Alicia Bridges: Press

A treasure trove of obscure material given new life.
It's strange how music comes into my life. I don't find it. It finds me. I have never been able to have a friend introduce me to an artist. I never enjoy the music that is played to me. But songs and artists come into my life out of the blue, and at exactly the time they need to come into my life.
One afternoon earlier this year I was sitting at my computer and out of the blue it occured to me that I should check out Alicia Bridges. I knew "I Love The Nightlife" of course, and that's one of the strangest, campiest, and unique songs I've ever heard. Alicia's delivery is one of a kind. I knew at that moment I had to see what this woman's other music was like. I originally bought an import compilation that included most of the tracks from Alicia's first two albums and "This Girl Don't Care" which is a remaster of Alicia's third album. I was hooked and moved by the music.
Along comes "Say It Sister". This compilation also collects songs from Alicia's first two albums but for me it was a must-have because all the songs left off the other comp are included here.
The opening track is immediately a winner. Alicia's vocals are exhuberant and alive. Sometimes I laugh at how bizarre some of Bridges vocal inflections are, but in a loving way. This woman seems to be very passionate about her music and her lyrics. It must also be noted how versatile she is as an artist. The songs really do range from rock rock to blues to disco to ballad to art song and back.
My personal favorites on this comp are "What Would You Do If Your Heart Stopped Beating Tonight" and "In The Name Of Love". I feel these songs capture Alicia at her most emotional. The lyrics are brilliant and I can relate.
I also do not agree that "I Love The Nightlife" was Alicia Bridges masterpiece. That honor would have to go to "Diamond In The Rough". That song says something that I really think a lot of people can relate to. I know in different articles it has been referenced that it's message of "changing to fit in" may be attibuted to Alicia's sexuality. This may be so, but the scope of this song is much much wider than that in my opinion. This world is full of vibrant thinkers, and artists, and individuals who don't seem to fit into any easy boxes. That song is our anthem. Thank you Alicia. Now that all your old music is reissued I hope you write some new stuff. I'd love to write with you. Glad to see these songs dusted of and given a new life.

Alicia Bridges "This Girl Don't Care" is reminiscent of the eighties as it evolved from disco era to the more hard charging later years of dance meets rock. An artist that was pegged as a Disco Diva, she at last answers her fans’ requests for more of her creative works. With the release of the digitally remixed and remastered compilation of "This Girl Don’t Care" Alicia Bridges steps to the forefront with ferocity and raw emotion. With shameless honesty and a biting attitude she punches out at the arrogance of cheaters and heartbreakers. She takes you through the spectrum of love to hate as mockers receive their due with relentless intensity. In her song "I Regret It" she solidly states "I don’t like you anymore, you treat me like a wholesale item" followed by the comment "but that’s how it used to be" perhaps meaning that seeing truth is better than sucking in the lies. "Bullets Don’t Talk" lyrics establish that "You are never gonna change me and make me be like you". "This Girl Don’t Care" the title song from the CD emphatically states, “This girl don’t care about you, cause you don’t care about care about me, Don’t care about what you do. Don’t care about who you see" And a few lines later categorically proclaims "Don’t care about yo’ face! This Girl Don't Care". The attitude and delivery is aggressive assertion with a splash of craziness. There is never a tearful plea for reconciliation of any kind. Truth and fiction often enmesh in artistic creations, leaving the interpretation of fantasy and reality to the listener, as it should be. Nevertheless, there is a personal truth in Alicia's music that simply can’t be denied.

"Say It Sister" is packed with stellar performances from
The Tower of Power Horns, who yield perfect punches so purely that they slam dunk, on the mark, on "Play It As It Lays" and "I Learned To Dance Too Soon". The Tower of Power Horns are well known for creating excitement in musical sounds. When their talents are combined with all of the other seasoned musicians who are cranking out the great stuff on these two pumping tracks, the mix of all musicians creates a feel good, happy ride that makes it difficult if not impossible to resist moving and rocking along. The "Land of 1000 Dances" springs to mind.
On Say It Sister you will be treated to Sweet Screaming Sax Solos from Jay Scott, who quickly became internationally known for his riveting riffs and solos on "I Love The Nightlife". Jay’s sax brilliance has been enhanced on the new digitally remixed and remastered, "I Love The Nightlife" tracks. The mystique of Jay’s sweet bluesy tones have also been highlighted in the remixes and remastering of "California Sunset" on "Say It Sister".
Rhodes-Chalmers & Rhodes, so often heard singing their harmonies and their come squeeze me, sounds behind countless artists to include Al Green, now bring their enticing vocals to So Cozy. Their delicious oohs and aahhs portend that someone is going to get lucky tonight. Alicia’s vocal insists that It’s alright to be cozy together and Rhodes-Chalmers and Rhodes, like honey from the comb, reinforce this urging plea singing, let’s be cozy for ever with a lushness that simply demands sweet action. In, out, around, and through the dynamics of the entire track, Ken Bell weaves a spectacular thread of perfection on guitar. Special emphasis focused on Ken Bell’s guitar track ensures that the tone and flavor of every nuance he plays may be easily savored for the listeners pure pleasure. Ken Bells' list of credits and performances is enormous, but if you have been a listener of Millie Jackson, Al Green or Clarence Carter, then you have probably heard the easy, sexy style and the creative artistry of Ken Bell. Yes, that was Ken Bell gliding effortlessly through the tracks of "I Love The Nightlife”.