All songs written or co-written by Tom Scott except "Don't Get Any Better" (Smyth/Russell/Roberts/Savigar/Cawley), "Anytime, Anyplace" (James Harris III/Terry Lewis/Janet Jackson), "We'll Be Together" (Sting), and "Yeah!" (Smyth/Burtnick). Throughout Tom Scott's legendary career, the saxman's strengths have always been those impossibly funky patented L.A. Express grooves and an uncanny ability to take instrumental experimentation to new and challenging places. His after-hours jaunt with some very surprising Night Creatures finds him at home whipping willing horn sections and gospel-oriented chantalongs into a frenzied intensity that packs more punch than should be legal. Scott thumbs his horn at conventionality by combining straight-ahead jazz with hip-hop on the fascinating, machine-generated "Bhop," an otherworldly flute explosion straight out of The Twilight Zone. He can't keep up the shocking explosiveness forever, though, and in light of all this magnificence, more complacent tunes like "Anytime, Anyplace and "Daybreak" ring somewhat bland and hollow. His energetic take on Sting's "We'll Be Together" is solid as covers go, but token vocals don't get any safer than Maysa Leak's ultra-generic "Don't Get Any Better." As always, Scott's genius has something in store for everyone, and it's easy to forgive the trespasses when the fire glows so convincingly in every other corner of this wild night. ~ Jonathan Widran Recorded at Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, California; Rhumbo Recorders, Canoga Park, California; Platinum Island Studios, New York between August 22 and October 17, 1994. Personnel: Tom Scott (strings, flute, woodwinds, saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, horns, electric piano, organ, keyboards, programming); Lynne Scott (vocals, programming, background vocals); JT Taylor, James Taylor , Maysa , Monalisa Young (vocals, background vocals); Phil Perry, Phillip Ingram, Rose Stone, Terry Wood (vocals); Dean Parks, Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Robben Ford (acoustic guitar); Jerry Lopez (electric guitar, wah-wah guitar); Tom McMorran (clarinet); Pete Christlieb (tenor saxophone); Ron Aston (trumpet, keyboards, guitar synthesizer, vibraphone, percussion, background vocals); Chuck Findley (trumpet); Slyde Hyde (trombone); Jim Cox (organ, keyboards); Johnny Friday (drums); Clydene Jackson, Loni Groves, Carmen Twillie (background vocals). Recording information: Westlake Audio, Los Angels, CA (08/22/1994/10/17/1994). Unknown Contributor Roles: Chuck Findley; Dean Parks; Johnny Friday; Jerry Lopez; James Taylor ; Lani Groves; Larry Kimpel; Lynne Scott; Maysa ; Paul Jackson, Jr. ; Pete Christlieb; Phil Perry; Robben Ford; Rose Stone. Personnel: Tom Scott (saxophone, woodwinds, strings, organ, keyboards, bass); Maysa Leak, Phil Perry, Monalisa Young, Terry Wood, Lynne Scott, JT Taylor, Rosa Stone, Phillip Ingram (vocals); Pete Christlieb (tenor saxophone); Chuck Findley (trumpet); Ron Aston (trumpet, vibraphone, keyboards, synthesizer, bass, percussion); Slyde Hyde (trombone); Tom McMorran (Clavinet, keyboards); Jim Cox (organ, keyboards); Robben Ford, Jerry Lopez, Dean Parks, Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Larry Kimpel (bass); Johnny Friday (drums); Lani Groves, Carmen Twillie, Clydene Jackson (background vocals).