Stone Jam

Drummer/vocalist Steve Arrington joined Slave in 1978, and quickly became one of the group’s primary creative forces. His songwriting (he co-wrote five of the eight tracks here) and vocals moved the music in a smoother, more polished direction than in the past. On this, the group’s fifth album, female vocalist Starleana Young gave tracks like “Let’s Spend Some Time,” “Watching You” (the melody of which was lifted for the chorus of Snoop Dogg’s “Gin And Juice”) and “Feel My Love” a radio- and disco-friendly sheen, but the group’s hard-edged funk sound, particularly Mark Antone Adams’ persistently popping bass, was still very much present in “Sizzlin’ Hot” and the title piece.