Released 50 years ago this October
Any Way You Like It
Thelma Houston · 1976
36 min · 8 tracks · soul
Soulful grooves and vibrant arrangements create an uplifting atmosphere, showcasing Thelma Houston's dynamic vocal prowess.
Top tracks — play these first
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Any Way You Like It — The title track blends infectious rhythms with an empowering message about love and freedom, making it a quintessential disco anthem.
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Don’t Leave Me This Way — 'Don’t Leave Me This Way' showcases Houston's powerful vocals, becoming her signature song and a defining moment in the disco era.
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Come to Me — This track illustrates Houston's soulful delivery and emotional depth, highlighting her ability to capture heartfelt vulnerability amidst upbeat instrumentation.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong vocal performances and vibrant arrangements, contributing to its appeal in the soul and disco genres.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy title track that sets a danceable tone, followed by the Grammy-winning 'Don't Leave Me This Way', which features a prominent orchestral arrangement.
- Each track showcases Houston's vocal range, often layering harmonies and backing vocals to enhance the soulful sound.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- uplifting dance floor vibes
- celebratory moments of joy
- mid-tempo groove appreciation
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on October 28, 1976, Any Way You Like It was Thelma Houston's fourth studio album. At this point in her career, Houston had gained significant recognition with her previous hit 'Don't Leave Me This Way', which had charted in the top ten just a year earlier. This album further solidified her status as a prominent figure in the soul genre during the disco era.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Chaka Khan· Patti LaBelle· Gladys Knight
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Any Way You Like It 6:16
- 2 Don’t Leave Me This Way 5:43
- 3 Don’t Know Why I Love You 5:07
- 4 Come to Me 4:14
- 5 Don’t Make Me Pay (For Another Girl’s Mistake) 3:59
- 6 Sharing Something Perfect Between Ourselves 3:51
- 7 If It’s the Last Thing I Do 3:11
- 8 Differently 3:51
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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