{"product_id":"first-time-the-best-of-surface","title":"First Time: The Best of Surface","description":"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).\u003cbr\u003eAdditional personnel: Larry Conley (saxophone); Vassal Benford (synthesizer, programming).\u003cbr\u003eProducer: Surface.\u003cbr\u003eCompilation producer: Bedra Olds-Neal.\u003cbr\u003eIncludes liner notes by Gail Mitchell.\u003cbr\u003eAll tracks have been digitally remastered.\u003cbr\u003eAlthough they had a number of R\u0026amp;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","brand":"MovieMars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46219904909599,"sku":"886977134227","price":15.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/7833\/0399\/files\/114c3bcf13ef6121d68a8509f0201652.jpg?v=1777885519","url":"https:\/\/www.moviemars.com\/products\/first-time-the-best-of-surface","provider":"MovieMars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}