THROWBACK THURSDAY: Keep The Faith

Faith Evans

Keep The Faith

This CD has been an inspiration and has reminded me of what's really important in life.
As I was driving into work yesterday, I was struck by the message laid out in "Life Will Pass You By".

[Chorus]

What I'm thinking of
Life's not that important if you don't have love
Striving for perfection every day
I must make it better than it was the day before

Never will I be a fool and take my blessings for granted
I know God's been by my side
And everything's gonna be all right

Gotta move on, gotta be strong
Can't let no one get me down, oh no
Problems they come, problems they go
Can't let no one get me down, oh no

[Chorus]

Even though you may have to cry
(Dry your eyes)
It will be all right
(Just put your faith)
Put your faith in the one who makes you strong
The one who makes you strong

[Chorus]

Life will pass you by in the twinkling of an eye
If you didn't, now you know
You can't keep wasting time
We're getting older every day
There's more to life than just today
Our future's not that far away
You can't keep wasting time

[Repeat above until fade]

Faith's words resonated in my mind and once again I began to reflect on my own life and where I want to be...what I REALLY want to be and just where in the heck am I going?

Especially these words,
"Life will pass you by in the twinkling of an eye
If you didn't, now you know
You can't keep wasting time
We're getting older every day
There's more to life than just today"

How many of us get so caught up in our day to day routine and minutia that we forget...we forget to call, write, laugh, cry, TRY.

TRY? That's a big deal to a lot of people isn't it? Try something new, try something different, try a new way, try doing it all over again, try something on for size, try. What's so scary about trying anyway? :: shrug! ::

On to the review.

"It was rumored that when he first heard Evans sing, he described her voice as feeling "like rain." It's funny, but I was thinking the same thing as I got off the elevator yesterday listening to "Life Will Pass You By". Faith's voice has a very soothing effect like that of a waterfall's steady downpour or a cool mist. A lilting comfort.

Some of my most favorite titles on this sophomore album are:

2. Love Like This
4. Sunny Days
6. My First Love - another story of my life songs.
9. Life Will Pass You By

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Surrender

Surrender

"Kut Klose was a R&B trio that formed in Atlanta, Georgia. The three female singers that made up the group were Athena Cage, Lavonn Battle and Tabitha Duncan. The girls were discovered by Keith Sweat who heavily produced their debut album. He also sang a duet with the group on "Get Up On It."

In 1995, the girls released their first and only album, Surrender. Despite releasing three singles, "Surrender," "Lovely Thang," and "I Like" the only one to make a significant impact was "I Like." "I Like" managed to reach #8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Chart." -

"Kut Klose members LaVonn Battle, Athena Cage, and Tabitha Duncan have attractive voices, but they haven't come up with a distinctive group sound; they simply fill in around the lead vocals in the most predictable ways. It doesn't help matters that the album's 11 songs, largely written by Keith Sweat and his sidekicks, are undernourished melodically, giving the three women little to do but repeat the same sing-song rhythms over and over. If Surrender were simply boring, it could be easily dismissed. It's more insidious than that, however, for Sweat and his male cronies have used the three women of Kut Klose as vehicles for their own sexual fantasies. There's something smarmy about powerful industry figures who sign up young women desperate for stardom and who then direct those women to moan and croon about how they want a "Lovely Thang" who will "Lay My Body Down" and "Do Me" the way "I Like." Kut Klose's new album is nothing more than the Penthouse--Geoffrey Him"

I concur with the Amazon reviewer's opinion above. These girls don't have spectacular voices like Beyonce' or Mariah and the lyrics are rather male oriented, BUT I do like this CD for some reason. Its kinda pop and catchy and I like to listen to them while I'm tooling around town. This group is definitely indicative of the R&B girl groups of the early 90s.

Some of their more popular tracks from Surrender:

3. Get Up On It
6. Surrender
7. I Like

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Miss Thang

Monica Arnold

"Monica Denise Arnold (born October 24, 1980), professionally known as Monica, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and occasional actress. She debuted in 1995 under the guidance of Rowdy Records head Dallas Austin and became the youngest recording act to ever have two consecutive chart-topping hits on the U.S..."

