Teddy Pendergrass

For this seminal 1980 album, Pendergrass perfects the persona of a tragic romantic with a dabble of passion and a douse of tenderness. The maudlin hit single "Can't We Try" frames Pendergrass "a hapless fool in love," while he takes "the bumps and bruises of a two time loser" on "Love T.K.O." Tendergrass is basically Isaac Hayes without the smut, or the thetans.

With the Futures doing backup and Stephanie Mills doing duet and Ashford & Simpson doing their number and Cecil Womack doing himself proud, this may well be the definitive Teddy. Only once does he break into a fast tempo, which is fine with me, because schmaltz is the man's meat. He needs, he demands, he comes on hard, he comes on subtle, he goodtimes, he longtimes--in short, he inspires heavy petting, and we all know what that can lead to. (Grade - A-)