Ray Parker Jr. ÔÇÄÔÇô The Other Woman Expanded (LTD)

After three prosperous albums with Raydio, Parker branches out on his own with a successful debut solo release. Not forsaking the sound that spawned a string of hits with Raydio, Parker chalks up two Billboard R&B Top Ten singles, the first being “The Other Woman.” With its midtempo rhythm and striking electric guitar, it crested at the number two position for four consecutive weeks, fizzling out after week 19; it also reached the number four spot on the Billboard pop charts. While “Let Me Go,” the second release, was a ballad of sorts, it also held a spot on the charts for 19 weeks, peaking at number three. As usual, Parker interjects his vocal sighs on nearly every song, and the third single release, “It’s Our Own Affair,” is no exception — a midtempo track with an easy-flowing rhythm that reached the 44th position on the charts. The remainder of the album is consistent with the aforementioned releases. The veteran session guitarist does not stray from his musical base; he keeps his compositions simple and production efficient.