The legendary Gerald Levert was on top of his game in the fall of 1994 when his second album, Groove On, hit stores. His 1991 debut Private Line saw platinum success, and two years later, his sixth album For Real Tho’ with the group LeVert went gold. Not to mention Gerald was also an in-demand producer and writer.
After turning down a chance to work with David Foster to record an R&B cover version of John Michael Montgomery’s “I Swear,” which would become a massive hit for All-4-One, Gerald refused to make that mistake again.
For Groove On‘s first single, Levert teamed with Foster, who gave the baritone singer an R&B version of the 1993 song “She’d Give Anything” by short-lived country music group Boy Howdy. Foster and Levert changed the title to “I’d Give Anything.” Levert flawlessly expresses the deep desire for all-consuming, fulfilling love.
In his voice, you generally believe he is searching for someone to turn his life around and make him feel the way he used to. However, he’s yet to find that person. He’s grown tired of the endless parade of lovers and wants something more meaningful.
I still remember the music video watching Gerald reflect on his loneliness, questioning if he’ll ever find the one he’s been searching for. He emphasizes his determination to keep searching and not settle for anything less than true love at its highest level. The lyrics reveal the speaker’s willingness to do anything and everything to fall in love, even if that means waiting and making wishes.
“I’d Give Anything” conveys a sense of longing for a soulmate who completes the speaker and fills the emptiness in his life. Ultimately, the song suggests that love is the ultimate goal. It also offers that finding true love is worth waiting for and fighting for, no matter what it takes.
The second single was “How Many Times,” reflecting his experience with unrequited love. The video, directed by Jada Pinkett Smith, is a stark reminder of domestic violence and its devastating effects. The opening monologue of “Answering Service” provides powerful insight into emotions and relationships. The song “Have Mercy” showcases Gerard’s ability to convey a range of emotions through his unique singing style.
Sans the lead single and “It’s Your Turn,” Gerald wrote and produced every song on the album with frequent collaborator Harold Nichols. The up-tempo numbers haven’t aged as well, but the ballads and slow jams filling the album are more substantial than some hit singles today.
It’s still quite difficult to believe we lost Mr. LeVert almost two decades ago. Nevertheless, the music lives on, and his sophomore album is a fine slice of mature nineties R&B.
Final Grade: B+
Groove On is available on all streaming platforms.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.