Brian McKnight was already a force in R&B music when his seventh album, U-Turn, hit stores in March 2003. The album took inspiration from McKnight’s separation from his wife, evident in the first single, “Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda,” where McKnight points out his flaws.
The CD finds McKnight teetering between regret for his former love and enjoying the single life. However, for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to show kudos to one of U-Turn’s album tracks, “Good Enough.”
Brian decided to craft a sensual posse cut for the song. Fellow R&B crooners Carl Thomas, Joe, Tank, & Tyrese join Brian on the song. The singer’s voices all mesh well together throughout the tune’s nearly five-minute run time, with no one trying to outshine his counterpart. I’ve always enjoyed this particular song because it creates a sexy vibe, but it never goes into crass territory or vulgarity to set the mood. It still boggles my mind why the record label didn’t push this one as a single, as the numbers would have been crazy.
Final Grade: B+
“Good Enough” from Brian McKnight’s U-Turn is available on all streaming platforms.
Twenty years ago, in the spring of 2005, R&B was in a good place. Usher had released what is arguably his magnum opus a year prior, rumors were rampant that Oscar winner Jamie Foxx was going to sign with J. Records, Mario was still basking in the success of his hit “Let Me Love You,” and former B2K frontman Omarion (this week’s Slow Jam Saturday artist) had just dropped his solo debut, O.
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