R&B lover man Keith Sweat already had an impressive three-album discography to his credit when he released his fourth album Get Up On It in June of 994. The lead single was the up-tempo “How Do You Like It”, which featured Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of TLC. While I can understand where R&B was at the time, it actually made sense for the lead single to be an up-tempo number.
However, after his breakthrough first album, Keith’s strong point for me are in his ballads and slow jams. Thus, the second single from Get Up On It titled “When I Give My Love” still ranks high in my personal playlist of Keith Sweat slow jams. Sweat wrote and produced the song with Fitzgerald Scott and Joe Jefferson. The song starts with an intro that slowly creeps up on the listener before beginning with the chorus and then transitioning into the first verse.
From the moment Sweat croons the first verse “Hush, my baby, baby, don’t say a word, I got so much love for you, girl, haven’t you heard. Now I’m on a mission, girl, my intuition says you should be mine, I should be yours”, you know you have a classic on your hands. The album version of the song clocks in at over six minutes, yet Sweat never over sings the song or becomes repetitive with his delivery of the lyrics.
I also enjoyed the video for the song as it pays homage to the seventies classic film Cooley High. I have had the pleasure of seeing Keith Sweat live in concert twice, and even own his live DVD, Keith Sweat, The Sweat Hotel Live. However, much to my dismay, I have never heard the song live, nor is there a remix for it.
Nevertheless, “When I Give My Love” is as forgotten gem in Keith’s already impressive catalog.
Final Grade: A
Get Up On It is available on all streaming platforms
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I took a trip back to 2007 and revisited “Don’t Talk Just Listen” from the group B5. Hailing from the Peach State, B5 comprised the Breeding Brothers, Bryan, Carnell, Dustin, Kelly, and Patrick. Initially finding success two years earlier with their cover of The Jackson 5’s “All I Do,” their debut did just enough with their preteen fans to warrant a second album.
With the exception of a few cases, R&B groups experienced a period of stagnation in 2007. While some groups continued to tour and perform their renowned classics, releasing new music was infrequent. To commemorate this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I would like to acknowledge a notable piece from Jagged Edge’s sixth album, “Baby Makin Project,” titled “Whole Town’s Laughing At Me.”
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.”
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