Lamont Dozier Albums (9)
What The Critics Say
From Burt Bacharach to Barry Mann and Paul Williams, over the years some of pop music's top songwriters have occasioned to record reinterpretations of their own hits. The middle hyphenate of the famed Motown songwriting team, Holland-Dozier-Holland, has an advantage over those three in that he's recorded in the past for major labels and received a Grammy nomination for his most recent recording, ...An American Original. His vocals are rich and soulful doing his old Supremes', Four Tops' and Isley Brothers' hits, but we're so enamored of the lighthearted arrangements of the originals that an hour of these songs done at such a slow tempo comes off as a bit sluggish. His intention seems to be to recapture them in their original form as ballads, and there is a heartfelt beauty and a depth to some of these songs; "My World Is Empty Without You" truly has an aching quality that helps you understand the depth of the lyrics much better than the Supremes' version. For all those pluses, these versions will never capture our hearts the way the old recordings did. Now that this is out of Dozier's system, it would be nice to hear more originals from one of pop and soul's true songwriting greats. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Anyone with even a casual interest in the northern soul of the 1960s should be familiar with Lamont Dozier, who was part of the legendary Holland/Dozier/Holland songwriting team and helped make Motown Records the powerhouse it was. After being equally prolific at Hot Wax/Invictus in the early 1970s, he did some worthwhile solo things as a solo artist (including the 1974 single "Let Me Start Tonight)." Dozier wasn't heard from much in the 1980s, but in 1991, he attempted a comeback with the glossy Inside Seduction. Though the writing is hardly on a par with what he did at Motown and Hot Wax/Invictus, it's generally enjoyable. The seductive "Love In the Rain" (the only real gem on the album) has a strong '70s soul flavor, while high-tech songs like "Attitude Up," "Pure Heaven" and "No Comment" find Dozier aiming at the urban contemporary and pop markets with decent results. Of course, the Dozier of the 1960s and '70s was a lot more than merely decent. This isn't an album to be ashamed of, but still, a songwriter of Dozier's caliber is capable of a lot more. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
'Bigger Than Life'
Release Date 1/1/1983
Tracks 10
Label Demon-Megaphone
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Put this one near the top of the heap of Lamont Dozier's solo releases. He brought a bag of gimmicks to the studio to complement some top-shelf songs. "Roundtrip Ticket" is a romantic beauty, sweet and melodic with a catchy hook; the title track bounces smoothly along, accented by techno voices; and he changes his modus operandi on "Love Wars," a fast, funky ditty punctuated by slapping bass licks. "Right Where I Wanna Be" and "Second Wind" are above-average ballads. The Hall of Fame songwriter pays homage to Jesus on "Hero of My Heart," concluding an album of strong, well-produced tunes that unfortunately fell by the wayside. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
It's amazing that one of Lamont Dozier's most satisfying LPs appeared on the miniscule, short-lived M&M Records. No, there's nothing as pointedly woeful as "Fish Ain't Bitin'," as compelling as "Why Can't We Be Lovers," or as gripping as "Trying to Hold on to My Woman," but on his previous albums, the pickings got slim once you got past those songs. Not so here; there's enough to keep you listening through all nine selections, with the standouts being "You Oughta Be in Pictures," the pulsating "The Pressure Is On," and the toe-tapping, handclapping "Shout About It." ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Motown alumnus Lamont Dozier's most consistent and thoroughly charming album was his 1981 Columbia LP Working on You. The prolific singer/songwriter/producer wrote every song and performed all the lead and background vocals on the album. His only release for the label, Working on You spawned the perennial U.K. Northern soul/beach music favorite "Cool Me Out." Standout tracks are the longing-filled "Why (Ain't My Love Enough)," the shimmering, fluttering "(You Got Me) Wired Up," the lilting and optimistic "Starting Over (We've Made the Necessary Changes)," the warm and earnest title track, and the reggae-flavored "Chained (To Your Love)." The outstanding backing band includes the fresh keyboard work of John Barnes and Tony Palter. Amazing none of the singles ("Cool Me Out," "Too Little Too Long") or the album itself charted upon its original spring 1981 release. Pristinely recorded, Working on You cries out for a CD reissue with full liner notes. Until then good music lovers can enjoy the vinyl reissue of Working on You issued by Sony Music Entertainment during spring 2000. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The illustrious singer turned songsmith cranks out eight post-Motown and Hotwax/Invictus tracks sounding like a bad cross between Levi Stubbs and Junior Walker -- lacking the dynamics and authority of Stubbs and the charisma and urgency of Walker, plus he doesn't have Junior's big tenor sax to bail him out. The overall production is the only thing that keeps this album from being a straight ho hummer. He executes songs in every tempo but fails to lock it in the pocket on any, really. The best moments occur on "True Love Is Bittersweet," a lighthearted romance; "Tough Act to Follow," a mid-tempo number with interesting lyrics and a good vocal performance from Dozier; and "I Got It All With You," a sweet urban ballad. And "Boogie Business" and "We're Just Here To Feel Good" have dancefloor potential. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide
'Peddlin' Music on the Side'
Release Date 1/1/1977
Tracks 7
Label Warner Bros.