Can you believe that she was only 13 years old when she recorded this smash debut album.
Like the lyrics of the songs on this album, Monica's voice was so strong and developed...far more mature than her young age.

I remember being mesmerized by this album....I love every song on this album.

Here's some of the better videos I managed to dig up on YouTube:

Miss Thang

2. Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days)
3. Like This And Like That
11. Before You Walk Out Of My Life
13. Why I Love You So Much

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Soul of a Woman

Celebrating its 10 year anniversary this August, Soul of a Woman was Kelly Price's debut album. If you have never heard Kelly sang, you need to RUN and buy this CD. Lawd! This woman can sang! You will feel every note from her soul straight into yours. I have rediscovered Kelly all over again and she is awesome in every aspect.
I love every song on this CD, but some of the more memorable ones are:

2. Friend Of Mine [YouTube Live Performance]
3. Secret Love [YouTube Video]
5. Kiss Test
9. Her [YouTube Video] Story of My Life...
11. Take Me To A Dream
12. Lord Of All - [YouTube Live Performance] This one makes me cry every time. So, beautiful.

I remember when Kelly first debuted. I listened to this CD non stop and it resonates so closely to my own life experiences; betrayal, heartbreak, introspection and re-emergence.

Funny story.
Spring 1999, I was on a business trip to Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia and was staying at the Swissotel. Just so happened that Kelly was in town and staying at the very same hotel. We were even on the same floor. Back then, Kelly and I looked pretty darn similar. Same complexion, same body composition, same hair style, same sunglasses (one of the doormen told me that we had the same ones), etc. No, I wasn't stalking her. Just one of those serendipitous situations. Consequently, I was frequently mistaken for her and found myself absconding from paparazzi and autograph seekers the whole time I was there. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to meet Mrs. Price, but it was nice being a look-a-like for a couple days. :) Some other similarities, we both come from COGIC families. My Maternal Grandmother is the Church Mother at her church. She has struggled with an ailing mother. Mine is still not doing well. We've both lost at least 100lbs, although, I've gained a few of mine back. BOOO! I'm working on it. I'm working on it. I promise. I just got back from the gym.

Always a plus size person, Kelly was prompted to make serious changes in her life after her mother and mother in law were both diagnosed with breast cancer. Slimming down from a size 24 to a size 12, Kelly managed to lose 100 pounds through plain ole diet and exercise. What an accomplishment and a great example to all women, especially women of color since we are most at risk for so many obesity related illnesses. Although, I have to say that I think she was so much more beautiful when she was larger. I think some folks just look better bigger, but what is more important is that they are healthier and happier.

Most recently, Kelly has been focusing on gospel music and was on tour with Sisters in the Spirit during 2007. "...Kelly Price is supposed to release a new R&B-CD early 2008 at Atlantic Records (according to Jawn Murry)"

THROWBACK THURSDAY: SWV

These three "Sisters with Voices" (SWV), Cheryl "Coko" Clemons, Tamara "Taj"Johnson-George and Leanne "Lelee" Lyons have left an indelible mark on contemporary R&B of the 90s. Now retired, SWV was considered one of the top R&B groups of its time.

"With their 1992 debut, It's About Time, the all-female New Jack Swing trio SWV scored a string of Top Ten R&B hits that established them as one of the most popular urban R&B groups of the '90s. SWV (their name is an acronym for Sisters with Voices) is comprised of three school friends: Cheryl "Coko" Gamble-Clemons, Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George and Leanne "Lelee" Lyons. All three vocalists sang in church as children, which is where they learned how to harmonize. A demo tape the group assembled caught the attention of producer Teddy Riley, a former member of Guy and arguably the father of new jack swing. Prior to SWV, Riley helped establish the careers of Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. Riley's luck didn't wear out with SWV — he helped the group craft their debut, It's About Time, which went double platinum within its first year of release." Read more about SWV.

SWV came onto the scene just as I started my college years. I remember those rare moments when I had time to relax, I'd lay in my bed, listening to their tape over and over again wishing I could sing as passionately as these 3 women.

