It Takes Two (Expanded Edition)

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this 1985 album including five bonus tracks. Juicy was the brother and sister duo of Jerry and Katreese Barnes. After having releases on Arista and Atlantic, they signed with CBS-distributed Private I Records. After the singles - Bad Boy, It Takes Two - Juicy finally hit the big time with Sugar Free. Sugar Free sounded a lot like Mtume's number one R&B gold single Juicy Fruit. It all added up to sweet success for the Barnes', as Sugar Free went to #13 R&B in early 1986. The duo had one other charting single, Nobody but You, which hit number 59 R&B in spring of 1986. Jerry and Katreese Barnes' second album as Juicy has a handful of spectacular songs that exemplify the heavily synthesized mid-'80s R&B sound. Each of the original eight songs is directed at a you, with Katreese's vocal turns coming out ahead of her brother's. Eumir Deodato's sensitive production is bright and pliable, full of echo-y machine beats, zipping synthesizers, and all sorts of sparkly effects.