R&B quartet Boyz II Men were still basking in their massively successful single “End of the Road” when their first-holiday album, Christmas Interpretations, hit stores in the fall of 1993. The first single from the album was “Let It Snow,” and while the group could have gone the pop route and just covered the Vaughn Monroe standard, the four gents from Philly delivered a holiday slow jam classic.
“Let It Snow” found the group working with Brian McKnight, who produced the song with BIIM and co-wrote it with group member Wanya Morris. Wanya opens the song with his signature lush vocals crooning:
“It’s another Christmas holiday
It’s a joyous thing, let the Angels sing
‘Cause we’re together
We got a thing, can’t let it slip away
Go outside, it’s raining sleet
When our bodies meet
I don’t care about the weather
Let it snow, let it snow, outside it’s cold
But the fire’s blazin’ so, baby, let it snow
Let it snow, yeah
Let it snow, let it snow”.
Brian McKnight comes in on the second verse with a simple line, “Come over here and help me trim the tree “which sounds heavenly. Boyz II Men then come back to finish the song for the remaining running time. The song’s appeal is that the lyrics from Wanya and McKnight showcase the writing ability of both men.
Twenty-eight years later, “Let It Snow” still sounds fresh and is part of my annual Christmas playlist.
Final Grade : A
Christmas Interpretations is available on all streaming platforms.
One of the great things about buying a soundtrack when I was in my DJ prime was discovering a slow jam that I could put on my mix CDs. For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to highlight one of the songs: Jagged Edge’s cover of Air Supply’s, “All Out of Love.”
After twenty-six years in the game, Atlanta-based quartet Jagged Edge is currently on the road celebrating the anniversary of their magnum opus sophomore album, “J.E. Heartbreak,” with a tour titled “An Intimate Evening With Jagged Edge.” To kick off our seventh wedding anniversary celebration, my wife and I will be the D.C. date on the tour this coming Wednesday.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to travel back to 1999 and show some love to R&B group Amyth, which was initially signed to LL Cool J Rock the Bells Records. Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the group was formed in 1995 while the members were students at Southern University.