Angela Bofill Albums (11)
'Live from Manila'
Release Date 4/6/2006
Tracks 11
Label Black Angel Productions
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Love in Slow Motion'
Release Date 1/1/1996
Tracks 11
Label Shanachie/Cachet
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Angela Bofill's gifted voice has mellowed with age. Aesthetically, the New York-raised singer has never topped her first two albums on GRP Records. She did have a hit later on Arista, but the fans she won with that commercial joint were fleeting. She brought a bag of tunes with her to this project (co-writing all but one track), so the CD has an autobiographical slant. There are a few purple passages --"Love Changes," "Let Them Talk," and "Real Love" -- but not nearly enough. A variety of producers (including B Angie B) lent their skills but, if they weren't credited, you would think this was the work of one knob-twirler. An enjoyable but easily passed-over set. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Angela Bofill tried to find a middle ground between the light jazz, fusion, and Latin music she did earlier in her career and the glossy urban contemporary and dance-tinged R&B and pop that had been her '80s mode. The results were mixed; much of this sounds tentative and generic, with Bofill struggling to find a comfortable way to express the lyrics and get used to the production style. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Angela Bofill scored one of her biggest dance and R&B hits with the title track. It had a great hook, excellent production, and good arrangement, and her vocal was the ideal mix of aggressive, enticing, and defiant. There were also two good songs done in an opposite fashion, "Is This a Dream" and "I Can See It in Your Eyes." This was arguably the best Bofill production done by Narada Michael Walden. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Angela Bofill never reached her pinnacle as an artist. While her talents as a writer, singer and producer were excellent, the forces directing her career made some questionable decisions, and this album is a good example. This album, more than any other, lacks quality production. Although Narada Michael Walden is known for producing great crossover tunes, he comes up short on this project. Every selection, save the ballad "I'm on Your Side," is uptempo, and an imitation of the next. The project is just shy of shoddy as the music inundates Bofill's attempts to vocally salvage some lackluster songs. "I'm on Your Side" is the only bright spot, and it sealed the Top 20 on the Billboard R&B charts. As it was upon its release, this song remains a standard within the R&B genre. ~ Craig Lytle, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Angela Bofill enjoyed surprising commercial success with her first two albums, Angie and Angel of the Night, produced by contemporary jazz executives Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen for their GRP label, distributed by Arista. She then jumped to Arista proper (causing some bad blood with GRP) to try for a deliberate jazz-pop crossover on her third album, which was produced by Narada Michael Walden and shepherded by Arista president Clive Davis, who took an executive producer credit. Davis canvassed the publishing world for likely hit songs, then Walden put together a studio team to create a smooth, sophisticated sound that would, it was hoped, work for pop, R&B, and adult contemporary radio as well as setting feet moving in the discos. In practice, it didn't work out that way. The title track, with a lush disco arrangement, arrived as a single after disco had faded, though it, like second single "Holdin' Out for Love," a professional song by professional songwriters Cynthia Weil and Tom Snow, managed to peak in the R&B Top 40. With those calling cards, the album was able to register only a Top 20 R&B/Top 100 pop showing, not as high as Angel of the Night, as Bofill's contemporary jazz fans deserted her in droves for her commercial sellout. This is a shame, since, however compromised its goals, much of Something About You is effective early-'80s jazz-pop, and Bofill sings powerfully throughout. Particularly impressive are the ballads "Break It to Me Gently" and "Time to Say Goodbye." ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Angela Bofill proved herself extremely adroit at doing Latin, jazz, and R&B with equal finesse on her debut, Angie. Angel of the Night is the highly anticipated sophomore set originally released on GRP when it was distributed on Arista. With such a comfortable style well suited to Bofill's voice, this doesn't veer that far away from the work on the first album. The first track, the immediately classic "I Try," is beautifully sung, dramatic, and offers no false moments. The title track is just as effective in a gentle and lilting way. Angel of the Night's producers David Grusin and Larry Rosen, who also worked on Jon Lucien's 1973-1975 albums, cover some ambitious territory with a rich-voiced, quirky singer here as well. The epic "The Voyage" has the producers' sense of drama, a perfect match for Bofill's deliberate delivery, which is oddly though sweetly reminiscent of Lucien. "What I Wouldn't Do (For the Love of You)" and "The Feelin's Love" bring her to a more customary, sleek R&B material with her trademark vocals making them even better. The only thing that qualifies as a miss is a disco-style take on Thom Bell and Linda Creed's "People Make the World Go 'Round." It's not that bad, though. Angel of the Night is one of Bofill's finest and most charming albums. Any fan of sophisticated late-'70s R&B/Latin jazz need to have this in their collection. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Angela Bofill temporarily became the hot Latin pop singer in the late '70s with her debut for GRP. It was a smart blend of glossy urban contemporary, light jazz, and fusion; Bofill's voice had enough sophistication to sound sleek and enough Flora Purim influence to attract interest from jazz, Latin, and urban contemporary audiences. It scored three mild hits and got the then-fledging GRP label some vital sales. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
