LaToya Jackson – Record-facts…

by Record Facts

My Special Love is the second studio album by American singer La Toya Jackson. Released in 1981, The album is one of Jackson’s more successful, peaking at #175 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

Though her voice isn’t particularly strong, Jackson makes up for what she lacks in power with an energetic, uninhibited approach to the music. Benefiting from solid R&B-funk arrangements and the well-rounded production of Ollie E. Brown, her sophomore album is a flavorful mixture of lively uptempo romps and smooth-sailing slow jams.

LaToya Jackson followed up her debut with an album of disco, r&b and pop. “My Special Love” is LaToya’s best offering to date and there are moments when the singer really connects with the listener. Again, LaToya is paired with a good production team and songwriters that provide some good material for her. She even calls in help from her famous siblings, to make this effort somewhat of a family affair. Where Janet had her brothers assistance on the major mis-step, “Dream Street”(over produced within an inch of its life!), their assistance on “My Special Love” actually enhances the project.

“Stay The Night” written by Ken Gold and Billy Ocean, opens the album with a bang. It’s funky, dance oriented disco with great backing vocals and an inspired vocal performance by LaToya. “Fill You Up” while not as infectious as the album’s opener keeps the momentum moving forward, with a vocal thats playfully & sassy.

The next few tracks “Giving You Up” and “Love Song” are produced by the Jackson’s and brother Jackie lends his voice in duet with sister LaToya. “Love Song” features the brother’s on backing vocals and LaToya really seems to be inspired and have fun recording this track. “I Don’t Want You to Go” is the first ballad on the album and it’s not a great vocal performance, but you sense that the singer is attempting to stretch herself vocally and for that…I give her props!

“Camp Kuchi Kaiai” is the second recording that the artist wrote along with sister Janet (who can be heard on background vocals). It’s a cute number with a carribean feel to it and comes off as better than a filler track. “Summertime With You” is a track that had potential to make people take a second look at LaToya. With a seductive rhythm that puts one in the frame of mind of Syvia’s “Pillow Talk”, and an inspired vocal performance by LaToya (she is giving you her best Diana Ross ‘Love Hangover’ immitation), this song could have made a some waves at the “quiet storm” format.

“Special Love” the title track ends the album set and it’s another song that has The Jackson’s backing LaToya, with good results. LaToya would move on from this project and have a few more decent singles, but as far as albums go, it never got any better that “My Special Love”. Whoever owns the rights to LaToya Jackson’s music should really consider a “best of” compilation for the singer. She may not have the best voice in the business, but she didn’t have the worst voice either. Anyone wanting to hear a good offering of early 80’s r&b and dance, should invest the time and search this album out.

Tracklist

1. Stay The Night – 5:33
   Written-By – Billy Ocean, Ken Gold
2. Fill You Up – 5:10
   Written-By – Ollie E. Brown
3. Giving You Up – 3:08
Written-By, Arranged By, Vocals [Uncredited] – Randy Jackson
4. Love Song – 4:07
Backing Vocals – Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson
Written-By – Jonathan P. Moffett, Mike McKinney, Tito Jackson
5. I Don’t Want You To Go – 4:18
Written-By – Allee Willis, Bruce Roberts
6. Camp Kuchi Kaiai – 3:35
Written-By – Janet Jackson, La Toya Jackson
7. Summertime With You – 5:46
Written-By – Ollie E. Brown
8. Special Love – 5:02
Written-By – Jackie Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson