Silk Degrees – Boz Scaggs

After starting the project with two contemporary albums, I combed through my suggestions to find something a little more vintage. Enter Silk Degrees, the 1976 Boz Scaggs’ album that would be the artist’s best-selling record.

Now, in all transparency, I have been exposed to this album in the past. In fact, the person who suggested it is none other than my mom, Kim. However, after perusing the track titles, I was only familiar with the track “Georgia” – and really only the opening line of the songs. The rest of any of the tracks that I had listened to in my early youth had long since been washed out or replaced by other memories. (It should be noted that I still very clearly remember being addicted to Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart”) So, with that disclaimer in mind, here are my thoughts:

By the time I was on the second chorus of the opening song, “What Can I Say,” I knew what I’d be in for: the seventies. More specifically, the disco pop of the seventies. I’m usually a little avoidant of the genre, but something interesting happened. As I walked the two block to the train, the piano, backup singers and synth strings put a Travolta-esque bounce in my step. It took every ounce of willpower in me to not start doing spins and making finger guns at people as I walked down Central Park West. Fortunately – for everyone – I abstained.

Silk degrees reminds me of my Freshman year of college. When I listen to the album today on CD, I can still tell you exactly where the “clicks” were on the 8 track cassette! (Kim Hopkins)

This is a delightful album in every sense of the word. It just puts a smile on your face. Although the first two tracks, “What Can I Say” and “Georgia,” have pretty poppy vibe, Boz follows up with “Jump Street” and shows us a bit of his rhythm and blues chops. The album garnered four singles, each with a distinct flavor from the diverse album. The true hidden gem of Silk Degrees, though, is the ballad “Harbor Lights.” I found the crooning “woahs” that precede each chorus absolutely engrained in my head throughout entire days of work; humming it, whistling it or singing it involuntarily. The slow, twilight-reminiscent feel of the song gives way during its final minute to a fast outburst of Latin-infused jazz. It’s unexpected, but perfectly executed.

While doing the little bit of research I typically do when coming to type up my reviews for 52 RPM, I found out that Boz Scaggs was a close friend and collaborator with Steve Miller (…of…the Steve Miller Band…in case you didn’t know who I was…yeah…ok) throughout the sixties, even performing on the Steve Miller Band’s first two albums, Children of the Future and Sailor.

I was also impressed to learn that Boz is a pretty accomplished guitarist in his own right, instead of being a standalone vocalist as so many in the disco pop era were. This album truly demonstrates his flexibility of genre and ability to write songs that have both sustenance and replayability.

The only real misgiving of this album is the same that I’ve found with all three records I’ve reviewed so far: the back end kind of drops off. The first half of it is solid and engaging, but it just kind of trails into the end. I’m hoping that one of the next albums I listen to for the project doesn’t do that, or it may just be a personal problem.

Regardless, find an mp3 or 8-track of Silk Degrees to listen to sometime in the coming week – you won’t regret it.

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Released: March 1976

Suggested by: Kim Hopkins

For project details and to suggest your own favorite album, visit the intro page.