Patrice Rushen - Straight From The Heart

The definitive edition of Patrice Rushen's landmark album from 1982!

All tracks remastered from the original 1/4" tapes by Technology Works

Double LP includes the 12" versions of "Forget Me Nots," "Breakout," "Number One" and a previously unreleased long version of "I Was Tired Of Being Alone"

Strut presents the definitive edition of Patrice Rushen's landmark album from 1982, Straight From The Heart. Recorded during Elektra's drive for ‘sophisticated dance music' as many jazz artists created their own arrangements of disco and boogie, the sessions marked a progression for Patrice as she began exploring sonics as much as songwriting.

"I was looking at different ways to experiment with the sounds on my records. Synths widened the palette available to us," she says.

Singles from the album include "Breakout!," "Number One" and the global hit "Forget Me Nots."

"Bassist Freddie Washington played the bassline during a jam at my family's house. I caught it, we kept messing around with the groove, then I developed the lyrics and chorus. It was just about recognizing that moment when it came up, " Rushen says.

"When I delivered the album to the label, the A&R said, ‘We don't like anything on here.' I realized quickly that they would give us no support so producer Charles Mims, myself and Freddie decided to engage a promotion company ourselves to start working the single. Although it took a while to pick up support, it paid off."

The single hit No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1982 and the album became Patrice's best seller globally from her time with Elektra / Asylum, securing a Grammy nomination. In more recent years, the album has become a regular source for samples in the world of hip hop and R&B. Most famously, Will Smith's theme for the film Men In Black and George Michael's "Fastlove" were both based, to varying degrees, on "Forget Me Nots."

Strut's new reissue of Straight From The Heart is scheduled for release on April 9, 2021. The LP is presented in its full original artwork and features bonus 12" versions of the album's singles including a previously unreleased extended mix of "Tired Of Being Alone." The package includes rare photos by Bobby Holland and a new interview with Patrice Rushen. All tracks remastered from the original tapes by Technology Works.