Melba Moore's
Soul Exposed found the singer working with soft soul trio Surface ("Happy," "Shower Me With Your Love," "Just Like the First Time") and DJ/remixer
Frankie Knuckles (the percolating "I Found a New Love") for an album that seemed to touch on all of her musical roots. The smooth "Do You Really Want My Love" floats along like an upbeat "Happy." The standard "Let Every Voice and Sing" is given an all-star rousing rendition that boasts
Stevie Wonder,
Aretha Franklin,
Freddie Jackson,
Anita Baker,
Howard Hewett,
Take 6,
the Clark Sisters,
Stephanie Mills,
Jeffrey Osborne,
Gerald Albright, and BeBe & Cece Winans. A showstopping version of "Stormy Weather" harks back to
Moore's Broadway stage days. Released as a single, "Let Every Voice and Sing" went to number nine on Billboard's R&B chart. "Face to Face" is smooth R&B/gospel in the mode of
Tramaine Hawkins (with whom
Moore recorded In Concert).
Soul Exposed shows her wide stylistic range, but for an overall career overview see This Is It-Best of Melba Moore. ~ Ed Hogan