Herbie Hancock: Monster (1980)

Despite the PR hype about this being Herbie Hancock's first "rock" album, Monster is really another disco album, though more varied in texture, somewhat more subtle in execution, and blessedly rid of those vocoder vocals, though not of the real ones. "Saturday Night," despite the distinctive presence of Carlos Santana, sets the album's dancefloor tone. The rock element is supposedly supplied by Hancock on the newly-developed Clavitar, where, try as he might to articulate like a guitarist, the sound is still that of a mutated synthesizer. Alphonze Mouzon is wasted on drums, and guitarist Wah Wah Watson has a field day on his eponymous specialty. Most annoying (and defining) track -- "Go for It." ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide

Tracklist:
01 - Saturday Night
02 - Stars In Your Eyes
03 - Go For It
04 - Don't Hold It In
05 - Making Love
06 - It All Comes Round
Personnel:
Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin - Guitar
Julia Tillman Waters - Vocals
Fred Washington - Bass
Maxine Willard Waters - Vocals
Luther Waters - Vocals
Oren Waters - Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Wah Wah Watson - Guitar
Carlos Santana - Guitar
Freddie "Ready Freddie" Washington - Bass (Electric)
Julia - Vocals (Background)
Greg Walker - Vocals
Bill Champlin - Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Randy Hansen - Guitar
Gavin Christopher - Vocals
Sheila Escovedo - Percussion
Herbie Hancock - Synthesizer, Piano, Keyboards, Vocals, Clavinet, Producer, Oberheim, Mini Moog, Oberheim 8 Voice, Prophet 5, Clavitar
Alphonse Mouzon - Synthesizer, Drums, Keyboards
Ray Parker, Jr.- Bass
Monster
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Angelique Kidjo: Fifa (1996)

Angelique Kidjo's fifth album Fifa saw the artist experimenting further with the Western genres of soul and pop, resulting in her most mainstream record to date. As evidenced by "Naima," the stunning collaboration with Carlos Santana, Kidjo's instincts for pairing African rhythms and Western structures are inspired. Other highlights include "Wombo Lombo," "The Sound of the Drums," and "Shango." Unfortunately, Fifa proved to be a marketing challenge in the United States, and this melodic and rhythmic Kidjo record remains hard to find and largely undiscovered. A wonderful release.

Tracklist01. The Sound of the Drums
02. Wombo Lombo
03. Welcome
04. Shango
05. Bitchifi
06. Fifa
07. Goddess of the Sea
08. Akwaba
09. Koro-Koro
10. Naima
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