Despite releasing a strong southern soul-influenced debut in the form of 1999’s Country Boy, North Carolina bred singer wouldn’t break through until his sophomore album 2:35 PM four years later, which featured the hit single “More Than A Woman.” While that is a great song, I wanted to highlight my favorite track from the album, “Not Like This.”
Richardson linked up with Damon Thomas and Harvey Mason of The Underdogs to create a beautiful ballad. Richardson effortlessly explains that he understands his lady has been in relationships before. Still, the other men do not come close to him. As the singer croons the below lyrics, you feel every word.
“Girl, I know a thing or two about the way things go
With someone as fine as you
You be constantly dealin with the drive-bys
And the way guys be spittin at you
So it’s hard for me to think
That you ain’t had love
Ain’t been you he thought the world of
And I just can’t see
How even a playa wouldn’t be
Ready to settle down
You never been cared for (no not like this)
Girl, don’t look no further
You never made love before (no not like this)
It’s just for you
You say you had everything
And nothing was missing
What you thought was right is wrong
So baby just let me in
Girl, I know you had it, but not like this.”
While Richardson never really slowed down musically (he has released six other albums and scored three Grammy nods), mainstream success has alluded him. Nevertheless though, “Not Like This” still holds up nineteen years later.
Final Grade: A
“Not Like This” from 2:35 PM is available on all streaming platforms
There are some albums you revisit because of nostalgia, and then there are albums you return to because they remind you just how high the standard used to be. Anita Baker’s Rapture falls into that second category. Released in 1986, the album did more than make Baker a star. It helped define what sophisticated, grown R&B could sound like without losing any soul, sensuality, or personality.
Gwen Stefani had already established herself as a significant force with No Doubt when she released her debut solo album, *Love. Angel. Music. Baby* in 2004. This week, while my iPod was on shuffle, one of my favorite songs from that project, “The Real Thing,” came on. Although the original version has an upbeat new-wave feel, the Slow Jam Mix takes it to another level and is the perfect choice for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
Unless you’re a music purist, mentioning Randy Jackson from the famous family is likely to elicit a joke. However, any serious Jackson fan knows that Randy had musical achievements long before the punchlines. Before he was old enough to buy a drink, he had already co-written “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” and “Lovely One” with Michael Jackson.