by Ed Hogan
Inner Life II was the New York-based studio group's best album. Produced by guitarist/songwriter Stan Lucas, it yielded some of the group's most enduring material. It's also a real treat for Jocelyn Brown fans, as she does lead vocals on all of the cuts Leroy Burgess co-wrote, and she sang and played keyboards on the uplifting &Moment of My Life,& which tells of spiritual redemption. Brown really went to &cherch& on that one. The tight rhythm section of Burgess, bassist James Calloway, and drummer Sonny Davenport is featured on the track. It became an instant dance classic, receiving airplay on R&B and college stations. Its follow-up was the playful &I Like It Like That.& The album version sounds different from the single and 12& versions -- like it was a different take, though it could just sound that way because of the clever mixing skills of Shep Pettibone. The ballad &Feel What I'm Feeling& almost rivals &Make It Last Forever& -- not the Keith Sweat hit -- from Inner Life in its sheer sensuality. The four-on-the-floor jam &Got to Find Me Somebody& is a rousing album closer.