Sun

Sun had high hopes for its fourth album, Destination: Sun, which came out in 1979. The Dayton funksters had enjoyed two hits -- "Wanna Make Love" in 1976 and "Sun Is Here" in 1978 -- but they had yet to come out with a blockbuster album that would go double or triple platinum and give them supergroup status. Unfortunately for Sun, Destination: Sun wasn't that album. The infectious funk single "Radiation Level" wasn't the hit it should have been, and the LP didn't receive very much attention. But while Destination: Sun isn't a masterpiece (except for "Radiation Level"), it's a generally enjoyable record. Catchy funk items like "Deep Rooted Feeling (Stand Up)" and "Pure Fire" didn't make Sun as big as the Commodores or the Bar-Kays; nor did the soul ballad "Baby, I Confess" or the perky, Earth, Wind & Fire-ish "Hallelujah Spirit" (which is somewhat similar to EWF's "Sing a Song"). But they're still decent. The weakest tune on the LP is "I Want to Be With You (Forever)," a pop/R&B ballad that tries to emulate the Commodores' "Three Times the Lady" and ends up being much too mushy for its own good. Nonetheless, Destination: Sun has more plusses than minuses, and it's a shame that the record didn't enjoy more attention. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide