From 1980 to 1990, Midnight Star charted a dozen top-40 R&B singles in America while also making the hit registers of many European countries. The self-contained band pounded the pavement during its college days in Kentucky and shone with a handful of members assuming lead vocal duties. Shortly afterward, they became one of SOLAR Records’ most prolific acts.
Robinsongs’ upcoming three-disc set, The Definitive Collection, assembles more than three dozen of Midnight Star’s hits and fan favorites from their eight SOLAR albums. Their bestselling singles were electro-funk jams such as “Freak-a-Zoid” and “Operator”; but devoted fans also came to love classy soul ballads like “Love Me Today” and “Slow Jam” tucked away on their LP’s. One early example of such slow-jam prowess came in 1981 via their sophomore effort, Standing Together. “Can’t Give You Up” found Melvin Gentry and Belinda Lipscomb seamlessly trading lines of devotion amidst romantic strife penned by Reggie Calloway.
The earnestness of the duet, produced by Leon Sylvers, III, gleams with authenticity free of histrionics. Backed by lush strings and spry horn punctuations, Gentry and Lipscomb hone in on the lyrics’ probity with impeccable continuity. Released at a time when music videos for Black artists were more the exception than the rule (and usually not seen by fans outside of homes with cable providers that happened to carry a network such as BET), the clip for “Can’t Give You Up” is a treasure to behold of a group that was still in its formative artistic period, yet remarkably skilled and sophisticated in its creative execution.
Sit back and enjoy the mellow vibes and affectional performance of Midnight Star in their early video for “Can’t Give You Up,” and be on the lookout for The Definitive Collection this September.
