Sean Trane
Behind the generally-unbecoming artwork (for a GSH&BJ album), Secrets is a very funky affair that can surprise a bit their usual or casual listeners. In some ways, GSH’s earlier ethics and aesthetics are taking quite a beating with such a commercial endeavour and it is strange to see how a revolutionary mind can be softened. It’s not that surprising when one notices that this album was released on one of the vilest “rock” record label of the late 70’s, let me name Arista records, which completely ruined more than one artiste’ credibility.
There isn’t much to be said about individual tracks, most of them could fit in the general funk-soul-RnB realm (sometimes veering close to disco music) without shocking anyone (except the afore-mentioned listeners), and it should overwhelm anyone either… Just a typical late 70’s product, with an unusual pedigree, with some near-sickening music-industry schlock music, designed for radio airplay and mass sales without much risk, other being sunken in the depth of the ocean by the sheer mass of its competition. Best avoided if you ask me, even if it isn’t really offensive to the discriminate music fan