Back to Basics! English 101 is the fifth and final studio album by the American singer, songwriter, and session drummer Joe English, a former member of Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles band Wings, released on Refuge Records in 1988, distributed by Lexicon/Spectra Spectra. The album was producer by Joey Powers.
Joe English later appeared as a member of the Compassion All Star Band, a multi-artist combo which released a sole album – One by One Live! – on Sparrow Records in 1989.
For Joe English “back to basics” apparently means a return to the soul-flavored pop of his earlier Refuge release, ‘Lights in the World‘. Altough English has primarily built his reputation as a drummer par excellence, ‘English 101’ focuses on his vocal talents and leaves the drum programming to one Billy Blum.
The best tracks are «Behold the Glory», written by a former English bandmate, Tommy Greer, and «Take Me Back». Dave Eastman and Chris McCollum (both Englishmen, no pun intended) contributed six of the album’s 10 tunes; producer Joey Powers adorns the mix with a lot of Earth, Wind, & Fire-style horn samples and a revved-up female soul chorus. The aptly-titled «Too Much» labors under the excess calories of a syrupy ’50s-ear arrangement that would embarrass even Neil Sedaka. ‘English 101’ also includes an ill-advised “Christianized” remake of the Motown classic, «How Sweet It Is». Regrettably, it isn’t. Joe’s next album may have to be ‘Remedial English’. [Mark Eischer, CCM, April 1988]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Take Me Back” – 3:57
A2. “Truth And Lies” – 3:40
A3. “Remember” – 3:55
A4. “Too Much” – 3:36
A5. “Hot Fire” – 3:32
Side Two
B1. “The Secrets Of The Kingdom” – 4:05
B2. “Stop Looking Over Love” – 4:08
B3. “Behold The Glory” – 3:25
B4. “This Must Be Love” – 3:36
B5. “How Sweet It Is” – 3:13
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Refuge Records.
A full-page advertisement for Joe English’s Back to Basic! English 101 was featured in the April 1988 issue of CCM Magazine.
