Hot and Nasty

One of the most intriguing singles of 1982 was Saint Tropez's "Femmes Fatales," which became an R&B/disco hit in the U.S. despite the fact that it was performed entirely in French. "Femmes Fatales" doesn't contain any actual singing-rather, this piece of musical film noir (which involves sex and a murder) combines French dialogue with a lush Euro-disco track. Even if you don't speak a word of French, the song =sounds= interesting. Although "Femmes Fatales" is the best known item on Saint Tropez's third album, Hot and Nasty, the rest of the LP is also worth hearing. Chic is a major influence on this album; from "Save This Night for Love" to "Midnight Fantasy," Hot and Nasty is full of Chic-minded grooves that are pleasing even though they aren't as unusual as ="Femmes Fatales." Also enjoyable are "I Let Love Slip Right Through My Hands" (which Gloria Gaynor recorded in 1980) and a steamy cover of Leon Haywood's "I Want to Do Something Freaky to You" (the melody that Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg used on their 1993 hit "Nuthin' But A G Thang"). Except for "Femmes Fatales," Hot and Nasty falls short of being a gem, but it's a solid LP that both disco and R&B fans can appreciate.