Boney M was known for their super disco songs, and of course their ballads too, but disco was what cemented their popularity all over the world.

After the huge success of Boney M's third album 'Nightflight To Venus' that spent 65 weeks on the UK charts, expectations were sky high to what their next album would bring. But this album of 13 songs boasts of a huge pouring of upbeat disco melodies and love ditties.

The album opens on Side A with Let It All Be Music, a disco-rock stomper with solo parts by German record producer Frank Farian, Boney M singers Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett, and guest singer, Precious Wilson (formerly of the band Eruption).  Gotta Go Home is another punchy disco track bringing forth Boney M.'s Caribbean roots. Dancer Bobby Farrell appears on this album collaborating with Liz and Maria seen in the duet Bye Bye Bluebird, a tight, funky disco track filled with flute, sax solos, Farrell singing with his falsetto harmonies versus his deep male voice. The third female vocalist Maizie Williams did not feature on this album.

Bahama Mama is another cool track and speaks about Bahama Mama who has six daughters whom she can't get married. Quite a story we’d say. Precious Wilson's first solo single, and maybe the first time she sang on an album to proceed on a solo career was the song Hold On I'm Coming with Farian on backing vocals. Moving to bit of reggae and you have Two Of Us a smart take on one of the lesser known songs in The Beatles' catalogue. The last song Ribbons of Blue one of Boney M.'s most romantic songs and has a country-flavour running through it and is a song penned by their drummer Keith Forsey.

On Side B the energy gets less. The side opens with the title track of the album swishing magnificently and harmoniously with Frank Farian as he sings once more on the main track. One of my favorites comes in with the heart touching El Lute (also the band’s first lead single), a beautiful mid-tempo song, somewhat reminiscent of ABBA's Fernando. The song tells the true story of Spanish outlaw Eleuterio Sanchez, one of Spain’s most wanted criminal, who was still in prison at the time the song was released, though he was shortly to be released following a pardon. The flute, drums and slow melody brings out a magical effect. The song presents his claim that Sanchez was wrongly convicted of murder and links his liberation from prison to the liberation of his country from oppression after the rule of France. It is reported that during a promotional visit in Spain, Boney M met Sanchez while he was in prison and gave him a golden record for the sales of the single.

Moving on there is No More Chain Gang, I'm Born Again, the former a slow melody with Liz Mitchell on the lead vocals. Marcia Barrett sings vibrantly on the funky No Time To Lose that talks about her man being free again and coming home to her. The album ends with a Calypso flavoured version of a South African traditional, The Calendar Song a song which is still popular today for all the months of the year and probably the only song that has months in the year in song. It’s a fun song for any party and outing with friends and family.

While we can say the album has outstanding production and sound, this is definitely Boney M’s best album and one of the greatest disco albums ever and is of course a classic pop album.

Release date: 21^st September 1979

Record Label: Hansa – Gatefold

Pressing: Polydor India - Gatefold

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira