The current lineup of legendary R&B trio features founding members Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Sr., and Eric Nolan Grant, who joined the group in 1997. Tonight I get to cross an item off my musical bucket list as I’m attending the Washington D.C. stop of the group’s Last Stop on the Love Train tour.
Before Mr. Grant joined the group, The O’Jays had already amassed a legendary catalog of slow jams and ballads. I’m sure I would spend hours debating with my friends Lawrence “Law” Worrell, Beyond The Album Cover podcast host Jarrell Mason, or Baltimore producer J-Soul about the top ten O’Jays ballads. However, for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I decided to pick one from the latter O’Jays catalog.
In 2001, the group released For the Love…which arrived in stores two weeks after the 9/11 attacks. The song I wanted to highlight is the album’s sixth track, “I’m Ready Now,” which the group members also wrote. The track opens up with a smooth production before the lyrics begin. Set to an angelic arrangement, “I’m Ready Now” is a textbook song about a man realizing his mistakes and wanting his lady back.
Eric Nolan Grant leads the song while his group mates provide the backing vocals. While I doubt the song will make it into the setlist for tonight’s show, the track is a wonderful addition to the group’s 21st ballad collection.
Final Grade: B+
“I’m Ready Now” from For the Love… 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