Customer Reviews
One of my all-time favorites!
I once had this on vinyl. I've always loved the title track, so sensual, so sexy. And it's been so long since I've heard the album in its entirety, many of the songs seem new to me.
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Not his usual stuff
Back in the 70's, this was definitely a giant step for QJ, moving from his Jazz sound to the heart of commercial Soul; and who knows or feel music better than QJ? The result is a soul album yet based from all the Jazz sound QJ feels.
Released in 1974, this album did not age a single day; on the contrary, in today's fast life, if you are not in a Jazzy mood nor in the R&B or soul mood, this album would perfectly fit on your CD player, because it is not really Jazz, Soul or R&B, yet it has all these sounds well mixed and tuned into each other.
Last and not least, if you enjoy this album, make sure to check the followings:
The Brothers Johnson; Look out for # 1 (produced and arranged a year later by Mr. Jones with the same feel as `Body heat")
War: the world is a ghetto
Roy Ayers: Mystic Voyage
Enjoy
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Superb
Quincy Jones translates to "genius" in my opinion. A perfect example of how Jones is a revolutionary in the music industry. From seductive jazz-pop in "Body Heat" to moody conscience songs in "Everything Must Change" to funky jazz in "One Track Mind" (my favorite), this album ranks among Quincy's best, and that's a tough goal to achieve.
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Quincy At A Potent Juncture
It has taken me a very long time to fully appreciate how wonderful this album is!In the early 1970's Quincy Jones was beginning to retool his sound to accomadate more rhythmic elements replacing his swinging big band sound.And on 'Body Heat' he completed his conversion.Plain and simple.No particular song stands out but it's certainly the marking of a new and funkier era in Q's sound!
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Beautiful vocals & fine arrangements...
This whole album always sounded like a conceptual soundtrack or score for a stage production. I always visualised Arthur Murray or Martha Graham arranging a dance project to go with this album. The arrangements are superb on every track...the lyrics of the songs are beautifully phrased. I first heard this album back in 1976 and was impressed by the tremendously emotional vocals of Bernard Ighner on the track "Everything Must Change' (very much like Billy Eckstines baritone voice). The vocals on this song give way to a hauntingly clandestine mute trumpet solo, a la Miles Davis. The result is an ultimately 'cool' laidback idyllic journey which carries you away from all your troubles! The song "Just a Man" is very similar in it's effect. This song is strongly gospel inflected with some stunning harmonies.
This c.d has the best ever version of this song.(I realise that George Benson later covered the song as did Randy Crawford.) The other track that blew me away was the stunning version of "If I Ever Lose This Heaven"...Minnie Riperton was at her best on this track. (her untimely death still leaves a huge void in the music world ). The arrangements ,again,are wonderful especially on the Benny Golson song "Along came Betty"
All in all this c.d . has everything on it, from low down 'n' dirty funk( as on "Boogie Joe, The Grinder") to cool soulful jazz and even when I play it today I find it still hasn't lost any of its excitement or feeling from 1974!
It is , however, a very short recording but as they say, good things do come in small packages!
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