R&B music suffered another loss earlier this week when Ronnie Wilson, a founding member of The GAP Band, passed away. While mainstream music listeners know Charlie Wilson’s name, I wanted to highlight Ronnie and his pen game.
While The GAP Band is known for its funk numbers, their catalog also has its share of Outstanding (pun intended) ballads. Now I could have chosen “Yearning For Your Love,” “Going In Circles,” or “Wednesday Lover.” However, there is something special about “Season’s No Reason To Change,” which is this week’s pick for Slow Jam Saturday.
Initially appearing on the group’s 1982 album, Gap Band IV showcases Ronnie’s songwriting ability and, of course, Charlie’s ability to sing anything. Through a lush four-minute arrangement, the listener is treated to mature lyrics such as:
“So I was rolling down the Mountain Side the Sun come around melting the snow away
Girl I’ve been gone for such a long long time Seasons no reason to change
Girl I love you more and more each day and each and every day I pray that you will stay
Girl I keep loving you more and more each day Seasons no reason to change”.
For me, the song is a correlation to weather and relationships. When you are in a relationship, just because things around you change does not mean you should be negative when it comes to the treatment of your partner. Furthermore, the song’s production could have easily crossed over to a country music station.
While Charlie Wilson would become a mega solo star in his own right, his work with The GAP Band, particularly the ballads, still sounds fresh in 2021. Charlie’s brothers, who made up the rest of the band, equally deserve their flowers as well. “Season’s No Reason To Change” is just one of the many highlights from Ronnie
Wilson’s songwriting catalog.
Final Grade A
Gap Band IV is available on all streaming platforms.
Songstress Ashanti was experiencing significant success with two platinum albums at the time of the release of her inaugural holiday project, “Ashanti’s Christmas,” on November 18, 2003. Her label head, Irv Gotti, produced most of the album. This project comprises four original songs co-written by Ashanti, in addition to six cover versions of traditional Christmas standards and carols.
Vocal quartet A Few Good Man contributed two songs to the project: a cover of “Silver Bells” and the ballad “Merry Christmas My Dear,” both of which were produced by Daryl Simmons. Demail Burks, David Morris, Aaron Hilliard, and Tony Amey were the members of the group, and after introducing themselves in the festive video for “Silver Bells,” it was only fitting that they delivered a ballad on the album.
R&B legend Luther Vandross had already solidified his place in R&B when he released his first holiday album, “This Is Christmas. Arriving in stores on October 24, 1995, “This Is Christmas” validates Vandross’s ability to sing anything.