This album is CHEESY. ’80s Love-ballads all the way. Not melancholic or sad (it’s not a heartbreak album), but definitely corny and sentimental. Musically, expect plenty of chords and key-changes, full-on ’80s synthesizers and tons of reverb on the drums. The dramatic presentation includes Warwick’s (fabulous) singing, grandiose electric guitar solos, and the frequent use of backup singers. Awesome.

I love the production on this album. It sounds good. The Bass always delivers lots of punch, but without being fuzzy or unclear. Singers are presented in the front with lots of embellishments all around, including explosive horns and gentle, distant strings. I like it. Overall, “Friends in Love” is very reminiscent of Chicago’s “16” and “17”, which is not surprising, since both David Foster and Bill Champlin were involved as songwriters and instrumentalists. If I had to, I’d pick “Friends in Love”, “Never Gonna Let You Go”, and “With a Touch” as my favorites.

5/5, check it out!