The album was Holmes's most commercially successful record and includes all three of Holmes's solo top 40 hits: "Him", "Answering Machine", and "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)".
"Escape" was the top Billboard hit of December 1979 and January 1980; it was the only single to hold the number-one position in both years and in different decades.
Although "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" was released as a single on Infinity Records, "Him" was released on MCA Records; the Infinity catalog had been absorbed by MCA at the time the latter single was released.
The album itself reached number 33 on the Billboard 200.
Before the release of this successful 1979 album, Holmes released four albums that failed to capture him at his best.
Shortly before this, Holmes made his mark as songwriter. He penned the kitschy cannibalism tale "Timothy" for the Buoys. From his 1976 effort Singles came "The Last of the Romantics" which was covered to great effect by Engelbert Humperdinck.
Partners in Crime finds Holmes more focused with pop savvy and a great batch of songs. The effort's biggest hit, the ingratiating "Escape" (The Pina Colada Song)," though skilled, is cutesy enough to make some people's eyes roll.
Despite the nature of that track, Holmes was also willing to tackle more interesting issues. With the slightly disco-fied title track, he deftly examines the male/female dynamic as business deal.
Throughout the song, Holmes is having a lot of fun with every salacious detail. "Nearsighted" has him going the power pop route and all but wringing tears out of seeing "slightly out of focus."
As Partners in Crime goes along, what becomes striking is some of the tracks' subtle use of R&B flourishes. "Him" depicts Holmes as the cuckold and has a beautiful string arrangement, a great hook, and strong, vivid lyrics.
The album's best ballad, "The People That You Never Get to Love" has Holmes again giving a warm and confident vocal and is poignant rather than weepy.
Although there are a few waste cuts, on the whole Partners in Crime is a thought-provoking and polished album.
Tracklist
1. Escape (The Piña Colada Song) - 4:36
2. Partners in Crime - 5:16
3. Nearsighted - 2:52
4. Lunch Hour - 4:40
5. Drop It - 4:12
6. Him - 4:06
7. Answering Machine - 3:35
8. The People that You Never Get to Love - 3:47
9. Get Outta Yourself - 4:45
10. In You I Trust - 4:51
All songs are written and arranged by Rupert Holmes.
Musicians
- Rupert Holmes – vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, saxophone
- Dean Bailin – guitar
- Frank Gravis – bass
- Leo Adamian – drums (all tracks), double drums (track 1)
- Victoria – percussion
- Peter Gordon – French horn
- Wayne Andre – trombone
- Dave Taylor – bass trombone
- The Gene Orloff Section – strings
- Steve Jordan – double drums (track 1)
- Chrissy Faith – background vocals (track 7)
- Bob Gurland – voiced trumpet (track 9)
Production
- Rupert Holmes – production
- Jim Boyer – production, engineering, mixing
- Eric Bloch – associate engineering
- Ollie Cotton – associate engineering
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Normand Kurtz – executive production
Artwork
- Peter Corriston – art direction, cover concept and design
- Brian Hagiwara – photography
Notes
Released: August 5, 1979
Recorded: January–July 1979 Studio Plaza Sound Studios, New York City
Genre: Soft rock, yacht rock
Length: 42:40
Producer(s): Rupert Holmes, Jim Boyer
Label: Infinity / MCA Records
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