Second Listen Sunday, JC Chasez, Schizophrenic
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I decided to revisit Schizophrenic to date, the only solo album from NSYNC solo member JC Chasez. It’s no secret that JC was the strongest among all the late nineties boy bands when it came to straight singing. In 2002, Chasez initially explored his potential as a solo artist when he collaborated with renowned producer Dallas Austin to record the track “Blowin’ Me Up (With Her Love)” for the soundtrack of the movie Drumline. Riding on the wave of its successful single release, Chasez embarked on recording an album he aimed to set apart from NSYNC’s musical domain distinctively.
Slow Jam Saturday : The Jacksons, One More Chance
As fans anxiously await the Antione Fuqua-directed biopic on the King of Pop to hit theaters next year, I wanted to pay homage to one of my favorite ballads in his group’s catalog for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday. That particular song is “One More Chance” from the group’s fifteenth studio album and the only one to feature all six brothers, Victory.
Second Listen Sunday : Billy Ocean, Suddenly
My choice for this week’s Second Listen Sunday is a singer who had already been in the music industry for almost a decade before one of his songs dethroned Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” and reached the Number One spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Slow Jam Saturday : Shelia E, Next Time Wipe the Lipstick Off Your Collar
Sheila E. was born into a musical family and gained recognition through her work with George Duke. In 1984, she released her debut album, The Glamorous Life, which quickly became a hit. The album’s title track and follow-up single, “The Belle of St. Mark,” helped Sheila achieve mainstream success
Single Review: Corey Clark, 2nd Chance
Despite being must-see TV for some over the last two decades, I’ve always felt that singing competition shows don’t do justice in promoting R&B singers. Whether it’s The Voice or American Idol, male R&B singers never seem to get the recognition they deserve, and for the most part, they don’t win the show. A case in point is the singer Mac Royals, who was cut from the most recent season of The Voice.
Second Listen Sunday, Stevie Wonder, The Woman in Red Soundtrack
In the summer of 1984, music legend Stevie Wonder had already churned out numerous hits and two classic albums in the form of Songs In The Key Of Life and Hotter Than July. Stevie Wonder still had tons of music left, though, and would soon deliver his second soundtrack album, The Woman in Red, to accompany Gene Wilder’s same tiled film.
Slow Jam Saturday: Teena Marie, Out On A Limb
In the summer of 2005, I was two years into my Air Force enlistment when I had a DJ gig on a Saturday night. That evening, the news of Luther Vandross’s passing broke, and like most music fans, I felt sad. However, I also regretted turning down the chance to see him perform live in 2002. Since then, I have made it a point to see performers of yesteryear whenever possible. In 2010, adulting got in the way of me seeing the legendary Teena Marie. Sadly, less than six months after that missed opportunity, Lady T passed away.
Single Review: Teddy Pendergrass, Close the Door {DJ Soulchild Remix}
Remix Phenom DJ Soulchild kicks off 2024 with a fresh bop as he brings his talents to a Philly soul classic with his spin on Teddy Pendergrass’s “Close The Door. ” As fans of R&B music already know, the song is a classic soul and R&B ballad that oozes sensuality and romance. It was released in 1978 on Teddy’s Life Is a Song worth Singing album. The song highlights Pendergrass’s smooth and commanding vocals, which have become iconic in soul music.
Second Listen Sunday: Color Me Badd, Time and Chance
For the first Second Listen Sunday of 2024, I wanted to highlight a group many consider a one-hit wonder despite having released four albums, the first of which went triple platinum. That group is Color Me Badd, and the album is their vastly underrated sophomore project, Time and Chance.
Slow Jam Saturday : Ralph Tresvant, When I Need Somebody
In 2024, it will be the 30th anniversary of two famous R&B albums, Boyz II Men’s “II” and Mary J. Blige’s “My Life.” As the anniversary approaches, I will highlight both albums in some way. However, for the first Slow Jam Saturday of 2024, I want to credit Ralph Tresvant, the lead singer of New Edition, and his second album, also released in 1994, It’s Goin’ Down. In particular, I want to highlight the album’s second single, “When I Need Somebody.”
Single Review : Chris Brown, Sensational
As the highly anticipated release of his eleventh album, 11:11, draws near, R&B sensation Chris Brown recently dropped his second single, “Sensational,” much to the delight of his adoring fans.” Following the mid-tempo R&B vibes of the lead single “Summer Too Hot,” Brown links up with Davido and Lojay to craft a surprisingly infectious dancefloor bop.
Album Review : Ruben Studdard, The Way I Remember It
Following his 2018 Luther Vandross cover album, Season 2 American Idol winner Ruben Studdard returns to the original material for his eighth album, The Way I Remember It.