Soul singer October London is steadily making a name for himself in the genre of R&B. By blending classic soul sounds with contemporary R&B, October London is carving out a space for himself in the music industry. A South Bend, Indiana native, he hit the scene in the summer of 2016. The first time I heard his voice was on “Revolution,” the closing song on Snoop Dogg’s Coolaid album.
Since then, he has graced fans with numerous projects. As he embarks on his latest project, The Rebirth of Marvin, he embraces one of the most brilliant singers ever. The lead single from the project is the slow-drag ballad “Back To Your Place.” A romantic ballad expresses a desire to be taken back to a lover’s place. In the lyrics, October has admired the person they are interested in all night. However, he is growing impatient with how long they have waited to advance the relationship.
They ask to be taken back to the person’s place, using the phrase “place of residence” to emphasize their intention. October desires to spend time alone with that person so they can express their love in a way they both desire. The song is a plea for a committed relationship and a physical connection. The Marvin Gaye influence is evident when I hear and see the visuals. Marvin is looking down and smiling.
Final Grade: A-
“Back To Your Place” is available on all streaming platforms.
There are some albums you revisit because of nostalgia, and then there are albums you return to because they remind you just how high the standard used to be. Anita Baker’s Rapture falls into that second category. Released in 1986, the album did more than make Baker a star. It helped define what sophisticated, grown R&B could sound like without losing any soul, sensuality, or personality.
Gwen Stefani had already established herself as a significant force with No Doubt when she released her debut solo album, *Love. Angel. Music. Baby* in 2004. This week, while my iPod was on shuffle, one of my favorite songs from that project, “The Real Thing,” came on. Although the original version has an upbeat new-wave feel, the Slow Jam Mix takes it to another level and is the perfect choice for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
Unless you’re a music purist, mentioning Randy Jackson from the famous family is likely to elicit a joke. However, any serious Jackson fan knows that Randy had musical achievements long before the punchlines. Before he was old enough to buy a drink, he had already co-written “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” and “Lovely One” with Michael Jackson.