Pointer Sisters ‎– Hot Together

The Pointer Sisters – Hot Together

A stylish slice of mid-1980s R&B, funk and dance-pop, The Pointer Sisters – Hot Together finds the Grammy-winning vocal group embracing the polished contemporary production of the decade. Released in 1986 on RCA Records, the album was produced by Richard Perry, continuing the successful creative partnership that had shaped much of the Pointer Sisters' music throughout the early and mid-1980s.

By this point, The Pointer Sisters had already established themselves as one of America's most versatile vocal groups. Their ability to move effortlessly between soul, funk, pop, rock and dance music had produced major hits including “Fire,” “Jump (For My Love)” and “Neutron Dance.” Hot Together represents another stage in that evolution, combining the sisters' distinctive vocal personalities with the glossy, rhythm-focused production characteristic of 1980s R&B.

The album opens with “My Life,” a contemporary, groove-driven number co-written by actress and comedian Sandra Bernhard alongside Adele Bertei and David Paul Bryant. “Mercury Rising” follows with a sleek, dancefloor-friendly arrangement, before “Goldmine” delivers one of the album's standout moments. The latter was released as the lead single and became a particularly strong performer on the group's R&B and dance charts, reaching No. 17 on the US R&B chart and No. 7 on the US Dance chart.

The first side continues with the soulful “All I Know Is The Way I Feel” and “Say The Word,” balancing the album's contemporary production with the rich harmonies that remained central to the Pointer Sisters' sound. “All I Know Is The Way I Feel” was subsequently released as a single and reached the US Adult Contemporary and R&B charts.

Side B begins with the album's title track, “Hot Together,” a lively funk-pop number that has enjoyed a particularly interesting afterlife. The song was later featured in the soundtracks of the films Spaceballs and Stakeout, as well as being used in an NBA promotional campaign, helping it remain one of the more recognisable tracks from the album.

The remainder of the record moves between funk, soul and polished pop, with “Sexual Power,” “Set Me Free,” “Taste” and “Eyes Don't Lie” showcasing the sisters' ability to adapt their powerful vocal performances to the studio production of the period. “Taste” is particularly notable for its playful vocal arrangement, with the group experimenting with different vocal characters and registers.

Hot Together reached No. 48 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 39 on the US Top Black Albums chart, while also reaching No. 20 in Sweden. Although it did not match the huge commercial impact of Break Out or Contact, the album remains an interesting document of The Pointer Sisters during their transition through the polished R&B and dance-pop landscape of the mid-1980s.

For collectors of The Pointer Sisters, 1980s soul, R&B, funk, dance-pop and classic RCA vinyl, Hot Together offers a fascinating snapshot of the group at a pivotal point in their career. With standout tracks including “Goldmine,” “Mercury Rising,” “My Life” and “Hot Together,” it combines the group's trademark vocal talent with the slick, contemporary sound of 1986.

Tracklist

Side A

1. My Life – 4:14
2. Mercury Rising – 4:34
3. Goldmine – 3:51
4. All I Know Is The Way I Feel – 4:43
5. Say The Word – 3:37

Side B

1. Hot Together – 4:14
2. Sexual Power – 3:43
3. Set Me Free – 4:53
4. Taste – 4:56
5. Eyes Don't Lie – 3:39