Lady Bump

Album Review

Penny McLean had already released several singles as a solo artist and as a member of several groups when she became part of the Silver Convention lineup in 1975. But it wasn't until the success of Silver Convention's "Fly Robin Fly" that her own career picked up steam. The outbreak came in the form of "Lady Bump," a chipper, slightly funky disco number that became one of the first big hits of the genre to be supported by a 12" single. Following in the footsteps of Van McCoy's "The Hustle," "Lady Bump" bears angelic background vocals and engaging strings as an enticement to listeners to "bump" along. But most notably, the song possesses a sure-fire vocalist in McLean, who delivers the tune's irresistible hook with a zesty, soulful grit. Unfortunately, the corresponding album primarily consists of material that is derivative of its hit single, but never quite stands on its own. Michael Kunze's smooth production is indeed pleasant and there are particularly enjoyable moments to be found in "Big Bad Boy" and "Devil Eyes," but overall, the hooks are not as strong and McLean doesn't sound quite as enthused. The landscapes of her subsequent albums, Penny and Midnight Explosion, are considerably more versatile and energetic, making Lady Bump an essential only for those particularly seeking to develop a more thorough knowledge of producer Michael Kunze's techniques. ~ Justin M. Kantor, Rovi