The Floaters - Float Into The Future (1979)

In 1979, the Floaters were desperately in need of another hit single. Magic, their sophomore album of 1978, had been a commercial disappointment -- and they hoped that their third album, Float into the Future, would do better. For this 1979 LP, the Floaters recruited producer/songwriter Gene McDaniels, who was known for (among other things) writing Roberta Flack's early-'70s smash, "Feel Like Makin' Love." McDaniels had a track record but, unfortunately, he didn't give the Floaters the big hit they were hoping for. Although not a bad album, Float into the Future is uneven and inconsistent. There are a few standout tracks, including the funky "Brand New Lite" and the romantic soul ballad "The Best of Our Love" (which features a likable but little-known female vocalist named Afreeka Trees). But overall, Float into the Future is unremarkable. "Go Down to the Disco" and "Levitation" are average funk-dance numbers, and in 1979 the Floaters needed material that was more than just average -- they needed an album full of exceptional, first-rate songs. But Float into the Future does not fit that description, and this LP received very little attention. In fact, it's safe to say that most of the people who bought the Float On single in 1977 ignored Float into the Future, which went out of print only a few years after it was released. In 1979, the Floaters were hoping that Float into the Future would prevent them from being one-hit wonders but, regrettably, that's exactly what they turned out to be.