The obvious draw on Rushen’s 1982 seventh album is the endlessly sampled and spun “Forget me Nots,” and it is deservedly a classic for the ages, with hooks galore, plus one of the greatest basslines all time dancing off Freddie Washington’s fingers. But the rest of the album stands up admirably around it. Rushen co-produces and co-writes every song (notably mostly writing with an array of brilliant women, e.g. Brenda Russell and Syreeta Wright), arranges and play keys, guitar, clavichord and more — and not one element is out of place. At a time when disco and funk were slipping hard into zero-subtlety “eightiesness” with harsh snares and cocaine-blasted high frequencies, everything is as perfectly balanced and elegant as a Swiss watch, even as it grooves like a mother. You can hear it shining with inspiration from new wave on “Breakout”, and rhythms that presage Latin Freestyle — but above all this is an auteur singer-songwriter at the peak of her powers, which is why it has lasted so well.

– Joe Muggs