Unlimited!

{{Infobox album

| name = Unlimited!

| type = studio

| artist = Roger

| cover = RT-UnlimitedCover.jpg

| released = 1987

| recorded = 1986–1987

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Funk

| length =

| label = Reprise

| producer = Roger Troutman

| prev_title = The Saga Continues

| prev_year = 1984

| year = 1987

| next_title = Bridging the Gap

| next_year = 1991

}}

Unlimited! is the third solo album by Zapp frontman Roger Troutman (credited as "Roger"), released in 1987.{{cite web |title=Roger Biography by Greg Prato |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/roger-mn0000305501/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=5 May 2023}} It includes a cover of James Brown's 1965 single "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", as well as Roger's biggest R&B and crossover hit (on the pop charts), "I Want to Be Your Man."

Critical reception

{{music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |title=Unlimited! Review by John Floyd |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/unlimited%21-mw0000193610 |website=AllMusic |access-date=5 May 2023}}

|rev2 = Los Angeles Times

|rev2score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Connie |title=Roger Troutman, the Techno Tease |work=Los Angeles Times |date=3 Jan 1988 |department=Calendar |page=66}}

| rev3 = New Musical Express

| rev3score = 9/10{{cite magazine|title=Roger: Unlimited |last=McCready |first=John |date=21 November 1987 |magazine=New Musical Express|page=35}}

}}

The Los Angeles Times called the album "a put-the-needle-anywhere LP that can only add to Troutman's still-growing reputation as a man with a solid plan for funk's future." The Orlando Sentinel labeled it a "funky, jazzy, rocking album."{{cite news |last1=Torres |first1=Agnes |title=Roger Catches Mainstream Current |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=7 Feb 1988 |department=Calendar |page=1}} The St. Petersburg Times deemed "I Want to Be Your Man" "one of the best records of '87."{{cite news |last1=Snider |first1=Eric |title=Roger: Unlimited! |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=3 Jan 1988 |page=2F}} The Sydney Morning Herald judged "Been This Way Before" "a dance track beyond George Clinton, a place where no other artist has gone before."{{cite news |last1=Barber |first1=Lynden |title=Equally noisy, but very different... |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=February 22, 1988 |department=The Guide |page=4}}

AllMusic considered Unlimited! to be Troutman's best solo album.

Track listing

{{track listing

| title1 = I Want to Be Your Man

| length1 = 4:14

| title2 = Night and Day

| length2 = 4:19

| title3 = Been this Way Before (rap)

| length3 = 5:11

| title4 = Composition to Commemorate (May 30, 1918)

| length4 = 4:48

| title5 = Papa's Got a Brand New Bag

| length5 = 3:45

| title6 = Thrill Seekers

| length6 = 4:50

| title7 = Tender Moments

| length7 = 4:19

| title8 = If You're Serious

| length8 = 4:24

| title9 = Private Lover

| length9 = 4:03

| title10 = I Really Want to Be Your Man

| length10 = 3:44

| title11 = Bedistguitarist-A-Rown

| length11 = 3:13

}}

Personnel

=Musicians=

Roger Troutman: Lead vocals, talk box, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, bass, congas, percussion, backing vocals
Terry "Zapp" Troutman: Bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Billy Beck: Keyboards, backing vocals
Curtis Cowen: Keyboards
Lester Troutman: Drums, congas, percussion
Dale DeGroat: Keyboards
Johnny Lytle: Vibraphone
Carl Cowen, James Cameron: Horns
Additional backing vocalists: Clete Troutman, Mark Thomas, Nicole Cottom, Ray Davis, Shirley Murdock

=Production=

Producer: Roger Troutman
Editor: Roger Troutman, Zapp Troutman, Curtis Cowen, Tony Jackson
Mixing: Roger Troutman, Zapp Troutman, Curtis Cowen, Tony Jackson
Engineer [Editing, Mixing, Recording] - Curtis Cowen, Lester Troutman, Charles Jackson

References

Category:Roger Troutman albums

Category:1987 albums

Category:Reprise Records albums