The current lineup of legendary R&B trio features founding members Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Sr., and Eric Nolan Grant, who joined the group in 1997. Tonight I get to cross an item off my musical bucket list as I’m attending the Washington D.C. stop of the group’s Last Stop on the Love Train tour.
Before Mr. Grant joined the group, The O’Jays had already amassed a legendary catalog of slow jams and ballads. I’m sure I would spend hours debating with my friends Lawrence “Law” Worrell, Beyond The Album Cover podcast host Jarrell Mason, or Baltimore producer J-Soul about the top ten O’Jays ballads. However, for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I decided to pick one from the latter O’Jays catalog.
In 2001, the group released For the Love…which arrived in stores two weeks after the 9/11 attacks. The song I wanted to highlight is the album’s sixth track, “I’m Ready Now,” which the group members also wrote. The track opens up with a smooth production before the lyrics begin. Set to an angelic arrangement, “I’m Ready Now” is a textbook song about a man realizing his mistakes and wanting his lady back.
Eric Nolan Grant leads the song while his group mates provide the backing vocals. While I doubt the song will make it into the setlist for tonight’s show, the track is a wonderful addition to the group’s 21st ballad collection.
Final Grade: B+
“I’m Ready Now” from For the Love… is available on all streaming platforms.
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.
Gwen Stefani had already established herself as a significant force with No Doubt when she released her debut solo album, *Love. Angel. Music. Baby* in 2004. This week, while my iPod was on shuffle, one of my favorite songs from that project, “The Real Thing,” came on. Although the original version has an upbeat new-wave feel, the Slow Jam Mix takes it to another level and is the perfect choice for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
Unless you’re a music purist, mentioning Randy Jackson from the famous family is likely to elicit a joke. However, any serious Jackson fan knows that Randy had musical achievements long before the punchlines. Before he was old enough to buy a drink, he had already co-written “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” and “Lovely One” with Michael Jackson.