Second Listen Sunday: Ready For The World
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, we are taking a trip to the Great Lake State and showing some love to R&B Band Ready for The World and their self-titled debut album. Arriving in stores on May 14, 1985, via MCA Records, the album on which the band produced their first single was “Tonight.”
Slow Jam Saturday : Danny Boy, It’s Over Now
During the 1990s, it was commonplace for numerous hip-hop record labels to have an R&B vocalist who would collaborate with the label’s artists in composing hooks. This week’s edition of Slow Jam Saturday features Danny Boy, a singer who fulfills this category, and his poignant ballad “It’s Over Now.”
Second Listen Sunday: Bobby Brown, The Masterpiece
While he is enjoying a second career wind with a booming food condiment and seasoning line tours with New Edition and a successful Vegas residency, Bobby Brown hasn’t released an album since 2012’s “The Masterpiece” this week’s pick for Second Listen Sunday. Fans were already aware of the album’s arrival as Brown constantly spoke about it on tour. The first single was “Get out the Way,” in which Brown dabbles in familiar territory by addressing the haters in his life.
Slow Jam Saturday: Johnny Gill, I’m Still Waiting
R&B balladeer Johnny Gill was basking in the success of his self-titled third solo album in the spring of 1991 when he contributed a soulful ditty to the soundtrack for the classic film “New Jack City.” Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis affiliate, the late Randy Ran, wrote and produced the song. No stranger to singing about heartbreak, the song finds Gill crooning about longing for a supportive, dependable partner in life. Ran’s lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and the need for emotional support.
Second Listen Sunday: Bobby Brown, King Of Stage
The year was 1986, and Bobby Brown, a well-known teen idol, was at a critical juncture in his career. His childhood friends had recently voted him out of their musical group, New Edition. Nonetheless, his label’s CEO, the late Jheryl Busby, apprised Brown that the label was obligated to offer him a solo deal. Consequently, Brown embarked on his debut solo album, “King of Stage,” which we chose as our featured selection for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.
Slow Jam Saturday: Mtume, You, Me & He
Although some may consider R&B band Mtume as one-hit wonders for their classic song “Juicy Fruit,” true music enthusiasts know that the group had already released two albums before that song, along with some fantastic album cuts and 11 other charting songs. Led by James Mtume and featuring the powerful lead vocals of Tawatha Agee, Mtume’s track “You, Me and He” is the perfect choice for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
Second Listen Sunday: Night And Day
I have previously mentioned the perks of growing up in the nineties, particularly discovering a great R&B gem on a movie soundtrack. Often, artists would release a track on a soundtrack, building anticipation for an album that might not even be released. This week’s Second Listen Sunday featured artist Night & Day falls into the former group.
Slow Jam Saturday: 702, Get It Together
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to give some flowers to R&B trio 702 and their ballad “Get It Together.” In the spring of 1995, I was introduced to the group as they joined label mates Subway for the “This Lil Game We Play” ballad. The group gained popularity a year later with their single, “Steelo.” However, it was their second single, “Get It Together,” that I was eagerly looking forward to hearing live when I saw them open up for New Edition on the 1997 Home Again tour.
Single Review: Musiq Soulchild – Just Friends (Sunny) (DJ Soulchild Remix)
DJ Soulchild, a talented Remix Phenom from Switzerland delivers another remix for 2024 perfect for the dance floor. He added his unique style to Musiq Soulchild’s debut single, “Just Friends,” which was initially released in 2000 as the third single from the “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).” DJ Soulchild has returned to the City of Brotherly Love to bless his fans with this fantastic new track.
Second Listen Sunday : Marc Nelson, I Want You
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday pick, I’m taking you back to 1991 to highlight the debut solo album by premier vocalist Marc Nelson, “I Want You.” It’s often forgotten, but it deserves recognition. As R&B experts know, Nelson was born into music as he is the son of Phyllis Nelson, best known for the dance hit “I Like You.”
Nelson was one of the founding members of Boyz II Men while still a student at Philadelphia’s renowned High School of Performing Arts. However, due to personality conflicts and impatience, Nelson left the group before they hit the big time. Nelson would end up signing with Capital Records, and his solo album, I Want You, was released only a few months after his former group’s debut “Cooleyhighharmony” in the fall of 1991.
Slow Jam Saturday: Profyle, Whispers in the Dark
Male R&B groups ruled the airwaves in the early to mid-nineties, but as the 20th century started to close out, while groups were still around, they no longer dominated the charts. While we still had mainstays like Dru Hill, 112, Jagged Edge, and four guys from Philly, newer groups would come and go.
Second Listen Sunday: Gerald LeVert, Love & Consequences
R&B singer Gerald LeVert released his third solo album, “Love & Consequences,” in the summer of 1998, following his super group project LSG. In addition to collaborating with his longtime associate, Edwin “Tony” Nicholas, LeVert also engaged in fruitful partnerships with a broader array of writers and producers. These include notable individuals such as R. Kelly, Joe Little III from The Rude Boys, and Darrell “Delite” Allamby.