Planet Patrol

  • Planet Patrol
  • Planet Patrol (Tommy Boy) 1983 

Modern hip-hop meets classic soul: Arthur Baker and John Robie supply the songs, music(ians) and production, while the five members of Planet Patrol add skillful Motownish vocals that especially recall the Temptations in their prime. The four originals are soulful and exciting, with synth percussion and scratch-mix tricks interweaving with the inspiring singing. On two interesting covers — Gary Glitter’s “I Didn’t Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock and Roll)” and Todd Rundgren’s “It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference” — the stylistic traffic jam gets mighty bizarre, but the tracks still work.

[Ira Robbins]