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.
I’ve always been a fan of Eric Bellinger. My admiration stems not only from the records he has released under his own name but also from the impressive career he built behind the scenes. Long before casual R&B listeners recognized his face, they were already familiar with his songwriting through tracks he penned for artists like Chris Brown, Usher, Justin Bieber, and Wale.
As many of you know, I had the opportunity to visit Paisley Park earlier this week while vacationing in Minnesota. During the tour, our guide shared that an expanded edition of Prince’s album “Parade” is expected to be released to celebrate its 40th anniversary. After spending the day exploring the Twin Cities, it felt like the perfect excuse to revisit one of the most fascinating and underrated albums in Prince’s legendary catalog.
One of the reasons I’ve always considered Prince to have the edge over Michael Jackson is his remarkable collection of ballads and