from SHINE
Written by David Foster, Alan Gorrie, Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball & Steve Ferrone
Around 1980, David Foster was enlisted to produce Average White Band’s new album. Despite some turmoil that led the Scottish funksters to leave Atlantic Records in the middle of those sessions to join Arista Records, the group, under Foster’s direction, still managed to deliver a brilliant musical endeavor. To the ears, Shine sounds like a successful blend between the band’s original funk/soul, Earth, Wind & Fire’s sophisticated music and The Doobie Brothers’ soulful pop.Shine presents a string of total knock-outs with energizing funk numbers, elegant ballads and catchy mid-tempos.
Foster’s polished arrangements, although criticized by some fans for a supposed lack of funk rawness, gave the songs a timeless quality that stood the test of time.Shine emphasized Average White Band’s strengths; their top-notch musicianship, the amazing vocal interplay between Alan Gorrie and Hamish Stuart plus their trademark funk rhythms. This week, the focus shines on the dance fiesta titled “Catch Me (Before I Have To Testify).”
Co-written by the group with Foster, “Catch Me (Before I Have To Testify)” was an enthralling up-tempo with a feel-good, party atmosphere. In those days, most disco songs were predictable in their craft. Yet, “Catch Me (Before I Have To Testify)” was a different ballgame. Steve Ferrone on drums, Gorrie on bass, Stuart and Onnie McIntyre on guitars built an irresistible groove that supported the classic vocal harmonies with Stuart’s tenor and falsetto in the spotlight. Foster, Roger Ball and Jerry Hey provided a fat, in-your-face horn arrangement that’s a total winner and added sparkle and weight to the track. On this song and the entire album, Ball and Average White Band’s other sax player, Molly Duncan, were joined by some of the best horn players in the biz including Hey, Gary Grant, Larry Williams and Ernie Watts. This song was further proof that Shine had aged like fine wine. Foster built a well-deserved reputation as the King of Adult Contemporary Ballads but there was a time when Foster was second to none also delivering ear candy soul/funk.
Check out the archives for more Shine reviews of gems. Listen to hits including “Let’s Go Round Again,” “Whatcha Gonna Do For Me,” “For You, For Love,” “Help Is On The Way” and “Into The Night.”
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/06-Catch-Me-Before-I-Have-to-Testify.mp3|titles=Catch Me|artists=Alan Gorrie & Hamish Stuart]
Bass: Alan Gorrie
Guitars: Hamish Stuart & Onnie McIntyre
Drums & Percussion: Steve Ferrone
Keyboards: David Foster
Alto Sax & Keyboards: Roger Ball Tenor
Sax: Molly Duncan
Percussion: Paulinho da Costa, Lenny Castro & Paul Lani
Saxophone: Ernie Watts, Larry Williams & Kim Hutchcroft
Trumpet: Jerry Hey, Gary Grant & Larry Hall
Trombone: Bill Reichenbach & Lew McCreary
Strings &Horns Arranged by David Foster, Roger Ball & Jerry Hey
Produced by David Foster
Lyrics
When I need you
Just close my eyes and I’m with you
And all that I so want to give you
Its only a heart beat away
When I need love
I hold out my hands and I touch love
I never knew there was so much love
Keeping me warm night and day
Miles and miles of empty space in
Between us
A telephone can’t take the place of your
Smile
But you know I won’t be traveling
Forever
Its cold out but hold out and do like I do
When I need you
Just close my eyes and I’m with you
And all that I so want to give you babe
Its only a heartbeat away
It’s not easy when the road is your driver
Honey, that’s a heavy load that we bear
But you know I won’t be traveling a
Lifetime
It’s cold out but hold out and do like I do
Oh I need you
When I need you
I hold out my hands and I touch love
I never knew there was so much love
Keeping me warm night and day
When I need you
Just close my eyes and I’m with you
And all that I so want to give you
Its only a heart beat away
I stand accused, I have designs on you
I can’t reveal what I’ve a mind to do
I am no angel can’t you see
– no wings have I
So what would you want your
man to be,
Tell me
A saint or a sinner, a little of each
Catch me before I have to testify
Don’t make me give it all away
I didn’t want to give the game away
– would you?
Ain’t that ever true
The mystery’s there to keep us hooked
– no need to do it by the book
So where would you want my strength to be,
Tell me
A friend or a lover, a little of each
I didn’t want to give my game
away to you
Don’t make me give it all away
Catch me before I’m called upon
to testify
Don’t make me give it all away