Unlimited! is the third solo album by Zapp frontman Roger Troutman (credited as "Roger"), released in 1987.[1] It includes a cover of James Brown's 1965 single "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", as well as Roger's biggest R&B and crossover hit (on the pop charts), "I Want to Be Your Man."
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Los Angeles Times | [3] |
| New Musical Express | 9/10[4] |
The Los Angeles Times called the album "a put-the-needle-anywhere LP that can only add to Troutman's still-growing reputation as a man with a solid plan for funk's future."[3] The Orlando Sentinel labeled it a "funky, jazzy, rocking album."[5] The St. Petersburg Times deemed "I Want to Be Your Man" "one of the best records of '87."[6] The Sydney Morning Herald judged "Been This Way Before" "a dance track beyond George Clinton, a place where no other artist has gone before."[7]
AllMusic considered Unlimited! to be Troutman's best solo album.[2]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Want to Be Your Man" | 4:14 |
| 2. | "Night and Day" | 4:19 |
| 3. | "Been this Way Before (rap)" | 5:11 |
| 4. | "Composition to Commemorate (May 30, 1918)" | 4:48 |
| 5. | "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" | 3:45 |
| 6. | "Thrill Seekers" | 4:50 |
| 7. | "Tender Moments" | 4:19 |
| 8. | "If You're Serious" | 4:24 |
| 9. | "Private Lover" | 4:03 |
| 10. | "I Really Want to Be Your Man" | 3:44 |
| 11. | "Bedistguitarist-A-Rown" | 3:13 |
Personnel
Musicians
- Roger Troutman: Lead vocals, talk box, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, bass, congas, percussion, backing vocals
- Terry "Zapp" Troutman: Bass, keyboards, backing vocals
- Billy Beck: Keyboards, backing vocals
- Curtis Cowen: Keyboards
- Lester Troutman: Drums, congas, percussion
- Dale DeGroat: Keyboards
- Johnny Lytle: Vibraphone
- Carl Cowen, James Cameron: Horns
- Additional backing vocalists: Clete Troutman, Mark Thomas, Nicole Cottom, Ray Davis, Shirley Murdock
Production
- Producer: Roger Troutman
- Editor: Roger Troutman, Zapp Troutman, Curtis Cowen, Tony Jackson
- Mixing: Roger Troutman, Zapp Troutman, Curtis Cowen, Tony Jackson
- Engineer [Editing, Mixing, Recording] - Curtis Cowen, Lester Troutman, Charles Jackson
References
- ^ "Roger Biography by Greg Prato". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Unlimited! Review by John Floyd". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ a b Johnson, Connie (3 Jan 1988). "Roger Troutman, the Techno Tease". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 66.
- ^ McCready, John (21 November 1987). "Roger: Unlimited". New Musical Express. p. 35.
- ^ Torres, Agnes (7 Feb 1988). "Roger Catches Mainstream Current". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 1.
- ^ Snider, Eric (3 Jan 1988). "Roger: Unlimited!". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2F.
- ^ Barber, Lynden (February 22, 1988). "Equally noisy, but very different...". The Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 4.