(June 19, 2025) It’s easy to forget how big The Pointer Sisters were in the 1970s and 80s. They had hits in the mid-70s with “Yes We Can, Can” and “How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side), but starting in 1978 with “Fire” and through the 1980s, The Pointer Sisters were massive as they made the transformation from a New Orleans soul group to an R&B/pop group.
The 1983 album Breakout, was a breakout indeed. And it included the smash hit “Automatic,” which has now been reimagined by drummer Nate Smith with Lalah Hathaway handling the vocals.
The original “Automatic” was a sleek, synthy dance track and a fun exploration of the mind and body controlling qualities that love has. Smith comes from the jazz world, but he’s also mastered R&B, hip-hop and pop, as his collaborations attest. Here, he transforms “Automatic” into a percussive number that allows him to display his creativity on the skins even as his playing gives the song its foundation. Lalah Hathaway moves effortlessly from seductively conversational to energetic when she dives into the hook. She also highlights her ability to improvise, matching Smith’s creativity as the song reaches the bridge.
Check out Nate Smith and Lalah Hathaway on their rendition of The Pointer Sisters’ classic dance tune “Automatic” here.
By Howard Dukes
