Charles Fox has funkified his arrangements enough to make Lori Lieberman's new album her best to date. Lori's voice remains technically astonishing and affecting in a way that doesn't mean she's naive. Her long association with writers Fox and Norman Gimbel has provided her with fine songs and lavish encouragement though her singing, for all its independence, risks turning precious if these Hollywood heavies don't ease up even more than they have here. Fox's tendency to sweeten everything in sight still leaves room for flocks of swinging ensemble ideas, though often too many to keep the groove on its simple course.
Rocking tunes like "The World is Turning" and "What's It Got to Do With Music" share the intricate musicianship that makes the ballads more than just a showcase for Lori's husky voice. "I Got a Name" (the Fox and Gimbel song that was a hit for Jim Croce) wins the top nod all around.
Originally published in Crawdaddy, September, 1974
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