Wikipedia

Radio M.U.S.C. Man

Radio M.U.S.C. Man is an album by the American soul duo Womack & Womack, released in 1985.[1][2] The pair were dropped by Elektra Records shortly after the release of the album.[3]

Radio M.U.S.C. Man
Studio album by
Womack & Womack
Released1985
GenreSoul, pop
LabelElektra
Womack & Womack chronology
Love Wars
(1983) 		Radio M.U.S.C. Man
(1985) 		Starbright
(1986)

The album peaked at No. 56 on the UK Albums Chart.[4]

Production

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The album contains a cover of George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun".[5] The composition of the album's sixth track, "Love's Calling", was started by the soul singer Sam Cooke (the father of Linda Womack).[6] Many members of the Womack family contributed to the making of Radio M.U.S.C. Man.[7]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [8]
Robert ChristgauB+[9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [10]
The Philadelphia Inquirer    [11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [12]

Robert Christgau praised the "relaxed groove and wavering back-porch harmonies that go into their unique sound—lazy, tender, patient, long-suffering, tired of fighting."[9] Billboard wrote that the album "showcased this couple's extraordinary writing skills and enticing vocal interplay."[3] The Gazette called the album "brave and beautiful," writing that the duo "make the sweetest music in the whole world, propelled by effortless, hip-deep dance grooves, ballads to swoon over, and vocals—duets!—that make you wonder how this wonderful music ever went out of style."[13]

The Philadelphia Inquirer deemed it "excellent," praising how "Linda's smokily ethereal tenor rubs against the rough edges of Cecil's craggy baritone."[14] The Washington Post wrote that the Womacks "[tear] apart all the conflicts, temptations, betrayals and insecurities of marriage, swapping lines, verses and songs, always espousing two clear points of view in danceable, classic soul style."[15]

NME listed Radio M.U.S.C. Man as the 34th best album of 1985.[16]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."No Relief"4:27
2."Maze"5:52
3."Night Rider"4:58
4."Eyes"4:13
5."Radio M.U.S.C. Man"4:10
6."Love's Calling"5:48
7."Strange and Funny"4:30
8."Romeo & Juliet (Where Are You?)"5:37
9."Here Comes the Sun"3:06

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ "Womack & Womack | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Cecil Womack obituary". the Guardian. February 5, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "One writer's picks for the best of '85". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. January 11, 1986 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Womack & Womack | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  5. ^ Lee, John (13 Jul 1985). "Reviews". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. p. 13.
  6. ^ George, Nelson (Jun 29, 1985). "'New' Sam Cooke Songs on the Way". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 26. p. 48.
  7. ^ Swenson, John (Oct 1985). "Spins". Spin. Vol. 1, no. 6. p. 31.
  8. ^ "Radio M.U.S.C. Man - Womack & Womack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  9. ^ a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Womack". www.robertchristgau.com.
  10. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 750.
  11. ^ Davis, Francis; Lloyd, Jack (28 June 1985). "Albums". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F28.
  12. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 783.
  13. ^ Griffin, John (18 July 1985). "Womacks' soul says something". The Gazette. p. D3.
  14. ^ Tucker, Ken (7 July 1985). "In Dell Concerts, a Sense of Purpose". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D1.
  15. ^ "One More Time: The Top Pop of '85". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  16. ^ "NME's best albums and tracks of 1985". NME. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
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