Two albums back to back from Carl Anderson -- an overlooked singer from the early 80s, finally getting his due! Absence Without Love is a wicked little set from Anderson -- a singer who first found fame on the state, later sung in a spiritual world, but does an especially great job here! Anderson's got some really mighty pipes on the date -- a vocal approach that's bold, robust, and plenty proud -- stepping out with a bit more strength than some of his mainstream contemporaries in the early 80s -- almost at a level that's in Luther Vandross territory, and we mean that in a good way. Production is by Richard Rudolph, who brings in the hip mix of sophisticated soul and jazz touches he used while working with Minnie Riperton in the 70s -- especially near the end of her too-short life -- and titles include the nice groover "Buttercup", plus "C'est La Vie", "Fooled Myself Again", "Lose That Girl", "Amour", and "AWOL" -- which features guest work from Teena Marie. On & On is a sweet second set from 80s singer Carl Anderson -- a date that's got poise, class, and a heck of a lot of soul! Although a mainstream effort, there's a nice sort of depth to the record -- one that shows that Columbia wasn't pitching Anderson as much towards a crossover artist as they were some of their other mid 80s acts -- instead, letting him really hang back and do his own thing -- in a warmly-swinging mode that still holds up beautifully over the years! The record's a real standout in 80s mainstream male soul -- and thanks is certainly due to producer/arrangers John Skip Anderson and Steve Williams, who carefully avoid the commercial side of the spectrum. Titles include "Don't Make Me Wait", "Try", "Keep It Alive", "On & On", "Lately", and "Time To Win".
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