Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame: Positive Power

Album Review

After recording many memorable R&B hits with Slave, Steve Arrington pursued a moderately successful solo career with his eight-member band, then abandoned secular music for a life of religion. Given his post-musical endeavors, one might expect more gospel in Arrington's R&B workouts, but aside from thanking God Almighty in the liner notes, there's far more Prince than Al Green on this release. Arrington is a confident, sensual vocalist, perfectly suited to cocky material like "You Meet My Approval." Despite the presence of so many musicians, the songs are often minimal funk and dance vamps driven by guitar and keyboard, with hooky choruses set up by suggestive titles like "Weak at the Knees," "Strange (Soft & Hard)," and "Speak With Your Body." On occasion the entire band is featured together, and the integration of flute and saxophone adds depth to the group's aggressive beat. The closest Arrington gets to spirituality is the opening guidance of "Nobody Can Be You," which reached the R&B Top 20. But the song that should've been a hit is the playfully sexy "Last Nite/Nite Before," a gem worthy of a Prince cover version. A few years later, Arrington's solo career would peak with Dancin' in the Key of Life, so Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame, Vol. 1 serves as a fairly entertaining bridge between the periods of success which highlighted his career.