Everyone’s favorite musical uncle, Mr. Charlie Wilson, is preparing to embark on his latest tour, Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout Tour, produced by Live Nation Urban and P Music Group, featuring support acts Babyface, K-Ci Hailey, and El DeBarge.
While Charlie hasn’t released a solo album in eight years, his solo catalog and work with The Gap Band speak for themselves. For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to reach into Mr. Wilson’s Gap Band catalog and showcase “You Are My High” from their 1979 album “The Gap Band II”.
Charlie crafted the song alongside Johnsye Smith and Ronnie Wilson, with the talented Lonnie Simmons steering the production. Central to the track is Charlie’s lush, captivating vocal performance, which beautifully conveys the profound significance of having a steadfast presence in one’s life—someone who offers unwavering understanding, support, and love.
The lyrics weave a heartfelt narrative, illustrating that with a devoted partner by their side, Charlie feels empowered to conquer any obstacle, as the mundane struggles of daily life effortlessly dissolve. “You Are My High” paints a vivid picture of an extraordinary connection between two souls, infusing Charlie with a surge of strength and joy. Ultimately, it celebrates the deep and unbreakable bond between two individuals who provide each other with unconditional love and acceptance, even amidst life’s toughest challenges.
Final Grade: B
“You Are My High” 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.
You know the voice. The moment Michael Marshall starts singing the hook in Luniz’s “I Got 5 on It,” anyone who grew up in the nineties knows exactly what time it is. However, nearly a decade before that 1995 hip-hop classic, Marshall was already responsible for another instantly recognizable vocal.
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.