{"product_id":"the-first-time-the","title":"THE FIRST TIME: THE |","description":"\u003cp\u003eSurface: 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).\n\u003cbr\u003eAdditional personnel: Larry Conley (saxophone); Vassal Benford (synthesizer, programming).\n\u003cbr\u003eProducer: Surface.\n\u003cbr\u003eCompilation producer: Bedra Olds-Neal.\n\u003cbr\u003eIncludes liner notes by Gail Mitchell.\n\u003cbr\u003eAll tracks have been digitally remastered.\n\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\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: CD\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 2001-08-21\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: R\u0026amp;B\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Love Vinyl Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49261816054002,"sku":"PQJOCQ-RLGF-HJ","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0830\/7018\/9810\/files\/surface-the-first-time-the_2XcHw.jpg?v=1779726210","url":"https:\/\/discandvinyl.com\/products\/the-first-time-the","provider":"DiscandVinyl.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}