Tropical Nights is one of those albums that when you mention its name to Liza fans, will be met with typically a 'love it' or 'hate it' type response, with little in between. (If you mention it to a non-Liza fan, good luck finding someone who even knows what you're talking about...as so many of her albums, it was a bit lost to the mists of time.) The mixed reception is definitely much in part to the fact that this was Liza's foray into the disco scene. At the time, it was once a hot commodity to jump on that bandwagon, but since the close of the 1970's, most disco is just met with disdain. (As for me personally, it's a bit of a guilty pleasure, so I land on the side of actually enjoying this album! I may or may not be in the minority there...I know some of you out there who don't want to admit it secretly love this! ;)) To my understanding, the basic premise of this album has a loose storyline, and it's as though you're tagging along on an imaginary cruise...it's not just for the album cover. Listen to the songs in sequence and pay attention to the lyrics and their meanings; there is indeed some continuity here that's easily lost if you listen to it on shuffle or only listen selectively to certain tracks. I'm personally more a fan of the faster, more up-tempo tracks like "Jimi Jimi", "I'm Your New Best Friend", and naturally the title track itself. That said, the slower, more heartfelt songs that this album showcases are beautiful as well, and tracks such as "A Beautiful Thing" show Liza at her most heartfelt. If it's been many years since you've heard this album, give it another listen with an open mind. Even if you're not a disco person, there's likely at least a handful of hidden gems stashed away in here that you're bound to love!

-- Jennifer Abraham

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