Sylvers - Forever Yours (1978)

Review by Ed Hogan
Leon F. Sylvers III made his producing debut on the Sylvers' Casablanca Records debut, Forever Yours. It was his and the rest of the family's chance to break away from the bubblegum soul sound that was fostered by producer Freddie Perren that had resulted in the gold single "Boogie Fever" and the hits "Cotton Candy," "Hot Line," and "High School Dance"; it also gave them the opportunity to write their own material. The lead single/Top 20 R&B hit "Don't Stop Get Off" was thick funk sprinkled with a JB-like horn section and replete with the then-popular "woop woop" chant. Other highlights are the luscious cover of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' "Swept for You" and the sweepingly romantic "Forever Yours" with its Smokey-ish lyrics: "Until the mountains turn to sand/you can always take my hand." Both were popular radio-aired LP tracks. Another standout is the Latin-tinged slacker funk of "Play This One Last Record" with its croaky spoken asides. "Don't Stop Get Off" is also on Boogie Fever: The Best of the Sylvers.