L.T.D. - Love Magic 1981

 Love Magic is a 1981 studio album by American funk group L.T.D., their last on long-time label A&M Records. 

 L.T.D. suffered quite a loss when Jeffrey Osborne, a jewel of a lead singer, left to pursue a solo career in 1980. For L.T.D., losing Osborne was like the Commodores losing Lionel Richie or Van Halen losing David Lee Roth -- it was a major blow, although not a fatal one. Osborne was replaced by two new lead vocalists: Leslie Wilson and Andre Ray, both of them talented, expressive soulsters who demonstrated that they could handle the job nicely. Many Osborne admirers greeted Love Magic, L.T.D.'s first post-Osborne album, with skepticism, but this 1981 LP is surprisingly successful. A few of the tunes, in fact, are excellent, including the sweaty funk hit "Kickin' Back," the sweet ballad "April Love," and the sociopolitical "It Must End" (which finds L.T.D. making an unexpected detour into reggae). And even though most of the other songs fall short of remarkable, they're still decent. Love Magic isn't among L.T.D.'s essential albums, but it's an enjoyable effort that proved there could be life after Jeffrey Osborne for the soul/funk band. 

 LTD without Jeffrey Osborne, and sounding pretty darn great – moving here in a boogie-centrist groove that's heavy with bass on the bottom! In a way, the group's almost freer to work here as a funky ensemble without their former spotlight star – and the record's got a really wicked groove that's right up there with the best major label funk of the time – upbeat, romping, and very groovy throughout – never as clunky as work that was hitting the charts, and with some great horn and guitar work to keep things in warmer territory of the decade before. Rhythms are surprisingly hard at times – much harder than you'd expect, and with more of a 70s feel than the 80s groove you'd expect from the date – and titles include "Love Magic", "Kickin Back", "Burnin Hot", "April Love", "It Must End", and "Stay On The One".