Now

Strut continue their Patrice Rushen original album reissue series with the definitive edition of her influential classic Now from 1984. Released after the global success of Straight From The Heart and the huge hit Forget Me Nots, Now stripped back the arrangements and explored a new sonic palette, combining top level musicianship with the evolving studio technology of the mid-80s. By this time, I had built a little home studio, explains Patrice, and the new synthesizers and drum machines opened a lot of possibilities. A lot of the pieces on Now started off as demos based on these instruments and we just went with it quite naturally, adding guitar, bass and drums. The album continued Patrices unerring skill in fusing intricate jazz musicianship with infectious grooves. The solid boogie classic Get Off (You Fascinate Me) lit up dancefloors and Feels So Real became one of Patrices best loved songs, an effortless mid-tempo soul stepper. The album is also celebrated for the tender Gotta Find It and one of Patrices most poignant ballads, the intricate and politically charged To Each His Own. The album marked the end of Rushens tenure with Elektra before a move to Arista and remains a much-referenced part of her career. I think it was a great representation of where we were at the time and it may have even been a little bit ahead of its time, she reflects. Famously, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had become fans, attending her live shows, and, allegedly, the feel of Janet Jacksons debut

Tracks

Details

Format: Vinyl LP
Artist: Patrice Rushen
Release Date: 07 October 2022
Genre: Soul
Label: Strut Records
Distributor: MGM Music