France Joli
Witch of Love (Canadian LP)
Epic Records (Canada) / 1985 / FE 39934
LP-album 33 ⅓ rpm vinyl record
Genre: Dance
Produced by George Duke.
Recorded at Le Gonks , West Hollywood , Ca.
Mixed at Lion's Share , Los Angeles , Ca.
"Party Lights" mixed at The Complex , Los Angeles , Ca.
Side A
1. Does He Dance 4'20
2. Give Me Your Love 3'58
3. Party Lights 4'48
4. Love Always Find A Way 4'05
Side B
1. Love's On Fire 4'08
2. In The Darkness 3'35
3. What About Me 3'45
4. Attitude 3'15
5. Witch Of Love 4'46
France Joli returns with her fifth album , her second for Epic.
This album is very solid and should have helped her get on the pop charts. Considering that the album doesn't sound that much different from what the Pointer Sisters, Melissa Manchester or Sheena Easton were doing at the time.
Armed with songs written by such heavy-hitters as Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly, George Duke, Tom Snow and Cynthia Weil ; the album covers a lot of ground.
"Does he dance" - the first single , was widely available as a 12" dance mix done by Shep Pettibone and was considered a departure for her. Not her typical sound.
Many tracks adopt a typical 1985 techno-tinged sound that was everywhere back in the days.
The upbeat "Give me your love" , the coy "In the darkness" and the forceful "Love's on fire" are highlights.
Hi-NRG fans will appreciate "Witch of love", "What about me" and the slighty extended "Party Lights".
"Love will always find a way" is easily one of Joli's best ballads...and France also co-wrote 2 songs with Daniel Vail (Witch of love and What about me).
PARTY LIGHTS also won the "Most outstanding performance award" at the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo (1984).
Also See:
France Joli (Interview)
Submitted by KDavid13 (110)
I just bought the album, and I'm quite impressed! I think the quality of the songs is remarkably consistent.."Party Lights", "Love Will Always Find a Way" and the title track remind me of her work with Tony Green. When I finished listening to it, it occured to me this is probably what Donna Summer would have sounded like produced by George Duke. And Joli sings with a lot of clarity and spirit here. If I have one complaint, it's the same complaint I have of many "modern" R & B records: drum machine too loud at some points...but that's a minor complaint for an otherwise enjoyable record.