If there were ever a question on Jeopardy with a category about R&B bands and the question centered on Cameo, I’m sure it would be on one of their signature songs, “Candy” or “Word Up!” However, as R&B purists know, the group already had a thick catalogue before either one of the songs hit the airwaves.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to highlight the group’s eleventh album, “Single Life.” Released in stores on June 17, 1985, “Single Life” set the stage for the group’s next wave of success as they began to adapt to the changing sounds of the 1980s while maintaining their signature musicianship.
The album’s lead single, “Attack Me With Your Love,” was written by members Larry Blackmon and Kevin Kendrick. With a dancefloor-ready groove, the track explores the group’s longing to experience an intense demonstration of affection from their desired person. The lyrics reveal how they understand their love is not returned, yet they choose to wait for their affection to be reciprocated. Cameo uses metaphors of attack to illustrate how quickly and powerfully they feel their desire (“attack me with your love”, “bushwhack me with your love”, “excite me with your love”, “entice me with your love”).
“Single Life” presents a captivating contradiction as the second single. It delves into the exhilarating joys and numerous advantages of embracing a carefree, unattached lifestyle. The lyrics vividly capture the group’s joy in enjoying the freedom of being single while playfully expressing a desire to avoid serious commitments. The song celebrates the liberating essence of living life on one’s terms, accompanied by an upbeat and infectious rhythm.
The rest of the album features diverse styles that work in Cameo’s favor. The song “A Good-Bye” leans towards rock ballad characteristics instead of R&B ballad elements, and “Little Boys, Dangerous Toys” presents political reggae influenced by Cold War tensions and nuclear arms competition. “Urban Warrior” delves into social commentary and also flirts with Hip-Hop.
Cameo was already well known in the musical landscape, and “Single Life” is another strong entry in their catalog.
Final Grade: B
“Single Life” 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.