Review: “I’m Yours” by Linda Clifford (Vinyl, 1980)

Today’s Pop Rescue from a fate uncertain is the 1980 album I’m Yours – the sixth album by American disco, R&B, and house music singer Linda Clifford. Will this album be something to cherish, or will there be flashing Red Lights to warn you? Read on…

Linda Clifford - I'm Yours (1980) album — Linda Clifford – I’m Yours (1980) album.

This 7 track LP opens with the sultry Shoot Your Best Shot, which leads you into some kind of late-night chill out, but then suddenly Linda arrives, and the bass, handclaps, and disco beat arrives and the song is transformed – it comes complete with an almost comedic Western pistol shot sound. This is the first of the six (of seven) tracks produced by Isaac Hayes here, and whilst I’m unsure what extent his influence is evident here (he does have songwriter, producer, and keyboard credits for this album), this opening track is a great disco opener.

Piano gently leads us to backing vocals and harmonies in the mellow intro to I Had A Talk With My Man. Here we get some really wonderful vocals from both Linda and her backing vocalists, and their backing helps to lift Linda higher and higher throughout. It’s a plodder, but a great showcase for Linda’s vocal range and power. The track was released as a single in the US, but failed to repeat her success.

Side One closes with a return to the funk for It Don’t Hurt No More. This one will challenge your ability to sit still, as the funky bass and vocal repetition in the chorus delivers another great song. It doesn’t evolve massively, but is a nice steady track.

Side Two opens with lead single Red Light, and this gave Linda a hit in the USA. The track is thick with bass and disco beats. It flows perfectly, unhurried, and whilst this is my first listen to this track, it feels wonderfully familiar. Linda gets to throw her vocals up high and fast, as she duels momentarily alongside the guitar. Whilst the track was a single in the US, and popular thanks in part to its inclusion on the Fame soundtrack, it didn’t touch the charts here.

Then it’s I Want To Get Away With You, which gives us some more beautifully slinky bass and shuffling beats. A piano gently tinkles away, teasing us towards the vocals. Linda sounds slightly different here – her vocals are richer, warmer, and fuller, and this sounds magnificent. The false and abrupt endings also work well too, teasing that ‘Get Away’ throughout.

If You Let Me follows that, dropping us in on a piano and gentle rim-shot beat. This opens out to give Linda a love song to sing, but it sits comfortably in mid-tempo ballad territory. Linda’s vocals get plenty of space to shine here, and she makes light work of this track.

The album closes with the titular I’m Yours, and as you might expect it is a loved up track, with Linda full of hope that her love will treat her right. I could easily imagine Shirley Bassey singing this and giving a few big belting notes as the track meanders along.

Linda Clifford’s lead single ‘Red Light’ (1980).

Verdict

Over all, this album is a veritable feast of funkiness and rich warm vocals.

Hit single Red Light definitely stands out here as a highlight, but it’s not a clear win, with Shoot Your Best Shot and I Want To Get Away With You as close challengers. The production is slick and Linda’s vocals and backing vocalists sound fantastic here. Given this is a vinyl LP, i’m now curious how a digital format might sound.

There are a few weaker tracks here like If You Let Me and even I’m Yours, but they only seem weaker in contrast to the funky disco sound, by being slower mid-tempo/ballad tracks – and that just lets Linda’s rich voice shine with ease.