The Pointer Sisters: Priority

Versatile Ruth, Anita, June, and Bonnie Pointer regularly scored pop and soul hits throughout the '70s and '80s in a chameleonic variety of styles. Formed in Oakland, with their first successes for Blue Thumb Records blending funky rhythms with a novel nostalgic attitude (beginning with their 1973 revival of Allen Toussaint's "Yes We Can Can"), leading up to their first #1 R&B item in 1975, "How Long (Betcha' Got a Chick on the Side)." Priority was a moderately successful, but nicely sung release by The Pointer Sisters. They were then in a quasi-rock phase, and a good version of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire" gave them an R&B hit. They didn't have any huge smashes, and the production and arrangements leaned toward the tentative side. But they were getting their three-part harmonies down and weren't far from entering another run as crossover attractions. The final track on the album is a cover of The Band's "The Shape I'm In" from Stage Fright.

Tracks

1. Who Do You Love (Hunter,Ian)
2. All Your Love (Seger,Bob)
3. Dreaming as One (Palmer,David/Smith,William)
4. Turned up Too Late (Parker,Graham)
5. Happy (Jagger,Mick/Richards,Keith)
6. Blind Faith (Egan,Joe/Rafferty,Gerry)
7. Don't Let a Thief Steal into Your Heart (Thompson,Richard)
8. (She's Got) the Fever (Springsteen,Bruce)
9. The Shape I'm In (Robertson,Robbie)