The year was 1987, and in the world of sports, The Giants won the Super Bowl, the Lakers won the NBA, and the Minnesota Twins won baseball. In television, the world would get their introduction to “The Simpsons,” in cinema, Eddie Murphy would appear in his first sequel.
But in the world of music. R&B quartet The Whispers would release their sixteenth album, “Just Gets Better with Time,” this week’s pick for Second Listen Sunday. Arriving in stores on April 9, 1987, the album was led by the single “Rock Steady.” Hooking up with rising producers Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, the bop would become the group’s highest-charting pop single. An infectious dance floor-ready track, “Rock Steady,” conveys that there’s strength in enduring and that love triumphs.
The lyrics depict a couple who were once reluctant but ultimately experienced a profound connection. In the first verse, the group looks forward to the other lover, who can be hard to know: you don’t know what I’m going through. The chorus (‘Rock-a-bye your baby with a dove’) could be understood as a recognition that their relationship is now on an even keel: ‘We rocked steady,’ they say – that is, ‘we persevered through difficult moments’ and are now reciprocally loving, solid, deep, and long-lasting. In the second verse, they turn the situation around: it turns out that you were looking forward to me too, and you were getting ‘tired of waitin’.
For their second single, “Special F/X,” the group collaborated with long-time producer Leon Sylvers III. The mid-tempo groove of the song would have been fitting for the film “F/X,” released a year prior. The song delves into the concept of love and attraction through the lens of cinematic special effects, suggesting that the object of affection possesses larger-than-life qualities akin to elaborate visual effects used in movies.
However, the next two singles, “Just Gets Better with Time” and “In the Mood,” hit the mark for me. Gary Taylor Jr wrote the former, which describes the idea that love is even more beautiful and enriching the more the couple shares it throughout their years together.
While “In the Mood” was Babyface and Daryl Simmons’s collaboration. Sexy and romantic, ‘In the Mood’ depicts the group’s intent to make love to their partner by setting up a romantic and sensual environment. The song primarily describes the ways the singer plans to set the mood for an intimate sexual encounter with their lover. The album’s final single, “No Pain, No Gain,” captures the idea that love is a journey filled with challenges and rewards. While not as strong as the previous single, it’s a solid song overall. The remainder of the album is also strong as “Give It To Me” and “Love’s Calling” are beautiful ballads, and the album’s opener, “I Want You,” easily captures the eighties sound.
The Whispers were already legends when “Just Gets Better with Time arrived, the album proved they could still sound modern and not alienate their core fans,
Final Grade: B+
“Just Gets Better with Time” is available on all streaming platforms.
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