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.
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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