Soul singer October London is steadily making a name for himself in the genre of R&B. By blending classic soul sounds with contemporary R&B, October London is carving out a space for himself in the music industry. A South Bend, Indiana native, he hit the scene in the summer of 2016. The first time I heard his voice was on “Revolution,” the closing song on Snoop Dogg’s Coolaid album.
Since then, he has graced fans with numerous projects. As he embarks on his latest project, The Rebirth of Marvin, he embraces one of the most brilliant singers ever. The lead single from the project is the slow-drag ballad “Back To Your Place.” A romantic ballad expresses a desire to be taken back to a lover’s place. In the lyrics, October has admired the person they are interested in all night. However, he is growing impatient with how long they have waited to advance the relationship.
They ask to be taken back to the person’s place, using the phrase “place of residence” to emphasize their intention. October desires to spend time alone with that person so they can express their love in a way they both desire. The song is a plea for a committed relationship and a physical connection. The Marvin Gaye influence is evident when I hear and see the visuals. Marvin is looking down and smiling.
Final Grade: A-
“Back To Your Place” is available on all streaming platforms.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.