What do you all think of this album?
Are there any decent songs besides the title track?

The best song on there is Who's Holding Donna Now. I really don't like the title track. You Wear It Well is a so-so uptempo number. Share My World is pretty (Bunny sings lead); The Heart Is Not So Smart is typical Diane Warren crap. Not a bad album, but you're better off with...

Thank you I`m crazy about the title track, i have to check out the other songs too, and the "In a special way" album

Icicle said:

I'm partial to their slow numbers; I think they've aged better than their dance tunes. That's why I prefer In a Special Way, but they both have good songs.

I much prefer All This Love (1982) and In a Special Way (1983).

Anyone heard that first album The Debarges (1981)?

I absloutly LOATH DeBarge,,,,that nasal voice irks the living hell outta my skin

Harlepolis said:

lol, whose nasal voice?

Harlepolis said:

You don`t even like the song "Rhythm of the night"?

Icicle said:

That shit is the reason why I hate 'em

Icicle said:

I sure don't but that's because I OD'd on it in the 80s.

Harlepolis said:

If that's what you're most familiar with, I'd not like them either. But you like a lot of 80s R&B, so maybe if you're not familiar with their ballads you might give them a go. They had some pretty tunes even if (I agree with you) their voices are nasally.

I often hear "Rhythm Of The Night" played on the speakers when I'm grocery shoppin'. Reminds me to buy cheese.

TommyRoss said:

Chile, they were over-played in my bedroom(blame it to my older sis) I'm probably MORE fimiliar about DeBarge than ya'll (which is the reason behind the resentment).

I`m suprised, for some reason, i was sure just about everyone on the org loved the song

Icicle said:

No! I really do not like it. Love them, never need to hear that one...ever...again.

I dig I Like It but other than that, I'm not too fond of their material

Love the song dont own the album). Diane Warren wrote that one. She wrote a similer sounding song to that called "lighting up the night" for jack wagner.

This is the one DeBarge album that I don't like.Their two previous albums were warm,soulful and very inspired (the song "All This Love" is the best track they ever did,imo).But by the mid-80s,their sound completely changed.'Rhythm of The Night' is a glossy,generic,synth-heavy production....and much more pop-sounding.It was the beginning of the end for them.The title track is one of the most annoying songs of the 80s.


Skip this album,and pick up 'All This Love' and 'In A Special Way' instead.Those albums are superior.

TommyRoss said:

Yeah,this is their best album overall."Time Will Reveal" is just heavenly,and so is "Stay With Me","Love Me In A Special Way" and "A Dream".The songs are lush and soulful.Too bad they didn't stick with this sound,at least for one more album,instead of jumping on the synth-heavy pop bandwagon.

SoulAlive said:

Yeah, you can hear at least four songs that hit the pop chart in the last ten years or so just with Stay With Me and A Dream.

A Dream was sampled by both Tupac (I Ain't Mad at Ya) and Blackstreet (Don't Leave Me), and Stay With Me was sampled by Ashanti (Foolish) and Notorious BIG (One More Chance).

TommyRoss said:

Oh yeah.It's funny how some artists can launch an entire career by sampling an old Debarge track,lol.

If he didnt get hooked up on drugs they would have been huge!

SoulAlive said:

Motown did a heavy push to make El DeBarge a pop solo singer, along the lines of Michael Jackson and then-labelmate Lionel Richie. 1985's "Rhythm of the Night" was the initial push in this direction, continuing on with El's first solo album in 1986.

I liked "Who's Johnny" in the 80s, and I can still stand to hear it, unlike "Rhythm Of The Night"

Najee said:

That's correct.I think El could have been a superstar,but unfortunately,his solo records were inconsistent,containing alot of weak material.Could you imagine what would have happened if they had sent him into the studio with Quincy Jones? That's what he needed....a really good producer who could bring out the best in him.As it stands,only a few of his solo hits were truly inspired ("Love Always","Someone" and "Broken Dreams" are great songs).

CinisterCee said:

YEah Cin, I saw the 1981 album in a used record shop this summer. I started to buy it because it's so rare. Most people think thier first album was All This Love.

CinisterCee said:

OOOHHHHH let's NOT start on that on. Since my first name Johnny, everybody and their mama in my neighborhood use to sing that song to me. I had to be 4 when it came out and yeah I liked the song.