Vocalist Philip Bailey was already a legend in the music business when his seventh solo, a self-titled release, hit record stores. Arriving in March of 1994, the falsetto Phenom’s newest project saw him collaborating with a who’s who production team. Chuckii Booker kicks things off with the mellow and airy “Stay Right Here.”
The opening moments where Bailey sings sound better than some singers releasing music today as Bailey never over sings the song. Robert Brookins provides the next song, “Just Like Summer,” a great Segway from the opening number. Brian McKnight delivers a dance floor groove in “Here with Me,” which I could see on the radio today. While P.M Dawn member Attrell Cordes laces Bailey with “A Diamond Just Like You.” Despite the song being better suited for a boy band, I cannot deny Bailey’s lush vocals.
Brian McKnight also contributes the lovely ballads “I’m Ready” and “Crazy Things You Do for Love.” The most surprising collaboration on the project is with Bailey and NBA player Wayman Tisdale. The song “Love Me Tonight” is an excellent track for grown men who want to set up a romantic night with their lady, avoiding going into vulgarity.
I did not discover Philip Bailey until about ten years after its release. I read an interview that the elements gave where Bailey mentioned it was great to work with Brian McKnight again on the EWF record Illumination. Since purchasing Philip Bailey in 2005, I revisit the album annually.
Final Grade: B+
Top Songs: “Here With Me,” “I’m Ready,” and “Crazy Things You Do For Love”.
Philip Bailey is not available on any streaming platforms, but you can find songs on YouTube.
Growing up in the nineties, movies aimed at a melanin audience often featured soundtracks that had to be just as flavorful as the films themselves. This week, for Slow Jam Saturday, I want to take a trip back to 1993 and highlight one of the slow jams from the soundtrack of “Menace II Society”.
Last week marked two significant anniversaries for one of the greatest artists of all time, Mr. Prince Rogers Nelson. It’s only fitting that I show him some love for Second Listen Sunday. The first anniversary was on the 21st, commemorating nine years since his passing. The second anniversary was on the 22nd, celebrating the 40th anniversary of his seventh studio album, “Around the World in a Day.”
One of my most significant decisions late last year was to pledge to Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. At the time of this writing, I am in Atlantic City for my fraternity’s Regional Conference, where I will represent my chapter, Beta Alpha Omega. In that regard, I believe the perfect song for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday is “The Best Man I Can Be.”
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