Crooner Anthony Hamilton is currently entertaining audiences on The Night Tour with fellow soul-crooners Maxwell and Joe. It was a long road for Anthony Hamilton to break through to mainstream audiences. His 1996 XTC didn’t chart was quickly out of print. However, GOD had bigger plans for the singer. Seven years later Hamilton Would experience a platinum-selling album and two signature singles from his sophomore album, Comin’ from Where I’m From.
Shortly before releasing his third solo album Ain’t Nobody Worrying, Hamilton made an appearance on the film soundtrack for In The Mix. Collaborating with producers Dre and Vidal, Hamilton constructs a mid-tempo ballad that allows anyone whoever couldn’t find the words to express how they feel about a crush. What I’ve always loved about the song is the simplicity in the lyrics :
“Girl, it [?] impossible
For me to come and talk to you
Can we exchange and meet again?
Something kinda magical
For me, it’s more than physical
It’s spiritual, and I respect your wait
Can we just talk for a minute?
Can we just walk and hold hands?
Girl, I do dig you
And everything that comes with you, yeah!
Some kind of wonderful
Some kind of beautiful.”
The song does appear to have been specially created for the soundtrack given the film’s plot, as I don’t see where the song would have first on his second or third album. Seventeen years later, “Some Kind Of Wonderful” is still in rotation and easily one of my favorite Anthony Hamilton tracks.
Final Grade : A
“Some Kind Of Wonderful” from the In The Mix soundtrack is available on YouTube and iHeart radio.
For their second single, the group presented a ballad entitled “Feels Like The First Time.” Once again, Greene handles the lyrics, while Neville Hodge is responsible for production duties. Greene begins the song with robust energy, proclaiming his love for the lady. Greene’s group members provide stellar work on the background vocals, and the songs eschew nineties R&B without going into crass vulgarity.
The ballad was composed by Michael Masser and lyricist Gerry Goffin, and it was first recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1981. Eight years later, Natalie Cole covered the song, shortening the title. It became the fourth single from her twelfth album, “Good to Be Back.”
Braxton’s vocal talent is perfect on the standards “Christmas Time Is Here,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “The Christmas Song.” However, like any good R&B Christmas album, it is the soulful yuletide bops where Braxton truly shines. The album’s first single, “Snowflakes of Love,” is instrumental of Earl Klugh’s “Now We’re One”. Braxton’s lush vocals encapsulate the warmth and joy of romantic love amidst a wintery backdrop.