One of the most important contributions The Pointer Sisters made to the world of female trios in their time was their ability to be diverse and somehow make it all sound as if it were one distinctive sound that was theirs. And manage to do it with just about every album.

Richard Perry kept that tradition going starting with the hard rocking Energy and Priority at the closing of the 70's and their turn to a blockbuster pop/soul act with Special Things the year before this.

On this album, Black & White the Pointer Sisters really hit their stride though with an album that was that has everything and, in my humble opinion is one of the prime pop albums of that year.

The first track 'Sweet Lover Man' says it all about why I love these ladies so much. It's, of course, this upbeat mixture of Latin funk, pop, gospel harmonies and one huge surreal and dreamy melodic structure. The powerful yet understated vocals of the late June Pointer on the song is one of the big reasons for this effect.

There are the usual assortment of covers, all of them hits that got this album on the charts. Such as the 80's pop-country of 'Slow Hand' and the retro 60's feel of both 'Someday We'll Be Together' and 'Should I Do It.'

And so with Black & White having now been digitally remastered and expanded it also brings us more of the R&B icons. It now features three bonus tracks - including a track that was removed from the LP just before its release! The liner notes feature brand new interviews with Anita Pointer, Ruth Pointer, Richard Perry and David Foster amongst others.

As well as being a gold selling album in the U.S. Black And White succeeded all over the world and became the group’s first U.K. hit album reaching #21 for a three month stint in the autumn of 1981.

1. Sweet Lover Man
2. Someday We'll Be Together
3. Take My Heart, Take My Soul
4. Slow Hand
5. We're Gonna Make It
6. What A Surprise
7. Got To Find Love
8. Fall In Love Again
9. Should I Do It
10. Holdin' Out For Love
11. What A Surprise (Edited Version)
12. Someday We'll Be Together (Edited Version)

CD Purchase Link