For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to venture to the Wolverine State and show some love to “Whose Is It,” the lead single from Melvin Riley Jr.’s solo album “Ghetto Stories.” Before embarking on his solo career in 1993, Riley led the group Ready for the World, which racked up their share of R&B classics, most notably “Oh Shelia”, “Tonight”, and “Love You Down”.
After the group’s fourth album, 1991’s “Straight Down to Business”, failed to chart significantly, the group took a hiatus, and a solo career seemed like the next logical step for Riley. As we all know, R&B had begun to shift, and the lyrics were overtly sexual, which was the route that Riley took. A sultry slow jam was the perfect transition for Riley into grown folks R&B.
To meet changing musical trends, Riley moved away from the 80s synth-heavy Minneapolis style and New Jack Swing, which were losing popularity. Riley produces a basic groove that works well for intimate bedroom listening. The breathy delivery and falsetto glides in “Whose Is It?” require late-night radio shows and Quiet Storm playlists to showcase the track.
“Whose Is It?” remains unforgettable due to its skillful exploration of provocative themes without becoming distasteful. Riley’s repeated plea—”Whose is it, baby? Riley’s repeated plea—”Whose is it, baby?” serves as both a declaration of longing and a request for emotional acknowledgment. The song lyrics balance between expressions of lust and love, similar to how Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” and Prince’s “Do Me, Baby” operate.
The instrumentation effectively enhances the song’s intended message. It features a smooth bassline that serves as a stable foundation, while delicate keyboard tones drift in a manner reminiscent of shimmering candlelight. The production is intentionally understated, refraining from any attempts to dominate the listener’s attention. Instead, the focus is on creating an atmospheric experience, allowing Riley’s voice to serve as the primary element in the performance.
Though “Whose Is It?” never reached the commercial heights of Riley’s earlier work with Ready for the World, it has maintained a cult following over the years. For R&B purists, it’s a reminder of a time when slow jams were still sacred.
Final Grade: B+
“Whose Is It?” is available on all streaming platforms.
From his early days in the family group Wings of Faith, Mr. Gill was born to make music. However, as R&B fans know, Johnny Gill’s initial release with Atlantic Records failed to make a significant impact when it first came out. The 1983 self-titled debut showed a strong voice struggling to adapt to a studio that couldn’t properly utilize its power.
My introduction to Myron was with the song “Sistas” on the “Eddie” soundtrack in the summer of 1996. Before setting up his solo album, Myron would write classics for Mya and Dru Hill. “Destiny” was written by Myron and Tyrice Jones, and the latter was also producing. Set to a sample of Herbie Hancock’s “Come Running to Me”, the song explores how fate governs the formation of connections between people meant to exist from the beginning.
Music producers transitioning to a solo album is common in the music industry. For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit Sean Garrett’s solo debut, “Turbo 919,” released in 2008.