Some of my most favorite and memorable songs are:

It's About Time
1. Anything
2. I'm So Into You
4. Weak
5. You're Always On My Mind

New Beginning
2. You're The One

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Weekend

'Weekend' is the 3rd album release by contemporary R&B vocalist, Kenny Lattimore. In stark contrast to his 2 previous albums, 'Kenny Lattimore' and 'From the Soul of a Man'. Weekend has a light-hearted, upbeat feel overlaid with Kenny's shiny serenading voice.

Some of my personal favorites are:

1. Weekend (Radio Mix/Album Version)
6. Lately
9. The Things I'll Do For You
10. Who

Did you know it is his birthday today!? Happy Birfday, Kenny! :*

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Profyle

Dropping in 1999, "Whispers in the Dark" was Profyle's debut album.

"The Shreveport, LA, vocal quartet Profyle consists of a pair of brothers and cousins who grew up together, inspired by the success and positive message of groups like Boyz II Men."

I was listening to them on my way into work this morning and said to myself "HEY! Here's another R&B group worthy of profiling."

Some of my personal favorite titles are:
1. Just Can't Get You Off My Mind
2. I Ain't The One
3. Jiggy Girl
4. Too Shady
5. Whispers In The Dark
7. Don't Be Trippin'

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Tyrese

I've been listening to Tyrese all week in my car. :: swoon :: What a voice! So, powerful and melodic...with perfect pitch and range. You feel what he feels when he sings. That's the way it should be.

You might remember Tyrese from his late 90's Coca-Cola and Tommy Hilfiger advertisements, and Usher's "My Way" video. His self titled debut album, Tyrese, is simply spectacular.

Some of my favorite tracks are:

2. Tell me, tell me
4. Sweet lady
8. You get yours <- The ultimate break-up song!
9. Do you need

THROWBACK THURSDAY: EMOTIONAL

Emotional, produced by P-Diddy's Bad Boy Records and released April 18, 2000, is Carl Thomas' debut album. Although not as vocally emotive as other romantic male R&B artists like Brian McKnight or Tyrese, Carl has a melodically fluid style that manages to strike all the right chords.
I've had this CD since its debut and it is a constant companion. I refer back to it often, especially when I want to convey my most sentimental of sentiments.

2. Emotional (Album Version)
Lyrics - Emotional <- just reverse the genders for a broken hearted female. This one goes out to my girl, Aldorris [Aldorris](person). I feel you, gurl. I feel you.

3. I Wish (Album Version)
Lyrics - I Wish <- reverse the genders with regard to my situation. These lyrics apply to Army Chris. :: sigh :: ARGH! Did I blog about him? Chris if you read this, listen to this song and you'll see why I'm hesitating. I've told you how I feel about your situation and I don't think you want to really hear me, but I'm not settling.

8. Woke Up In The Morning (Album Version)
Lyrics - Woke Up In The Morning <- never actually slept with either of them, but the sentiment is the same.

I gave a copy of this CD to J@son and Ab3 at some point during my infatuation with them and I don't think either of them took the time to really L I S T E N to the lyrics. If they had, they would understand why things are the way they are today.

Overall, this CD has some very memorable ballads that you will refer back to from time to time because they go right along with whatever you might be feeling....hence, emotional.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: INTRO

On my way into work the other day, I thought it might be interesting to share some of my most favorite, provocative and memorable music selections with my readers.

First released in April 1993, "Intro" was the debut album for an R&B trio, also, called "Intro". Clinton Wike, Jeff Sanders and Kenny Greene made up the trio of young R&B artists from Brooklyn, New York. Kenny Greene was the heart of the trio. In addition to lead vocals, Kenny wrote many of the groups' lyrics, as well as those of other R &B artists at the time like Mary J. Blige's 'Reminisce'. Unfortunately, Kenny died in October 2001 from AIDS related complications, thus leaving R&B with a void not yet filled quite as well. Intro were some of the most talented and emotional vocalists I can think of in recent history. Listening to them will evoke strong passionate emotion in any listener leaving them in a euphoric, orgasmic state.

Some of my personal favorites are:

1. Love Thang (LP Version)
2. Let Me Be The One (LP Version)
4. Why Don't You Love Me (LP Version)
6. Ribbon In The Sky (LP Version)
8. Come Inside (LP Version)
9. One Of A Kind Love (LP Version)