説明
Keni Burke の代表作 Changes は、“Risin’ To The Top” の存在だけでも手元に置きたくなる1枚だ。穏やかに立ち上がるベースラインとスロウに流れるグルーヴは、ソウル～ヒップホップの歴史に深く刻まれた。だが、このアルバムの魅力は決してその1曲にとどまらない。
RCA から発表されたオリジナル盤は入手が難しいことで知られ、80年代初期の洗練されたソウル／モダン・ファンクを象徴する作品として支持され続けている。
Keni Burke は Curtis Mayfield に見出され、Five Stairsteps のメンバーとして活動した後、ベーシスト／ソングライター／アレンジャーとして独自のキャリアを築いた人物。Changes はフィラデルフィアの Sigma Sound Studios で録音され、Steve Ferrone（Average White Band）の生ドラム、Elie “Sir” Gant のキーボード、Ed Walsh のシンセとギター、Earth, Wind & Fire のホーン・セクションなど豪華な演奏陣が集結している。
冒頭を飾る “Shakin’” は芯の太いベースが牽引するファンク寄りのグルーヴが心地よく、そのまま “Hang Tight” の滑らかなミッドテンポに繋がる流れも秀逸だ。“Can’t Get Enough” のホーンの厚みや、“Who Do You Love” の静かな余白が生むセンチメンタルな空気も印象深い。
B面ではタイトル曲 “Changes” がブギー寄りのメロディと柔らかいパーカッションで幕を開け、“One Minute More” の深いソウル・バラードへと滑り込む。ここから “Risin’ To The Top” へ移り変わる瞬間はアルバム最大の聴きどころで、たった数秒の流れにこの作品の美学が凝縮されている。締めくくりの “All Night” まで、一曲も緩むことなく滑らかに続いていく。
名手 Simon Francis によるヴァイナル・マスタリング、Cicely Balston のカッティング、そして丁寧に復元されたアートワーク。作品そのものの輝きが改めて味わえる仕上がりだ。
A1. Shakin'
A2. Hang Tight
A3. Can't Get Enough (Do It All Night)
A4. Who Do You Love
B1. Changes
B2. One Minute More
B3. Risin' To The Top
B4. All Night
Keni Burke's seminal Changes yielded the eternal club classic "Risin' To The Top". You need this record for this iconic steppers anthem alone. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that the whole of Changes, first released in 1982 on RCA but now a tricky one to find, is something truly special. It's a masterpiece of sophisticated 80s groove, containing first class funky soul that sounds as fresh as ever. This is multi-tempo soul music conceived in heaven.
Ace bass player, songwriter, arranger and producer, Keni Burke was discovered by Curtis Mayfield and a childhood member of the Five Stairsteps. Emanating from that magical 81-83 era and pristinely recorded at Philadelphia's legendary Sigma Sound Studios, his third solo album Changes really perfected Keni's groove. It incorporated tight, snappy rhythm arrangements which, despite the era, featured *real drums* courtesy of Steve Ferrone (from Average White Band) to compliment Keni's meaty bass lines. With Dean "Sir" Gant on synths and keyboards and Ed Walsh handling the Vocoder-OBX and Prophet 5, wonderful lines from Earth, Wind & Fire's legendary horn section and hooky rhythm and lead guitar riffs courtesy of Ed "Tree" Walsh, Keni was truly spoiled for excellence. With Doc Gibbs on percussion and Vince Montana on vibes elevating the sensational writing and arrangements, Keni couldn't really go wrong.
“Risin’ To The Top” is undoubtedly the defining crown and lasting legacy of this album. Wth its instantly captivating bassline, slowly creepin' groove and uplifting lyrics, it was a favourite among both the 80s soul steppers and hip-hop crowd and remains canonical to this day. Written by Burke, Allan Felder, and former Chic member Norma Jean Wright, it incredibly failed to garner much American radio play or really trouble the soul charts. Whilst it was an instant classic in the U.K., in the States it took the hip-hop generation and later R&B and hip-hop samples of the tune to finally make it popular, many years later. Of note, Big Daddy Kane sampled it for "Smooth Operator", LL Cool J for "Around The Way Girl", Pete Rock & CL Smooth for "Take You There" and O.C. with "Born 2 Live".
But the highlights are not restricted to this one behemoth. For example, the track which precedes "Risin'" on Side B is another steppers favourite. "One Minute More" is a perfect mid-tempo ballad and the epitome of deep modern soul. A truly timeless work of genius. We, for one, struggle to think of a better song segue than the moment you're still reeling from the intense beauty of "One Minute More" and "Risin'" elegantly stirs into action. Frisson in excelsis. The propulsive, bass-heavy opener "Shakin" is an indisputable cracker and its followed by the timeless mid-tempo class of "Hang Tight". Just gorgeous. Next up, "Can't Get Enough" is another emotional, horn heavy chugger. The side closes with the sparse, tender, floating sl-o-o-w jam "Who Do You Love"; a truly divine ballad. The B-side beings with the title-track, "Changes", a squelchy, melodic boogie banger with fantastic keys, incredible vocals, ace shuffling percussion and spacey synths. It's followed by the ultimate one-two in "One Minute More" and "Risin'" before this sensational set closes with the glorious easy glide "All Night".
An absolutely essential record for fans of deeply soulful modern-funk, Changes was mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis and cut by Cicely Balston for Alchemy at AIR Studios. The artwork was restored at Be With HQ over many painstaking months so, hopefully, this fresh new edition ensures this long-lusted after album is no longer so awkward to find.
