As NE fans eagerly await tour dates for the group’s rumored Fall/Winter 2025 trek, I wanted to take a moment to show some love to the group member, Johnny Gill’s second solo album, “Chemistry,” for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.
From his early days in the family group Wings of Faith, Mr. Gill was born to make music. However, as R&B fans know, Johnny Gill’s initial release with Atlantic Records failed to make a significant impact when it first came out. The 1983 self-titled debut showed a strong voice struggling to adapt to a studio that couldn’t properly utilize its power.
When Atlantic named Johnny Gill’s comeback album “Chemistry”, they played a game because the title served as both a knowing joke and a direct challenge. Instead of folding under pressure, Gill delivered an album that finally played to his strengths: The album showcased mature, gritty vocals soaked in soul that conveyed an unforgeable emotional depth.
The change becomes apparent on the very first track. Johnny isn’t just singing—he’s feeling. He’s in it. That baritone? Rich as molasses and twice as smooth. And the material? The material perfectly suits a young man emerging as both a vocalist and a storyteller.
“I Can’t Wait Till Tomorrow” presents a vibrant big-band swing sound interwoven with urban rhythms. It features a dynamic amalgamation of brass instruments that effectively conveys a confident atmosphere, reminiscent of Count Basie navigating the streets of Brooklyn in 1985. Johnny exhibits his musical prowess through powerful vocals and impressive stylistic choices.
“I Found Love” is a gentle mid-tempo piece that reveals the more nuanced aspects of Gill’s musical skills. This slow dance artfully expresses heartfelt emotion, illustrating his adept crooning, which retains clarity, warmth, and a consistently masculine quality.
The album’s highlight is the album’s lead single “Half Crazy,” an emotionally compelling work created by Linda Creed, a prominent figure in the Philadelphia soul genre alongside Thom Bell. Gill not only performs this piece; he entirely immerses himself in the rendition. By the conclusion of the final chorus, the audience becomes enveloped in his confusion and heartbreak, providing a profound exploration of emotional turmoil.
The album’s title track, “Chemistry,” presents a slick spacey groove that begins with cosmic shimmer before finding its place in a buttery midtempo pocket. The track’s soulful sophistication and hypnotic quality make it the ideal centerpiece for an album exploring balance.
Johnny Gill’s sophomore album showcases his talent and marks a significant step in his career that would set the stage for his place in one of the greatest R&B groups ever.
Final Grade: B
“Chemistry” 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.