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
For his second Warner Bros. LP, Peddlin' Music on the Side, Motown veteran Lamont Dozier turns the production reigns over to Stewart Levine (The Crusaders, Minnie Riperton's Adventures in Paradise, Hugh Masekela). Pianist Joe Sample & bassist Wilton Felder of The Crusaders are on hand to make stellar contributions, giving Dozier his most jazz flavored album. As usual with a Lamont Dozier album, you have the top musicians, singers, arrangers, and engineering staff involved. The propulsive album opener, "Sight for Sore Eyes," opens with a striking string and horn arrangement. For the chugging, low key "What Am I Gonna Do 'bout You (Girl)" Dozier slyly caresses the lyric in a manner that suggests that he thinks that "his bad girl is good." "Break the Ice" bops along on thumping bass and soft conga. The inspiring "Tear Down the Walls" has lyrics that admonish: "there's no hope unless we change within/ let protect our let's be friends/ peace on earth and harmony/ it could be a reality/ it's up to you and me/ tear down the walls." The Afro-centric disco hit "Going Back to My Roots" was co-arranged by Hugh Masekela and has a message that most can relate to: "zipping up my boots/ going back to my roots/ to the place of my birth/ back down to earth/ ain't talkin' 'bout no roots in the land/ talkin' 'bout the roots in the man." The 12" version of "Going Back to My Roots" is a collectible and the song was a 1981 disco hit for RCA Records group Odyssey ("Native New Yorker"). The heart-tugging, dramatically arranged "Family" paints a picture of the family under attack. The warm-toned ballad "Peddlin' Music on the Side" lists the travails of trying to make it in the music business. This album stands as one of Lamont Dozier's finest works. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Lamont Dozier enlisted Grade A L.A. musicians, including fellow Motown alumnus, bassist James Jamerson, for his 1976 Warner Bros. debut, Right There -- an engaging set of soul and pop music. The first single, the smooth ballad "Can't Get Off Until the Feeling Stops," was in the vein of his earlier hit, ""Let Me Start Tonite." Dozier vocally milks the smooth-as-molasses groovers: "Groovin' on a Natural High," "With a Little Bit of Mending (We Could Be as Good as New)," "Joy," "Ain't Never Loved Nobody (Like I Love You)," "Wild Frame of Mind," and "Good Eye." The singer/songwriter/producer reworks The Four Tops' "It's the Same Old Song," giving it a restrained, classical sheen through the use of a prominent string section. Right There runs a very close second to being Dozier's best, and most consistent LP, but that distinction belongs to Working On You. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Some strong '70s R&B from the great songwriter Lamont Dozier. It was one of the better combinations of socio-political commentary and urgent soul vocals done in the period. The title cut, as well as the single "Fish Ain't Bitin" and "Out Here On My Own," were sizable hits. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
