Slow Jam Saturday : Janet Jackson, Twenty Foreplay
A year before releasing her sixth solo album, The Velvet Rope, in 1997, Janet Jackson gifted her fans with her first greatest hits album, Design of a Decade: 1986–1996. I remember the initial criticisms about the title since the bulk of the songs were from her third (Control) and fourth (Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814) albums.
Second Listen Sunday : Marvin Gaye, Let’s Get It On
Arriving in stores on August 28, 1973, Let’s Get It On promotion began with its same titled lead single. Co-written with producer Ed Townsend, “Let’s Get It On” was Gaye’s plea for sexual liberation.
Slow Jam Saturday : Tony Thompson, Handle Our Business
Late R&B singer Tony Thompson had already received the stamp of approval from music fans as the lead singer of the R&B quintet Hi-Five. Thompson’s vocals lead the group with hit singles such as “I Like the Way (The Kissing Game),” “She’s Playing Hard To Get,” and “Unconditional Love.”
Second Listen Sunday: Ginuwine, The Life
R&B singer Ginuwine took a different approach with his music when his third album, The Life, arrived in 2001. One of the first things that immediately surprised fans was that super-producer Timbaland’s production was scarce on the album, as he only produced one track on it.
Slow Jam Saturday: Justin Timberlake, Why, When, How
In the spring of 2002, boy band NSync decided to take a hiatus following their successful Celebrity tour. During this time, the group’s co-lead singer Justin Timberlake began working on his solo album Justified, which went on to sell ten million copies worldwide.
Second Listen Sunday :Marques Houston, Naked
Marques Houston spent the bulk of the nineties as the lead singer of the teenage R&B group, Immature. The group released four albums before changing their name to Imx, as they began to mature.
Slow Jam Saturday : Ruben Studdard, Make Ya Feel Beautiful
After dabbling in gospel music on the I Need an Angel album, Season 2 American Idol winner Ruben Studdard returned to R&B for his third album, The Return. “Change Me” was the album’s first single, however the album’s second single, “Make Ya Feel Beautiful,” is the pick for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
Second Listen Sunday : Lionel Richie, Lionel Richie
The year was 1982, and Lionel Richie had spent fourteen years with The Commodores when he decided to embark on a solo career. Similar to most solo artists, Richie took the route of self-titling his solo debut.
Slow Jam Saturday : Brian McKnight, Good Enough
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.
Second Listen Sunday: Al B. Sure! In Effect Mode
Die-hard music fans know that one of the most incredible tours of the decade was the New Edition Heartbreak tour. The acts on the bill were New Edition, Bobby Brown and this week’s second listen Sunday pick Al B. Sure!’s debut album In Effect Mode.
Slow Jam Saturday: Guy, Rescue Me
After releasing their second album, The Future, Guy took a hiatus in 1990. Group members and brothers Aaron and Damion Hall would release solo albums, while Teddy Riley would become an in-demand producer and form another group, Blackstreet.
Second Listen Sunday: Tank, Sex, Love & Pain
After what seems like an eternity, Tank’s first three albums have finally arrived on streaming platforms. For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I decided to revisit Tank’s third album, Sex, Love & Pain. Tank already had a substantial fan base following his first two albums, Forces of Nature and One Man.