Lenny Williams

Lenny Williams was a product of a pre-MTV era, in which talent and chops counted for more than image in R&B. Although the former Tower of Power singer was considered attractive and could drive women wild -- especially when he was belting out a romantic Tower of Power ballad like "So Very Hard to Go" or "Willing to Learn" -- it was Williams' amazing vocal range that ultimately won over '70s soul audiences. One of the best solo albums that Williams recorded after leaving Tower in 1975 was 1977's Choosing You, a generally excellent LP that was produced by Frank Wilson. Most of the time, this is a very optimistic record -- Williams' optimism is hard to miss on upbeat offerings like "Shoo Doo Fu Fu Ooh!," "Look Up With Your Mind," and the funky title song (which boasts an addictive groove that won't quit). Choosing You isn't a disco album, although its positive outlook reflects the feel-good mentality of the disco era. This isn't to say that the lyrics aren't substantial -- on "Please Don't Tempt Me," for example, Williams portrays a married man who is battling the urge to commit adultery. Regrettably, Choosing You went out of print when ABC folded -- and when the 20th century came to an end, it had yet to be reissued on CD. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi