Slow Jam Saturday: El DeBarge feat. Babyface, Where Is My Love
El Debarge broke into the music scene as a member of one of the eighties’ best family groups at the Motown label. When El left the group in 1986 for a solo career, industry insiders expected El to succeed tremendously. Motown didn’t allow El to write or produce anything on his first album. Thus the album didn’t cross over to the pop charts or connect with R & B audiences.
Second Listen Sunday : Soul For Real, For Life
Sixteen months after breaking into the music industry on the monster hits “Every Little Thing I Do” and “Canny Rain” from their debut album, the Dalyrimple brothers, a.k.a. Soul for Real, returned with their second album, For Life.
Slow Jam Saturday: Whitney Houston, Far Enough
While the Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody continues to divide
audiences (I enjoyed it), I wanted to highlight the "Voice" for this week's Slow Jam Saturday. During the film, there's a scene where Bobby Brown is preparing to propose to Whitney, and a mellow R&B track plays in the background.
Second Listen Sunday: Slim of 112, Refueled
The list is endless when you think of R&B groups of the nineties. Per the norm, from a marketing standpoint, one group member always shines brighter than the others. In Atlanta-based R&B quarter 112, Marvin Scandrick, a.k.a. Slim, was that member.
Slow Jam Saturday: Gina Thompson, Angel
R&B songstress Gina Thompson is most remembered for her 1996 debut single “Nobody Does It Better” and the Bad Boy Remix featuring Missy Elliott, who gained notability and mainstream attention for her unique signature, “Hee-Hee-How” punchline.
Second Listen Sunday: New Edition, All For Love
What better way to kick off the 2023 Season of Second Listen Sunday than reviewing a New Edition album? If you didn’t already know, the group recently announced a Spring Tour titled “The Legacy Tour” with opening acts Tank, Guy, and Keith Sweat.
Slow Jam Saturday: Earth, Wind & Fire, Pure Gold
I decided to go with “Pure Gold” from the elements known as Earth, Wind, and Fire. Initially appearing on the group’s nineteenth album Illumination, “Pure Gold” was produced by the legendary Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Co-writing the song with Jam & Lewis were The Avilla Brothers and Tony Tolbert.
Second Listen Sunday: Jaheim, A Really Chill Christmas
Sixteen years into his musical career, New Jersey native and R&B crooner Jaheim gave his fans a musical gift with his first Christmas album, A Really Chill Christmas. While some of his newer material hasn’t lived up to his full vocal potential, with A Really Chill Christmas
Slow Jam Saturday: Johnny Gill, Bad Santa
As the Christmas season winds down, the last pick for my holiday-themed slow jam is one that recently saw a release, “Bad Santa,” from legendary balladeer Johnny Gill.
Second Listen Sunday: Freddie Jackson, At Christmas
By the time Freddie Jackson released his first Christmas album, At Christmas, in 1994, he had already established himself as one of the finest balladeers. He had released six albums to his credit. On the album’s opening track, One Wish, Jackson collaborated with Gordon Chambers and longtime collaborator Barry Eastmond. The trio created a midtempo bop that is a suitable introduction to the album.
Slow Jam Saturday: Troop, Santa Can You Help Me
While R&B quintet Troop had yet to release an album since the late nineties, the group stayed active with touring and solo offerings from some members. In 2014, the group surprised fans by releasing a new song, “Santa Can You Help Me.”
Second Listen Sunday : A Kenny Lattimore Christmas
R&B crooner Kenny Lattimore had twenty years in the game when his first holiday CD A Kenny Lattimore Christmas, arrived in 2016. Lattimore has one of the natural voices; he can sing anything and sound good. The first time I saw Mr. Lattimore live, he sang opera and wowed the audience with his instrument. That said, I didn’t want this review to focus on his covers of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “The Christmas Song,” and “O Holy Night because he sings them with ease. Instead, I want to focus on the original songs.