Celi Bee

The cream of the crop of Celi Bee's '70s output, her junior effort opens with the expertly orchestrated title track, a disco opus comprised of several distinctive melodic structures that nearly make it a medley. Backed by subtle strings, fluid horns, and a sturdy rhythm section, "Fly Me on the Wings of Love" fuses jazz and traditional Latin elements into a disco experience that is both mentally and physically satisfying. Interestingly, though, Celi Bee's vocals aren't quite as convincing as on the remaining tracks. She premieres her songwriting abilities here by contributing the sullen ballad "Can't Let You Go" and the catchy "Boomerang," which was covered by German pop siren Ramona Wulf shortly after its appearance here. The remaining two tracks are slow numbers which prove the singer isn't limited to repetitive dance fare. She doesn't have a particularly strong voice, but she sings with a conviction and tenderness that the songs wear quite closely. Hot Productions reissued the album on CD in 1993, but -- presumably due to a defect in the master -- the title track is cut down from its original 12-minute length to just under eight. ~ Justin M. Kantor, All Music Guide