The year was 1995, and I was a braces-wearing pimply-faced fourteen-year-old. The premiere R&B groups were Boyz II Men and Jodeci, basking in their third album’s success. The Thanksgiving movie season was getting ready to kick off with Toy Story and Goldeneye on track to do huge numbers. Around the same Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson would reunite for their third film, Money Train.
Growing up as a film connoisseur in the nineties, one of my favorite things about movies was the soundtrack. Sometimes an introduction to a new artist would come through a soundtrack appearance. In particular, the Hip Hop and R&B ones. My pick for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday is an R&B group whose music I first discovered on a soundtrack.
Most people think 112’s debut song was the classic “Only You” the group’s first recording was actually “Making Love” from the Money Train soundtrack. Up-and-coming producers Tim & Bob produced the song in addition to co-writing it with the members of 112. Q, Mike, Slim, and Daron were in their late teens when recording the track, and the group’s signature harmony comes across effortlessly. Q handles the first verse, with Slim coming in on the second verse. However, each member gets a chance to shine on the song. Concurrently the group’s church roots come across in the bridge.
While “Cupid,” the group’s signature ballad, would start a great run of hit slow jams for them, “Making Love” is a personal favorite. Along with “Why Didn’t You Love Me,” the song is one of the 112 rare ballads from the group’s early days that deserves more recognition.
Final Grade: A
“Making Love” from the Money Train soundtrack is available on YouTube.
This weekend is about celebrating the King of Pop, Mr. Michael Jackson, and his legacy. For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to highlight his debut solo album, “Got To Be There,” which was released on January 24th, 1972.
Fifteen years after his untimely passing, the King of Pop’s music continues to resonate with us, a testament to its timeless appeal. As we honor his heavenly birthday this past Thursday, I wanted to pay tribute to him with ‘Loving You’ for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
When we reminisce about the potential of lead singers who could have been iconic solo acts, the name Sisqó immediately springs to mind. The front man for R&B quartet Dru Hill, Sisqó, stormed onto the scene in 1999 with his solo debut ‘Unleash the Dragon.’ The success of the singles ‘Incomplete’ and ‘Thong Song’ propelled Sisqó’s solo debut to sell a staggering five million copies in the US alone, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry.