In 1980, the carefully studio-crafted combination of
funk and
disco Fatback had been developing on their last few albums paid off with
Hot Box, an album that spawned some serious
R&B chart hits. The big hit from this long-player was
"Gotta Get My Hands on Some (Money)," a song driven by a rock-solid synthesizer bassline and a freewheeling,
Parliament-like
rap about the singer's need to score some cash to keep his head above water. It further spices up its funky stew with an array of vocal-harmony hooks and squiggly, ear-catching synthesizer flourishes to create one of
Fatback's finest hits. The album's other notable success was
"Backstrokin'," a tune that layered plenty of saucy double entendres over a combination of elongated synthesizer lines and staccato horns. Sadly, the rest of the album never quite captures the infectious yet carefully controlled energy of these hits: the title track works hard but never builds up the head of steam that would make it come to life and
"Come and Get the Love" sports a lovely group harmony hook but suffers from humdrum lyrics that lack a fresh take on its very traditional subject. The song that gets closest to the arresting quality of the singles is
"Love Spell," which triumphs over its uninteresting
rap-styled lead vocal thanks to a doubled group vocal/synthesizer hook that digs deep into the listener's consciousness and takes hold. Overall,
Hot Box is a solid listen for
Fatback fans but those interested in the album's hits would probably be better off picking up a copy of
The Fattest of Fatback. ~ Donald A. Guarisco
![Greatest Hits [Legacy]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0074646577929_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Greatest Hits [Legacy]")
![The Essential Earth, Wind & Fire [Bonus Track]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0888430249226_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "The Essential Earth, Wind & Fire [Bonus Track]")
![Silk Degrees [Bonus Tracks]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0888837131629_p0_v4_s90x140.jpg "Silk Degrees [Bonus Tracks]")
![Live and More [Disco Fever]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/4988031275276_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Live and More [Disco Fever]")
![Saturday Night Fever [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0042282538925_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Saturday Night Fever [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]")
