Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis were so at the top of their game in 1987 that they could rip themselves off and still sound fresh. “Fake”, the first single from Alexander O’Neal’s sophomore effort, Hearsay (one of the all time classic ’80s R&B records), is a musical descendant of Janet Jackson’s “Nasty”. It’s a little… Read More “Fake” by Alexander O’Neal (1987)
“Encore” was the second and last #1 R&B record for Cheryl Lynn (you’ll hear about the first when we get to the “G”s). It was also the very first #1 R&B record produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (who probably have at least one song placement in every letter of the alphabet on this… Read More “Encore” by Cheryl Lynn (1983)
I have a lot to say about The Velvet Rope, the Janet Jackson album that “Empty” appears on. So much to say that I’ve considered drafting a proposal and sending it to the folks at 33 ⅓ (the folks that put out books about records). The Velvet Rope was a ridiculously daring album, graphic in… Read More “Empty” by Janet Jackson (1997)
Janet’s 1986 declaration of independence caused reverberations that are still being felt in 2018. Control, the album, changed the game for pop and R&B in a way not unlike her brother did with Thriller four years before. It found the youngest Jackson crossing the child-to-adult star finish line in classier fashion than anyone outside her… Read More “Control” by Janet Jackson (1986)
Change was a European outfit formed as disco was just passing its cultural peak. Everything about Change, from the songs to the singers to the arrangements to the name of the group borrowed liberally from Chic. Change even briefly used one of Chic’s major vocal weapons-Luther Vandross-to handle vocals for two songs on their debut.… Read More “Change of Heart” by Change (1984)
Michael and Prince were my childhood heroes, but the guys from New Edition were perhaps more impactful because they were within striking distance of my age. For me, and I’d imagine for quite a few black boys and teens, their existence was aspirational. Michael and Prince were pretty extra-terrestrials. Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, Ralph and… Read More “Can You Stand The Rain” by New Edition (1988)
