I wore out my vinyl copy of this long ago, and never thought Greg Phillinganes’ Pulse would be released on CD and digital. Well, here we are and with bonus tracks. What’s the big deal? Phillinganes is a master musician/band leader and arranger. (Ever heard of Michael Jackson or Stevie Wonder?) He’s also a fantastic live performer and singer. (Ever heard of Toto or Eric Clapton?) His discography is almost as long as Steve Lukather’s, and he’s still influencing recording sessions today. Pulse is a fine pop album with touches of dance music, synth pop, and R&B. Greg Phillinganes’s version of Donald Fagen’s “Lazy Nina” is my favorite – and that’s saying something, considering Monkey House and Arnold McCuller have recorded stellar versions of the song. The lead-off track “Behind the Mask” has a Michael Jackson feel, which is unmistakable partly due to the fact that Jackson co-wrote it. This version totally eclipses the one issued later by Eric Clapton. If you only know Greg Phillinganes from his piano solo on Donald Fagen’s “Ruby Baby” from the Nightfly, then you owe it to yourself to play this album while you are blazing down the highway.