The talented
Patti Austin launched a successful jazz album career on CTI by the mid-'70s. Working with
Quincy Jones since 1976,
Every Home Should Have One was her long-awaited solo album with
Jones as a producer. The hit singles "Do You Love Me" and "Every Home Should Have One" are polished -- pleasing but derivative.
Rod Temperton -- who did four songs here, including the smooth "The Genie" -- comes up with a true gem, the classic
Austin and
James Ingram duet "Baby Come to Me." The most telling aspect of
Every Home Should Have One isn't the L.A. pop/R&B
Austin could do standing on her head, it's the most meditative offerings. A cover of
Thom Bell and
Linda Creed's "Stop, Look and Listen" gets an effortless treatment. The album-closing "The Island," with music from
Ivan Lins and
Vitor Martins and lyrics by
Alan and
Marilyn Bergman, seems best suited for
Austin as she gives a sensual and flawless reading.
Every Home Should Have One doesn't possess
Quincy Jones' all-encompassing production style of albums like
The Dude and
George Benson's
Give Me the Night. While this seems like a debut album, it's far from it, but it's a perfect introduction to
Austin and her more pop-orientated work. ~ Jason Elias