KC TEN
Release Date: 1983
Famous Tracks: Give It Up (single version)
CD Availability: Entire album not yet available on CD in the correct order; various tracks appear on Canadian cds
Becky Rating: 4 suns (out of 10)

TENTH INNING STRETCH

It's the Mighty Casey's tenth time at bat. In his first turn, he hit a triple. He then went on an incredible streak, hitting several home runs, then a double, and another triple, while getting some RBIs in the process.

With a record like that, you'll excuse him if he only hits a single this time.

Released in 1983, KC Ten is a mixed bag of ten songs, all but one written by KC. Several songs wouldn't have been out of place on All in a Night's Work; several others probably should have been arranged differently.

The album's biggest song is "Give It Up" - but wait, wasn't that on All in a Night's Work? Yep, but that was the version that went to Number 1 in Great Britain. This version was released in the United States in 1984 and got into the Top Twenty. On WLS Chicago, it was a Top Ten hit. When I first heard it, I thought it was a lost Sunshine Band track, so much did it try to re-create the old Sunshine Sound with horns and percussion. Now, I hear the 80s-synth keyboard, but it still puts out a Sunshine Sound groove.

(As a side note, a reviewer - not me - once compared the opening of "Give It Up" to the opening of George Harrison's "What Is Life." Yeah, I can hear it a little. Do you? Interesting that both songs spotlighted horns, too.)

The Jaggeresque falsetto voice is back on "Are You Ready," and for "Nobody Knows" and the cover of "Thank You Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Agin," KC affects a Dr. John-style growl. Does it work? You be the judge. He uses his normal voice for "In My World," a surprisingly touching ballad and the second best track on the album, and for "Too High" (not the Stevie Wonder song). He turns in a strong duet with former Sunshine Band backup singer Margaret Reynolds on "Let's Get Together," and former Sunshiners Jerome Smith and Fermin Goytisolo play on the album as well.

Sadly, KC would experience a number of difficult years following this album's release. His father, Harry L. Casey, with whom he was very close, passed away in March 1984 as "Give it Up" was climbing the charts. KC retired from music soon afterwards. Through the rest of the '80s, KC would deal with depression, cocaine and painkiller addictions, alcoholism, and weight gain. Fortunately, he has since beaten his addictions and lost the weight, and is back performing nearly 200 shows a year.

Is KC Ten a necessary purchase? Well, that's for you to decide. As of this writing, the entire album is not available in the United States on CD. You'll have to check your used vinyl stores. "Give it Up" is available on the two U.S. greatest hits packages, and all the KC Ten tracks (not in the correct order) can be found on various Canadian cds. Give it a tryout if you're up for a game.

But it's still better than Chicago X!

(c) 2002 Becky Banfield for Dos Gardenias Productions