A less intense
Junior Walker still makes splendid music on a collection of updates salted with some new sides. The sax man remakes "Way Back Home," originally done by
the Crusaders;
Gladys Knight and
Johnny Bristol wrote lyrics for
Wilton Felder's composition:
Walker's version did a respectable number 24 R&B, and number 52 Pop. "Walk in the Night," with its stalking beat and diverse rhythms, scaled to number ten R&B and number 46 Pop, his last substantial release on Motown. The psychedelic influenced "Groove Thang" went to number 46 R&B, but missed the bus to the Pop chart, despite a tight groove, and tough, rough-neck runs from
Junior over a def track.
Walker's sax measures up to the vocals on the original versions of "I Don't Want to Do Wrong," popularized by
Gladys Knight & the Pips, and
the Jackson 5's "Never Can Say Goodbye." ~ Andrew Hamilton