Perhaps Gerald Levert and O’Jays fans may have already liked this song before they even heard it; given the magic Eddie and Gerald Levert made the first time around in 1992 on “Baby Hold On To Me”. And they didn’t disappoint the second time, as they came with an entire album for our listening pleasure. “Already Missing You”– one of the gems from the 1995 album Father & Son. Check out the bonus video below of Eddie and Gerald Levert singing “Already Missing You” live– it’s a treat.
“Knockin’ Da Boots was a #1 jam on the R&B chart for the group H-Town, which stands for the group’s hometown–Houston, Texas. The song is H-Town’s biggest hit and the group’s first single from the debut album Fever For Da Flavor on Luther Campbell’s (2 Live Crew Luke) Luke Records. Unfortunately, group member Keven “Dino” Conner died in a car accident in 2003.
Oh, my how the tables have turned. “Thinkin’ About It” finds our resident casanova in a very different place from what he is normally accustomed to. This time it is our hero who has been cheated on. Unfortunately for his woman, he already knows about it and wants her to know that he knows.
“Thinkin’ About It” reflects over the deception that has occurred until the tune hits an almost comical climax around 3:07, when Gerald expresses how much he can not fathom what has happened by declaring, “Why are you so freaky?!”.
Audiences immediately connected with the tune, as it hit #2 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts. “Thinkin’ About It” is available at Amazon.com as part of the full length cd “Love and Consequences“.
“If You Love Me” by Brownstone went to #2 on the R&B chart and to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK charts. Interestingly enough, the song did go to #1 in New Zealand. “If You Love Me” was written by Gordon Chambers, Nicci Gilbert and Dave Hall for Brownstone’s debut album From The Bottom Up on Michael Jackson’s MJJ label.
From the 1990 album “Rope a Dope Style”, “Baby I’m Ready” reached #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts. This cut has to be one of the best known if not the best known hit from the Levert catalog. The line in this song that has always caused me to pause and still causes me to pause is:
Girl I’m tired of playing games
So many loves I can’t even name
The song makes it clear that our hero has clearly been around the block, circled, and doubled back again. He is now ready to forget those nameless, faceless other women and settle down with the one. He is working hard to prove to his love that she is the only one who matters now. Will he be victorious?
“Baby I’m Ready” is available at Amazon.com as part of the cd “Rope a Dope Style“.
R&B veteran Kelly Price is nominated for three Grammys this year. Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for “Not My Daddy” featuring Stokley of Mint Condition. Kelly Price is also nominated for Best R&B Album for her sixth album Kelly.
Prior to becoming a recording artist, Kelly Price made a name for herself in the R&B world in the ’90s as a background vocalist and writer for many artists such as Mariah Carey, Faith Evans, Whitney Houston, Yolanda Adams, The Isley Brothers and R. Kelly to name a few.
This year’s three nominations make a total of seven Grammy nominations for Kelly Price. To find out if she will win, tune in to the Grammy Awards on February 12 at 8/7c on CBS.
“It Never Rains (In Southern California)” by Tony! Toni! Tone!, from the group’s album The Revival, went to #1 on the R&B chart. The video was directed by Lisa Bonet. Yes that Lisa Bonet.
“The Sound Of Philadelphia” by MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother) featuring vocals by the group The Three Degrees was written by Philly Soul legends Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff as the theme song for the television show Soul Train. The song reached #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B chart in 1974. Although the song was re-recorded in different versions over the different eras of black music (’80s R&B, New Jack Swing, Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul) since 1974, “The Sound Of Philadelphia” remained the show’s theme song until the final episode in 2006.
