Album of the Day

STONE JAM features a stone idol on its cover, and few bands were more worthy of worship by R&B fans than Slave. Emerging from the rich Dayton music scene that also birthed the Ohio Players, the group knew how to bring the funk, which by the time of this 1980 Cotillion release had acquired a sophisticated polish. “Sizzlin' Hot” is an apt description of the instrumental work here, as Steve Arrington and Starleana Young share lead vocal duties on such smooth-grooved originals as “Feel My Love” and “Watching You” (which made some noise on the pop chart). STONE JAM would be the final album to feature founder Steve Washington, and the gold-certified set is an ideal introduction to both the tough and tender sides of Slave.