ProJazz.net

Lonnie Liston Smith entered the 1980s with Love Is the Answer, which is quite similar to previous Columbia efforts like Exotic Mysteries and Song for the Children. Jazz’s hard-liners continued to call Smith a sellout; as they saw it, a musician who was talented enough to have been employed by the likes of Pharoah Sanders, Betty Carter, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk had no business becoming more commercial and catering to the quiet storm audience. But while Love Is the Answer isn’t as challenging as Smith’s work with Kirk and Sanders and isn’t in a class with such Flying Dutchman gems as Astral Traveling and Expansions, it isn’t a bad album either (Alex Henderson/AllMusic).

Track listing:

A1 – 0:00 – In The Park [Written by L. L. Smith]
A2 – 4:17 – Love Is The Answer [Written by L. L. Smith]
A3 – 9:03 – Speak About It [Written by J. Robinson, K. Rose]
A4 – 14:59 – Bridge Through Time [Written by E. Saunders]
B1 – 19:00 – On The Real Side [Written by L. L. Smith, L. Reyes, P. Ford]
B2 – 24:47 – The Enchantress [Written by L. L. Smith]
B3 – 29:43 – Give Peace A Chance (Make Love Not War) [Written by L. L. Smith]
B4 – 35:50 – Free And Easy [Written by W. Powell]

Personnel:

Backing Vocals – Butch Jackson, Cassie Hawkins, Gloria Jones, Keith Rose, Marcella Allen
Bass – Pee Wee Ford
Congas, Bongos – Lawrence Killian
Drums – Lino Reyes
Guitar – Abdul Wali
Guitar – James “Crabbe” Robinson (track A3)
Guitar – WM “Doc” Powell (track B4)
Horns – Albert “Duke” Jones, Johnathan Lewis, Kevin Jasper, Koran Daniels, Louis P. Barbarin
Percussion – Asante
Piano, Electric Piano, Producer – Lonnie Liston Smith
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Dave Hubbard
Vocals – James “Crabbe” Robinson

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Label: CBS – S CBS 84365
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1980