Narada Michael Walden - The Nature Of Things (1985)

For The Nature of Things, Michigan native Narada Michael Walden went back to his musical roots when he lent a strong Motown vibe to "Gimme Gimme Gimme," his rousing duet with Patti Austin which recalls the romantic upbeat hits of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. It was a Top 40 R&B hit in the spring of 1985. That same year, the '60s Motown sound worked very well for producer Walden and singer Aretha Franklin on "Freeway of Love," a Top Three R&B/pop smash from Who's Zoomin' Who?. Other standouts are the airy "High Above the Clouds" and the hopeful, reggae-ish "Wear Your Love." Both "Gimme Gimme Gimme" and "High Above the Clouds" appear on Rhino's Ecstasy's Dance: The Best of Narada Michael Walden.