R&B music suffered another loss earlier this week when Ronnie Wilson, a founding member of The GAP Band, passed away. While mainstream music listeners know Charlie Wilson’s name, I wanted to highlight Ronnie and his pen game.
While The GAP Band is known for its funk numbers, their catalog also has its share of Outstanding (pun intended) ballads. Now I could have chosen “Yearning For Your Love,” “Going In Circles,” or “Wednesday Lover.” However, there is something special about “Season’s No Reason To Change,” which is this week’s pick for Slow Jam Saturday.
Initially appearing on the group’s 1982 album, Gap Band IV showcases Ronnie’s songwriting ability and, of course, Charlie’s ability to sing anything. Through a lush four-minute arrangement, the listener is treated to mature lyrics such as:
“So I was rolling down the Mountain Side the Sun come around melting the snow away
Girl I’ve been gone for such a long long time Seasons no reason to change
Girl I love you more and more each day and each and every day I pray that you will stay
Girl I keep loving you more and more each day Seasons no reason to change”.
For me, the song is a correlation to weather and relationships. When you are in a relationship, just because things around you change does not mean you should be negative when it comes to the treatment of your partner. Furthermore, the song’s production could have easily crossed over to a country music station.
While Charlie Wilson would become a mega solo star in his own right, his work with The GAP Band, particularly the ballads, still sounds fresh in 2021. Charlie’s brothers, who made up the rest of the band, equally deserve their flowers as well. “Season’s No Reason To Change” is just one of the many highlights from Ronnie
Wilson’s songwriting catalog.
Final Grade A
Gap Band IV is available on all streaming platforms.
For the first Second Listen Sunday of 2025, I wanted to return to 2005 and highlight “Gemini,” the eighth album from iconic singer & balladeer Brian McKnight. The album hit stores on February 8th, 2005, and would serve as the singer’s last release on the legendary Motown label. The album’s title pays homage to the singer’s astrological sign.
When discussing families in R&B music, three names are usually at the top: Jackson, Debarge, and Isley. For the first Slow Jam Saturday of 2025, I wanted to show love to Isley Jasper Isley and their hit “Insatiable Woman” from their 1985 album “Caravan of Love.”
For their second single, the group presented a ballad entitled “Feels Like The First Time.” Once again, Greene handles the lyrics, while Neville Hodge is responsible for production duties. Greene begins the song with robust energy, proclaiming his love for the lady. Greene’s group members provide stellar work on the background vocals, and the songs eschew nineties R&B without going into crass vulgarity.