France Joli Albums (6)
What The Critics Say
George Duke is an incredibly versatile musician; how many former Frank Zappa sidemen can honestly tell you that they have produced everyone from Flora Purim to A Taste of Honey? Given how flexible Duke is, the Californian was a logical person to hire as a producer when France Joli wanted her fifth album, Witch of Love, to be diverse. Although not quite as strong as Joli's previous Epic release, Attitude, this Duke-produced LP is a pleasing and fairly unpredictable effort that contains everything from up-tempo pop/rock ("Does He Dance," "What About Me," "Love's on Fire") to adult contemporary ballads ("Love Always Finds a Way") to urban contemporary ("Give Me Your Love"). Given Duke's R&B credentials, he could have easily made Witch of Love a fine R&B album if that was what Joli was going for. But even though ("Give Me Your Love" has urban appeal, the album on the whole isn't as R&B-minded as her Prelude output -- while Prelude saw her as a disco/R&B artist, she had more of a pop/rock outlook at Epic. What she didn't have at Epic was a lot of major hits; regrettably, this 1985 LP (which has long since gone out of print) was a commercial disappointment. Witch of Love isn't Joli's best or most essential album, but it's an enjoyable record that should have done better. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
After providing three LPs for Prelude, France Joli made her major-label debut when she recorded her fourth album, Attitude, for Epic in 1983. This LP signaled a major change of direction for the French-Canadian singer, who was best known for disco and R&B/pop during her Prestige years but emphasizes pop/rock and Europop on Attitude. If you notice that much of the record has a European flavor, it's no coincidence. Attitude was produced by Pete Bellotte, who is best known for his Euro-disco work with Donna Summer -- and the executive producer is Bellotte's German colleague Giorgio Moroder. Further, Richie Zito (who co-produced Berlin's "No More Words" with Moroder and is no stranger to Euro beats) is employed as an arranger, guitarist, and keyboardist. People who were expecting another "Come to Me" or "Gonna Get Over You" from Joli were disappointed; however, those who were open to hearing her exploring pop/rock and Europop found a lot to admire about infectious tracks like "Dumb Blonde," "Mad About the Boy," and "Girl in the '80s." The closest Joli gets to R&B on this album is an inspired remake of the Four Tops' "Standing in the Shadows of Love," which employs the Pips as background vocalists. So instead of Gladys Knight & the Pips, you get "France Joli & the Pips." Unfortunately, Attitude wasn't the mega-hit it should have been, but that doesn't make the LP any less appealing. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
