The Choice Four
On Top Of Clear
A2 Just Let Me Hold You For A Night (Kipps, Jr. 3:39)
A3 A Beautiful Glow (McCoy 4:29)
A4 Everybody's Got A Story (McCoy 4:30)
B1 Mysterious Lady (McCoy 4:49)
B2 This Time It's For Real (Fortune, Huff 5:20)
B3 Two Different Worlds (McCoy 4:38)
B4 Come Down To Earth (McCoy 5:45)
Label: RCA Victor – APL1-1400
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Disco
On Top of Clear, The Choice Four's 1976 album, is highly regarded by fans as a great, albeit under-sung, example of mid-70s soul and disco, heavily bearing the production stamp of the late Van McCoy.
The album is generally considered a solid effort by the Washington, D.C. soul quartet, known for their smooth harmonies and association with producer Van McCoy, who also worked with artists like David Ruffin and Melba Moore. While the group deserved greater commercial success, the album is appreciated for its quality production and strong tracks that blend soul and disco styles.
It is seen as a strong representation of its era, often compared in style to the sound of The Temptations or other contemporary soul/funk disco bands. The production work by Van McCoy is a key highlight, giving the album a distinct and polished feel. On music databases like Discogs, the album holds a favorable average rating from users, often around 4 out of 5 stars.
The album includes several notable tracks, some of which were released as singles:
"Hey, What's That Dance You're Doing"
"Just Let Me Hold You For A Night"
"Come Down to Earth"
"Two Different Worlds"
For fans of 1970s soul, funk, and early disco, On Top of Clear is considered a high-quality, worthwhile listen, praised for its excellent musicianship, strong vocals, and quintessential Van McCoy production. The album has been reissued on CD with bonus tracks, indicating continued collector interest in this overlooked gem.