HOT IN HERE "HOT IN HERE"

Artist: Hot In Here
Album: Hot In Here
Company: Baby Grand
Catalog: SE 1068
Released: 1977
Genre: disco
Grade: ** 2 stars
Condition: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Comments: --
Quantity available: 1
Price: $120,00

I'm guessing that Hot In Here was a studio project put together by Canadian writer/producer Paul Zaza.  The performance credits listed the vocalists as Bruce Burns, Tricia Jones, and Kathryn Ward, but Zaza produced most of 1977's "Hot In Here" and was credited with writing seven of the album's nine tracks.  Moreover, about half of the album consisted of instrumental titles.  (As an aside, if you poked around the Baby Grand label, you'd see Zaza's creative fingerprints were on a bunch of the imprint's albums.)  Musically, with the exception of the instrumental 'The Gasworks' this was little more than a throwaway collection of disco madness.  True, under Zaza's hand tracks like 'Burbank Robbery' displayed a little more creativity and taste than most of the competition.  That said, this was meant as musical product, rather than art.    

 

"Hot In Here" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) We Got Love   (J. Plotkin) - 4:45

One of two non-Zaza compositions, 'We Got Love' was a standard slice of mid-1970s disco fodder.  The female lead singers didn't have much in the way of voices - kind of little girl wails that you'd normally find cloying, but with a couple of drinks was probably something that could largely be ignored on the dance floor.  Nice horn charts kicked in about midway through the song.   rating: ** stars

2.) Me, Myself & I   (G. Levine) - 9:50

Clocking in at almost 10 minutes, 'Me, Myself & I' was another disco number, but this time out the song actually generated a bit of energy; particularly when there weren't any vocals.  Most of the vocals were sung in a group harmony fashion which didn't have all that much appeal, though Bruce Burns brief solo turns were better than the two women.  The song's highlights came in the form of Steven Hines mini-Moog moves. (Yes, I believe he's the same guy who recorded an album for the Tiger Lily label). Imagine one of the better tracks off of a Boney M, or Silver convention album ...   rating: *** stars

3.) The Gasworks (instrumental)   (Paul Zaza) - 4:25

The instrumental 'The Gasworks' was easily the side one highlight.  Built on a New Orleans funk groove, the song showed some tasty R&B moves, including nice lead guitar and some first-rate horns charts.  The Meters would have been proud !!!  Shame the rest of side one wasn't as good.   rating: **** stars 

 

(side 2)
1.) Don't Bother Me No More   (Paul Zaza) - 3:01

Side two opened up with an anonymous slice of disco material.  At least 'Don't Bother Me No More' was short.   rating: ** stars

2.) Burbank Robber (instrumental)   (Paul Zaza) - 2:40

The instrumental 'Burbank Robber' started out as a disco-ish piece, but about halfway in took a jazz turn which was actually quite interesting and enjoyable.   rating: *** stars

3.) Hot To Trot (instrumental)  (Paul Zaza) - 3:00

The horn-propelled instrumental 'Hot To Trot' also avoided strident disco moves in favor of a more funk-oriented attack.  The song also sported a great Randy Mitchell guitar solo.   rating: *** stars 

4.) Makin' Waves (instrumental)   (Paul Zaza) - 2:41

Another instrumental (okay there were some  female moans), 'Makin' Waves' sounded like The Tower of Power recording something from a television soundtrack.  Professional, but hardly the album's most enthralling composition.   rating: ** stars   

5.) Go Go Disco (instrumental)   (Paul Zaza) - 2:40

The title pretty much said it all.  With the exception of another nice Randy Mitchell fuzz guitar solo, 'Go Go Disco' had all the appeal of a toothpaste commercial.  Even bouncy horns couldn't save this one.   rating: ** stars   

6.) We Got Love (reprise)   (J. Plotkin) - 4:49

The ''We Got Love' reprise really didn't do anything to improve this track.   rating: ** stars

 

Yes, whoever she was, the front cover model had some stunning attributes.