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.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, we will venture to the city of Brotherly Love and give some flowers to Major Harris and his solo debut, My Way. Harris had already made a name for himself, performing with groups such as the Charmers, The Teenagers, the Jarmels, and Nat Turner Rebellion. Later, he would find success as a member of The Delfonics.
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, we’re returning to 1995 to show some love to TLC with their song “Red Light Special,” the second single from their massively popular sophomore album, CrazySexyCool.
On Drake’s most recent album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U which hit store last Friday he joined forces with his labelmate Party Next Door for this collaborative project. The album attempts to address themes related to intimacy and allure but does not reach the high standard established by the artist’s earlier music. Listeners search for the depth and innovation that have been the signature elements of Drake’s musical trajectory.