Designer Music

Designer Music is the third studio album by American disco and funk group Lipps, Inc.. It is the last featuring Cynthia Johnson on lead vocals. The album was released in 1981 on Casablanca Records.

Designer Music continued the group's commercial decline. It was their first album not to chart anywhere. Despite this, it was certified platinum in Hong Kong, and 3x platinum in Mexico. The album itself is not available on streaming. However, the songs "Designer Music," "Hold Me Down" and "I Need Some Cash" are through the compilation albums, Funkytown: The Best of Lipps Inc and Funkytown.

 Composition 
Due to disco's decline in popularity, Lipps, Inc. turned to a more experimental sound on Designer Music. The group advertised the album as "omni-funk" and "pastiche." Critics felt it was primarily a funk album, with elements of punk rock and R&B. Apple Music said the album is "full of lush, innovative dance singles." They added that it foreshadowed "Minneapolis' electro-funk explosion" later in the decade. Cashbox called it a "scientific mixture of disco, Debussy and Devo."

The "new wave-flavored" title track has been compared to Devo and musical theater. "Hold Me Down" is the closest song to the band's previous style. It makes use of vocoders over a disco beat. "The One" is a mid-tempo soul number, and "The One After," is a short instrumental. "I Need Some Cash" is an old-school hip hop song, while the closing track, "Things Take Time" is a ballad. It is a duet between Cynthia Johnson and guest musician, Rockie Robbins.

 Artwork 
Designer Music's artwork was illustrated by Jeff Wack. The front cover has a red Lipps, Inc logo at the top. The album's title is below, with a light blue, cursive font. Johnson and four other members are drawn striking poses. They are on a white and black checkboard floor. She wears a red and black outfit with red high heels. The four men are dressed in black tank tops, yoga pants and high heels. They are standing on white pedestals, relating to the album's themes of fashion.

The back cover is a close-up of the checkerboard floor and one of Johnson's high heels. "Lipps, Inc." is written on the inside. The track listing is printed in the top right corner. Below it are production credits to Steven Greenberg. Both are in a red font. On the Guatemalan release, the artwork is monochrome.

 Release 
The title track and "Hold Me Down" were minor hits in 1981. The former peaked at number 11 on the US Disco Top 80. The latter failed to gain attention in the US. It made an impact in the Mexican and Philippine disco scenes in the early 1980s. It is a staple of discos in any part of the Philippines.

Music videos were announced for both singles. They were to be directed by Chuck Statler. He has been named the "godfather of the music video" for working with bands, such as Devo, prior to MTV. However, only the video for "Designer Music" materialized.

 Critical reception 

Designer Music was released to mixed reviews. The Minneapolis Star felt the album was proof Lipps, Inc had an image problem. " Is it a studio band trapped in the mechanized disco-pop mold by the fantastic, or is it going to be a musical vehicle for singer Cynthia Johnson?" West Bend News thought none of the album came close to the group's hit single, "Funkytown." They stated the "slightly above average" title track came closest. Despite this, the newspaper said "Background Singer" is the best overall song. This is due to its catchiness and Cynthia Johnson revealing she would "love to have the spotlight shining in my eyes." They concluded that was a "dream that won't come true until she gets more consistent material to work with." The Atlanta Voice gave a rare positive review. They praised the album for being a "collection of dazzling new musical fashions." They added that it elevated Lipps, Inc. from "dance hand supreme to vanguard musical daredevils." 

Cashbox was unimpressed with lead single, "Hold Me Down." They thought its "vocoderized" vocal intro was "probably the most striking aspect." Brian Chin of Record World, however, liked the "high-tech pop" song. They praised its "heavy bass impact" which gave the song an "authentic sound of the street."

 Track listing 
All songs written by Steven Greenberg, except where noted.

 Personnel 

 Cynthia Johnson – lead vocals
 Roger Dumas – synthesizer
 Terry Grant – bass
 Steven Greenberg – synthesizer, bass, drums, keyboards
 Scott Jones – keyboards, vocals
 Ivan Rafowitz – synthesizer, keyboards
 André Cymone – vocals
 Rockie Robbins – vocals
 Melanie Rosales – vocals
 Robert Schnitzer – guitar
 Bobby Vandell – drums

Certifications

 References 

Category:1981 albums