First Time: The Best of Surface

Surface: Bernard Jackson (vocals, guitar, synthesizer, bass guitar, fretless bass, drum programming); David Townshend (guitar, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, bass synthesizer, drum programming, background vocals); David "Pic" Conley (flute, shakuhachi flute, synthesizer, bass synthesizer, percussion, drum programming).
Additional personnel: Larry Conley (saxophone); Vassal Benford (synthesizer, programming).
Producer: Surface.
Compilation producer: Bedra Olds-Neal.
Includes liner notes by Gail Mitchell.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Although they had a number of R&B hits during the late '80s, Surface didn't cross over into the pop mainstream in any notable way. They scraped the bottom reaches of the charts a few times, but they never had a breakout hit that would establish them as stars. Listening to Columbia/Legacy's definitive retrospective The First Time: The Best of Surface, it's possible to hear why they didn't break out -- they simply didn't have a song that would break them big. That doesn't mean that they were a bad group, since they were very competent within their genre and several hits here are very pleasant late-'80s urban cuts, either on the ballad or dance side. But there's nothing particularly striking, nothing with a hook that would send the band soaring up the pop charts. Still, if you happen to be a fan, either of the group or of this sound, this is a pleasing listen, and a very representative overview of what Surface achieved. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine