Sun - Sun-Power 1977

Sun Power is the second album by Dayton, Ohio funk band Sun

 In the 1980s, R&B was all about downsizing -- instead of hiring a lot of musicians for a session, one producer could do everything himself/herself with synthesizers and drum machines. But when Sun recorded its second album, Sun Power, in 1977, "the more, the merrier" was the attitude of many R&B acts. So it wasn't surprising that the Dayton funk band Sun added three new members for this LP: Gary King, Ernie Knisley, and Bruce Hastell. With that new ten-man lineup, Sun got away from the spiritual, Earth, Wind & Fire-ish vibe that characterized much of its first album, Live on, Dream On, and emphasized escapist party music. The tune that Sun was best known for, "Wanna Make Love," was carnal in nature, and that fact obviously wasn't lost on the Midwestern funksters when they wrote "Organ Grinder," "Boogie Bopper," and "Light Me Up" (all of which deal with matters of the flesh) for this LP. Sun was hoping for another hit, but unfortunately, Sun Power didn't contain any major singles. None of the funk jams were big hits, nor was the jazzy quiet storm ballad "Time Is Passing." Sun Power (which Capitol released on yellow vinyl) falls short of remarkable, but it's a solid, enjoyable effort that should have done better.