The Brecker Brothers - 1977 - Don't Stop The Music

The Brecker Brothers 

1977

Don't Stop The Music

01.Finger Lickin' Good (3:59)
02.Funky Sea, Funky Dew (6:12)
03.As Long As I've Got Your Love (4:13 )
04.Squids (7:44)
05.Don't Stop The Music (6:31 )
06.Petals (4:21)
07.Tabula Rasa (8:20 )

Randy Brecker / flugelhorn, trumpet, electric trumpet
Michael Brecker / tenor sax , flute

With:
- Steve Khan / 6- & 12-string electric guitars
- Jerry Friedman / guitar (1), electric piano (5)
- Hiram Bullock / guitar (2-4,6)
- Santiago Torano / guitar (1,3)
- Don Grolnick / keyboards
- Doug Riley / keyboards
- Alan Rubin / trumpet
- Lou Marini / alto sax
- Lew Delgatto / baritone sax
- David Taylor / bass trombone
- Barry Rogers / trombone
- Will Lee / bass, backing vocals
- Chris Parker / drums
- Lenny White / drums (7)
- Steve Gadd / drums (4,6)
- Ralph MacDonald / percussion
- Sammy Figueroa / congas (7)
- Christine Faith / backing vocals
- Robin Clark / backing vocals
- Josh Brown / backing vocals
- Beverly Billard / backing vocals (3)
- Doug Billard / backing vocals (3)
- Doug Riley / horns & strings arranger
- Gene Orloff / concertmaster

String Section :
- Aaron Rosand / violin
- Guy Lumia / violin
- Paul Gershman / violin
- Harry Lookofsky / violin
- Sanford Allen / violin
- Ariana Bronne / violin
- Harold Kohon / violin
- Matthew Raimondi / violin
- Peter Dimitriades / violin
- Lamar Alsop / viola
- Richard MaxImoff / viola
- Alfred Brown / viola
- Jesse Levy / cello
- Richard Locker - cello

This 1977 effort continues their hitmaking streak of one of fusion and R&B's durable and respected units. While this album's predecessor, Back to Back, was credited to the Brecker Brothers Band and featured members including David Sanborn and Steve Khan, it came off as underdone and facile. Don't Stop the Music does present their gifts in a more cogent fashion, but not without a few odd detours. The title track and "Finger Licking Good" are pure disco efforts, with pushy rhythms and ingratiating backing vocals. Although they are both a little silly, they have great horn riffs and boast a potent production. Despite those danceable offerings, Don't Stop the Music also features some of the brothers' most challenging work. The funky and quirky "Squids" features Randy Brecker's customarily offbeat and singular electric trumpet work. Hiram Bullock's articulate guitar also shines on that track and he fit into the Breckers sound like no other player. "Funky Sea, Funky Dew" is a reflective, urbane mid-tempo offering that has great tenor solos from Michael Brecker. The just-as-strong "Petals" features a poignant trumpet work from Randy Brecker. Don't Stop the Music enlists rock producer Jack Richardson, and he and co-producer Steve Backer both capture the more powerful aspects of the duo. Recorded at Atlantic Studios and engineered by Gene Paul, Don't Stop the Music boasts an interesting sound, and is one of the Brecker Brothers' better efforts.