Numerous R&B groups have fallen into obscurity following the departure of the lead singer. One such group was Public Announcement which collaborated with a disgraced R&B singer for a 1992 project. Sadly though, due to label politics and possibly ego, the group’s billing and promotion made it seem that Public Announcement was back up members instead of a cohesive unit.
Public Announcement had other plans, in any case. Feloney Davis, Glenn Wright, and Euclid Gray, all Chicago natives, joined Public Announcement in 1996 as new members following a few line-up changes due to departures, along with original member Earl Robinson of the group. With Davis taking over as the lead singer, the group was able to sign a record deal with A&M Records, and they released their second album.
Arriving in stores on March 24th, 1998, the group’s second album was titled All Work, No Play. Led by the single “Body Bumpin (Yippie-Yi-Yo),” the song was a sensual slow jam that showcased the vocal chops of Davis. I was in 10th grade when the song came out, and it was always one I would attempt to use during my flirtatious teen days. “It’s About Time” was the second single and falls into the playbook of “I’m better than your man.” Davis again provides a solid vocal, and I’m sure we all remember the video and its domestic abuse storyline.
I don’t recall the third single from the album. However the album tracks cover the usual topics per the nineties R&B norm. We have an inspirational song, “Children Hold On (To Your Dreams),” the R&B cover (Con Funk Shun’s “Straight From The Heart”), and of course, missing my lady (“All Work, No Play” and ” Alone,” and “Lonely” ). Davis leads most of the songs in addition to writing them sans “Straight From The Heart.”
All Work, No Play is slow jam and ballad-heavy. Therefore two up-tempo tracks, “Why You Not Trustin Me ” and D.O.G. In Me, featuring Troutman & Shaq, haven’t aged well. Thankfully Y To The Yippie (Step On) sounds a bit. And while Feloney Davis is a strong songwriter, I can’t help but wish the group had one song from the heavyweights at the time to give them an extra push.
Nevertheless, All Work, No Play is a solid sophomore effort from a group that refused to let one man stop the show.
Final Grade: B
All Work, No Play is available on all streaming platforms.
Some jobs in music are difficult, but being asked to replace Smokey Robinson is another. When Robinson stepped away from The Miracles in the early seventies, Billy Griffin inherited a microphone attached to one of Motown’s most recognizable voices.
When I reflect on the summer of 1998, I was preparing for my junior year, while R&B seemed to be at a crossroads. Brandy and Monica were dominating the youth market with their blockbuster sophomore albums, while established male singers like Luther Vandross and Gerald Levert were comfortably settling into Urban AC.
When you hear the name Tony Rich, “Nobody Knows” is likely the first song that comes to mind. That record was a massive success, and its influence still lingers. However, true music enthusiasts recognize that Rich was never a one-hit wonder. He possessed an incredible talent for songwriting.