When R&B fans think of musical families, three names usually come to mind: The Jacksons, The Winans, and DeBarge. For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to give some recognition to Bunny DeBarge and her only solo album, “In Love.”
Following the success of the group’s fourth album, Bunny and her brother El were offered solo deals and decided to leave the group. Released on Motown in 1987, the album hit stores shortly after releases from her siblings El and Chico. Similar to The Jacksons, the remaining brothers went on to join another label.
The album’s lead single, “Save the Best for Me,” was written and produced by Aaron Zigman and Jerry Knight. This catchy pop tune ideally introduced Bunny as a solo artist. The following few songs—“Fine Line,” “So Good for You,” and “Dance All Night”—all share the same upbeat vibe and are centered around having a good time.
Bunny slows it down on the album’s title track, which I’m still surprised wasn’t released as a single. Listening to the song even at age 44, I can imagine many young men in their twenties feeling as if Bunny was singing directly to them. She reunites with her older brother from Switch fame on the midtempo track “Let’s Spend the Night,” which features that signature DeBarge sound. Towards the end of the album, there are some filler tracks, but Bunny’s vocals remain strong throughout.
While I’m not an expert on the ins and outs of the record industry, if I were A&R-ing this project, I would have had Bunny collaborate with others for songwriting and production, bringing in names like Jam & Lewis, Babyface, and Quincy Jones for potential singles.
Though the album may be forgotten by most in 2025, it stands as a testament to the talent of the DeBarge family.
Final Grade: B
“In Love” is available on all streaming platforms.
As a longtime music enthusiast, I’ve often wondered how quickly record labels expect lead singers from groups to release solo albums. This question came to mind recently when my iPod played “So You Like What You See” by Samuelle. Listening to the song, I realized he would be a great choice for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.
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There are some albums you revisit because of nostalgia, and then there are albums you return to because they remind you just how high the standard used to be. Anita Baker’s Rapture falls into that second category. Released in 1986, the album did more than make Baker a star. It helped define what sophisticated, grown R&B could sound like without losing any soul, sensuality, or personality.