3. Emotions
4. See The Light
5. Till The End Of Time
6. Don’t Take Your Love Away
7. Restless
8. What You Been Missin’
9. Object Of My Desire (Vocal/ Edit) [Bonus Track]
10. What You Been Missin’ (Vocal / Edit) [Bonus Track]
11. Restless (Vocal / Edit Of Remixed Version) [Bonus Track]
12. Till The End Of Time (Vocal / Edit) [Bonus Track]
13. Object Of My Desire (Vocal / 12” Version) [Bonus Track]
14. What You Been Missin’ (Vocal / Male Version) [Bonus Track]
15. Restless (Vocal / Extended Remixed Version) [Bonus Track]
16. Object Of My Desire (Instrumental) [Bonus Track]
17. Restless (Dub Version) [Bonus Track]

1985’s Restless by Starpoint is a great album and the energy it emits is timeless and thus the self-contained sextet from Baltimore, MD. come with a balanced effort, for sure.

The lead single release was the Top Ten hit Object of My Desire. With its imaginative lyrics and catchy hook, Diggs’ urgent, emotional vocal delivery is augmented by a pulsating bass line and intriguing arrangement. The single peaked at number eight on the Billboard R&B charts after 22 weeks. (Interestingly enough, this was also the group’s highest charting single).

The follow-up single was the rock-layered What You Been Missin’ which was introduced with a monologue by Diggs, one where she vehemently chants her way through the verses before bowing to Kayode Adeyemo’s vocals. Prince’s influence is written all over this number.

The devoutly written number Til the End of Time serenely drifts from one verse to the next and even though it was jam-packed with its crossover appeal and soulful tone, the single charted at #64 and wickedly did not even place on the pop charts.

CD 4: Sensational (Expanded)
1. He Wants My Body
2. D.Y.B.O.
3. Prove It Tonight
4. Sensational
5. Another Night
6. The More We Love
7. Touch Of Your Love
8. Second Chance
9. He Wants My Body (Vocal/ Edit) [Bonus Track]
10. D.Y.B.O. (Vocal / Edit) [Bonus Track]
11. The More We Love (Vocal/ Edited Version) [Bonus Track]
12. He Wants My Body (Vocal/ Extended Remix) [Bonus Track]
13. Another Night (Dub Version) [Bonus Track]
14. Touch Of Your Love (Vocal / Extended Remix) [Bonus Track]

Starpoint’s third Elektra album, 1987’s Sensational (produced by renowned music man/songwriter Preston Glass and Job) continued the momentum with He Wants My Body and D.Y.B.O, but sadly, Diggs’ diagnosis with multiple sclerosis immensely impacted the band and although they continued touring, in 1990, Starpoint disbanded.

As for the music on the album, they obviously took some cues from the Purple one by moving their electro-funk into a ruder direction with He Wants My Body (actually cleverer than that looks written down, a bit of a smart send up-of sexists) and D.Y.B.O. (Dance Your Butt Off) leading the charge.

In fact, when this record was released in 1987 it was as good an example of exactly where Funk was at the time as any, both stylistically and aurally: big hair and shoulder pads!

CD 5: Hot To The Touch (Expanded)
1. Fresh Start
2. One Step Closer To Your Love
3. Tough Act To Follow
4. Say You Will
5. Hot To The Touch
6. Swept Away
7. After All Is Said And Done
8. Heart Attack
9. Park It
10. Say You Will (Edit Of LP Version) [Bonus Track]
11. Tough Act To Follow (Edit Of LP Version) [Bonus Track]
12. Say You Will (Extended Version) [Bonus Track]
13. Fresh Start (Extended Version) [Bonus Track]
14. One Step Closer To Your Love (Extended Version) [Bonus Track]
15. Say You Will (Instrumental) [Bonus Track]

Their 1988 album Hot To Touch starts with a fast groovy pop song in the form of Fresh Start and continues gleefully onward with a wonderfully groovy One Step Closer, Say You Will, the titular Hot To The Touch and an absolute, slam dunk number one (although, it wasn’t, of course), the catchy Swept Away.

There are only a few ballads and slow songs here, but they work, nonetheless, such as Tough Act To Follow and After All Is Said And Done, but if you came for a groovy time, there are more of those than slow music, so you’ll be just fine!

CD 6: Have You Got What It Takes (Expanded)
1. I Want You – You Want Me
2. Your Lover
3. Midnight Love
4. Have You Got What It Takes
5. When They Love You Back
6. I Don’t Need Another
7. Step By Step
8. True Love
9. I Want You – You Want Me (Edit Version) [Bonus Track]
10. Midnight Love (Edit Version) [Bonus Track]
11. I Want You – You Want Me (Extended Version) [Bonus Track]
12. I Want You – You Want Me (Teddy’s House Mix) [Bonus Track]
13. I Want You – You Want Me (Def House Mix) [Bonus Track]
14. I Want You – You Want Me (Red Zone Mix) [Bonus Track]

On their 1990 album Have You Got What It Takes, produced by the brilliant Teddy Riley, the always-impressive vocals of Diggs are a lasting testament of just how damn good together they were.

Truly, for Diggs is simply amazing here throughout, her vocals spot on perfect, especially on tracks such as the opening combo of I Want You - You Want Me and Your Lover. But the title track, Have You Got What It Takes is by far the best song on the album, for not only is it beautifully crafted with a vein of New Jack flavor, but everyone comes together in perfect harmony.

Featuring 84 tracks, this first-of-its-kind box set spans all six of the group!s Elektra-released albums, including a massive 34 bonus tracks including rare edits, extended versions and more – many appearing for the first time on CD!

It also includes ten US top 40 R&B hits, including the crossover smash Object Of My Desire – a streaming sensation after being showcased in hit Netflix series Stranger Things 4.

Official 6CD Purchase Link

www.cherryred.co.uk





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