Shiver In the Night

Album Review

Shiver In The Night sounds like a stab at a hit record for Andy Pratt. Though Arif Mardin is retained as producer, the sound is not quite as ornate or complex as Resolution. On several cuts, including the opening "All I Want Is You," it sounds as if Pratt and/or Mardin are trying to emulate the Bee Gees mid 70's disco sound. (Mardin had produced the Bee Gees' "comeback" album Main Course) Not that it is a bad cut; in fact, it is one of the highlights and hollers "hit single." (It has a great hook) The following song, "Rainbow" is also very strong and hints at Pratt's later conversion to Christianity. Elsewhere, there are other songs that are more lyrically in line with the "heaviness" of Resolution. "Mama's Getting Love," is, on the other hand, very erotic and has a very unusual twist on carnality. It is not the usual type of song one expects to hear from Andy Pratt. Though the album sounds quite commercial in comparison to his other recordings, and has a dance element that is not representative of most of his work, it is still pretty good. Pratt's vocal style(including a wide use of falsetto) and complex melody lines remain in full force. There are several fine guitar solos by Mark Doyle, and the string arrangement on "So Faint" is elaborate and quite stirring. The album is certainly not up to the standards of "Resolution," (which would have been nearly impossible) but taken by itself, it is still a good record that showcases Pratt's strengths of melody and craftsmanship.