OLIVER CHEATHAM Get Down Saturday Night
Dutch Vinyl Masterpiece 1983 / 2007
1) Get Down Saturday Night 2) Make Your Mind Up 3) Something About You 4) Bless The Ladies
5) Do Me Right 6) Never Gonna Give You Up 7) Through It All 8) Just To Be With You 9) Get
Down Saturday Night (Special Extended Version)
This was an album I ignored because I was sick to death of hearing the title track. It was
always one of “those” old favourites that was duly trundled out at various soul do's in favour
of some other new record that was equally as deserving but yet ignored. I connected this
record with those who could not see further than their early 80s clubbing days. This was the
ultimate groove for those who's own needle had got stuck.
The years have passed and I have grown to love the song again, realising what a MONSTER it
really is. Its a classic, let's face it. Everyone knows and loves it, even the ankle-biters
will have some exposure thanks to dance act Room 5 and their hit back in 2003. I was
totally ignorant to the fact that one of my favourites – Kevin McCord – had co-written this tune.
The One Way connection does not stop there. Al Hudson, Al Perkins and the
One Way gang contribute to this groovy slab of 80s soul.
There isn't much more to say about the title track bar the good folks at Vinyl Masterpiece
have given us the added bonus of a special extended version. I have to confess that even
though I adore 80s dance tracks, those by One Way don't always stand the test of time.
I personally feel that they were not beaten on the ballad front, and that's where
Kevin McCord came into his own. Thankfully this is not the case on this album. “Make Up Your Mind”
is the weakest uptempo offering on here, whereas “Just To Be With You” sounds excellent.
This bobs along and gets the old head nodding. 24 years on and this sounds as fresh
as a daisy.
“Something About You” oozes summertime good vibes and once we see any sun, then it will be
pumping out of the car. This is Kevin McCord's classy work yet again. “Do Me Right” and
“Never Gonna Give You Up” are yet more quality tracks that has One Way and their unique
style stamped all over it. Pure class. Oliver Cheatham does a great job of manifesting a
Cortez Harris style falsetto within “Through It All” and does nothing but make this
album an essential purchase. This is a great sounding album. The quality is superb – and
so it should be. Quality music demands nothing short of 110% effort. And that's what we
have here.
- Barry Towler