Evelyn "Champagne" King

With a healthy array of simple yet funky soul/disco romps, King's debut outing is a fine catch for 70's R&B connoisseurs. Grooves like the savvy titletrack, with its undulating drum fills and serene and stylish vocal arrangement; the assertive "We're Going to a Party"; and the quietly melodic, pondering "I Don't Know If It's Right" (R&B #7, Pop #23), showcase the singer's power and poise finely against solid arrangements. And then there's the perennial dancefloor classic "Shame" (R&B and Pop #7), a bustling romp with an unforgettable transitional bridge and catchy chorus. Several forgettable numbers do surface, in the form of the bland, repetitive "Dancin', Dancin', Dancin" and the unconvincing heavy funk stance of "Til I Come off the Road." But on the whole, Smooth Talk proves itself a fun, satisfying listen for the body - if not a genius piece of soul. ~ Justin M. Kantor, All Music Guide