Love Somebody Today

• Artist: Sister Sledge
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1980
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Although Sister Sledge had already peaked with their 1979 powerhouse We Are Family LP, they returned in the first half of 1980 with Love Somebody Today. Not quite as successful as its predecessor, but still showcasing the group's remarkable vocal strength, the album foundered primarily because it hit the brick wall laid down by the burgeoning disco backlash, but still managed to peak at number seven on the R&B charts in March.

Partnered for the second go-round with Chic's Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, who wrote and produced all the songs, Sister Sledge spun out a sophisticated, slick set of smooth, mid-tempo R&B that concentrated on the sisters' vocals, leaving the musical arrangements in the background. Both the title track, which proved the album's only major hit, and the melancholy "You Fooled Around" emerged as the set's high points. Elsewhere, "Reach Your Peak" is a surprising combination of disco and jazz, leaving both "I'm a Good Girl" and "How to Love" to weigh in on the ballad front. It would have been hard for Sister Sledge to surpass the monstrously good one-two punch of "We Are Family" and "He's the Greatest Dancer." And, not surprisingly, much of Love Somebody Today sounds flat in comparison. But still, the sounds of Sister Sledge at the peak of their star power are better than much of the pap that passed for pop at the time. ~ Amy Hanson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Got to Love Somebody	Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers	Sister Sledge	(6:53)
You Fooled Around	Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers	Sister Sledge	(4:28)
I'm a Good Girl	Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers	Sister Sledge	(4:10)
Easy Street	Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers	Sister Sledge	(4:30)
Reach Your Peak	Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers	Sister Sledge	(4:55)
Pretty Baby	Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers	Sister Sledge	(4:01)
How to Love	Nile Rodgers	Sister Sledge	(4:34)
Let's Go on a Vacation	Nile Rodgers	Sister Sledge	(5:06)

Credits

Sister Sledge (Main Performer), Bernard Edwards (Bass), Bernard Edwards (Arranger), Bernard Edwards (Conductor), Bernard Edwards (Producer), Nile Rodgers (Guitar), Nile Rodgers (Arranger), Nile Rodgers (Conductor), Nile Rodgers (Producer), Larry Alexander (Engineer), Bob Clearmountain (Engineer), Michelle Cobbs (Vocals (Background)), Eddie Daniels (Saxophone), Jeff Hendrickson (Assistant Engineer), Dan Hersch (Remastering), Cheryl Hong (Strings), Bill Inglot (Remastering), David Landau (?), David Landau (Project Assistant), Luci Martin (Vocals (Background)), David McLees (Reissue Coordination), Narada Michael Walden (Producer), Bob Millikan (Trombone), Karen Milne (Strings), Meco Monardo (Sax (Tenor)), Ted Myers (?), Ted Myers (Project Assistant), Gene Orloff (Concert Master), Gary Peterson (Research), Garry Rindfuss (Assistant Engineer), Peter Robbins (Assistant Engineer), Bill Scheniman (Engineer), Andy Schwartz (Keyboards), Debbie Sledge (Vocals), Debbie Sledge (Group Member), Joni Sledge (Vocals), Joni Sledge (Group Member), Kathy Sledge (Vocals), Kim Sledge (Vocals), Kim Sledge (Group Member), Fonzi Thornton (Vocals (Background)), Alfa Anderson (Vocals (Background)), Bill Sheniman (Engineer), A. Scott Galloway (Liner Notes), Bob Defrin (Art Direction), Bill King (Photography), Michael Ochs (Photography), Coco Shinomiya (Art Direction), Bryan Rackleff (Cover Design), Ray Willard (Assistant Engineer), Valerie Heywood (Strings), Chic Strings (?), Andrew Barrett (Keyboards), Tony Thompson (Drums), Raymond Jones (Keyboards), Tony Thompson (Drums)