Coolin' at the Playground Ya Know
Artist: Another Bad Creation
Community Score: 7.83

The formula is all too painfully simple, and equally successful: take young boys and have them singing pop songs with catchy hooks targeted at a pre-teen audience. It's worked since the early evolution of the teen idol. But in the 1980s, Maurice Starr re-ignited the formula and remains unparalleled by anyone in history, brining to the forefront... Read More

The Commodores Hits, Vol. 2
Artist: The Commodores

Later compilations have made this obsolete but it's still a good no-nonsense, nuts and bolts, 10-song entree. Begins with the upbeat, harmonic "Flying High" which always seem to pull me out the doldrums. Three of Lionel Richie's best compositions: "Sail On," "Still," and "Oh No," adds class to an already spiffy collection that includes a... Read More

The Whispers - SOLAR
Artist: The Whispers
Community Score: 10.00

As a group who have recorded since the late '60s, the Whispers seemed to often be textbook journeyman who were one bump steer away from obscurity. Throughout the '70s they got their success by way of sporadic, great tracks like 1970's sad sack anthem, "Gotta Do Wrong," and 1976's "Living Together (In Sin). By the late 70s the group had... Read More

Always in the Mood
Artist: Gerald Alston

Former Manhattans lead vocalist Gerald Alston has emerged as one of the 1990s' best soul and love singers. His passionate, intense leads never lose their steam or conviction, he wisely avoids doing songs with rappers, and he doesn't let production gimmicks and studio trappings overwhelm his vocals. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide Read More

Greatest Hits & Rare Classics
Artist: The Isley Brothers
Born to Sing
Artist: En Vogue
Community Score: 6.33

The '80s produced countless "three girl and a drum machine"-type acts, but 1990 produced the trendsetting quartet En Vogue (courtesy of producers Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster), who, with their individual vocal skills, sophisticated sense of fashion, sultry videos, and smart singles, went on to become one of the decade's most successful and... Read More

Queen of Soul
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Live
Artist: Ray, Goodman & Brown

This mislabeled album is not really Ray, Goodman & Brown live; it's Owens, Goodman & Brown. Kevin Owens took Harry Ray's place on this live set, as Harry had left to go solo. Interestingly, Owens also sang backup and traveled with Luther Vandross (his primary gig) and sang and recorded with Ray, Goodman & Brown when available. Kevin's sweet... Read More

Womanchild
Artist: Bemshi
Community Score: 10.00

Is she urban contemporary, pop/rock, or world music? Very hard to categorize, Bemshi's debut album, Womanchild, didn't make the playlists of either pop or R&B stations in the U.S. -- and that's a shame because this neglected CD has a lot to offer. To be sure, Womanchild doesn't fit neatly into any one category. The music of Bemshi, an expressive... Read More

Funky Divas
Artist: En Vogue
Community Score: 6.58

The 1990s was a time when hip-hop infused with R&B became pop music, and at the forefront of this movement was En Vogue. Their most commercially and critically successful album, Funky Divas, stands as one of the best pop/R&B albums to emerge from that time, incorporating soul, hip-hop, pop, dance, and rock to create one of the era's most... Read More

T.E.V.I.N.
Artist: Tevin Campbell
Community Score: 7.00

If T.E.V.I.N. had been recorded by an adult instead of a teenager, the album would still be impressive, but the fact that Tevin Campbell was only 14 years old when this was made makes it all the more amazing. Campbell's voice is remarkably expressive, able to handle both ballads and up-tempo dance tracks without losing confidence. When he has... Read More

Lalah Hathaway
Artist: Lalah Hathaway
Community Score: 6.83

When Lalah Hathaway's self-titled debut album came out in 1990, there was reason to believe that she might evolve into one of the top female R&B singers of the 1990s. Donny Hathaway's daughter certainly had a lot going for her -- not only a big vocal range, but also plenty of charisma, passion, and charm to go with it. The material on this CD... Read More

The Best of Thelma Houston - MOTOWN
Artist: Thelma Houston

Motown's The Best of Thelma Houston covers her late-'70s/early-'80s output for the label, including her hit cover of "Don't Leave Me This Way." A few other covers, including "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Me and Bobby McGee," hint at Houston's range as an interpreter; originals like "If It's the Last Thing I Do," "I Want to Go Back There Again," and... Read More

All for You
Artist: Glenn Jones
Community Score: 10.00

Singer Glenn Jones' best '90s-era album was All For You. His vocals confidently float over the percolating "Stay" (not the same named song written by LaLa and recorded earlier by Jones). The number-six R&B Billboard hit was produced by Bobby Khomeni and Mark Stevens. Hitmaker Teddy Riley produces the mid-tempo beatbox ballad "Let's Try Again,"... Read More

The All Time Greatest Hits
Artist: The Main Ingredient

It wasn't until 1971 that the Main Ingredient's fortunes changed; when Cuba Gooding replaced Donald McPherson, his engaging voice helped make them part of the "sweet" soul trend. Gooding's leads made "Everybody Plays the Fool" a huge hit, as well as "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely" and "Happiness Is Just Around the Bend." These and several other... Read More

I'll Give All My Love to You
Artist: Keith Sweat
Community Score: 8.57

The glut of faceless, interchangeable new jack swing artists plaguing urban contemporary radio in the early '90s served one useful purpose: they reminded you how exciting the originators of the style (Guy, Bobby Brown, and Keith Sweat, among others) could be. When Sweat's overdue sophomore effort, I'll Give All My Love to You, was released in... Read More

In the Mood
Artist: The Whispers
Community Score: 5.00

Marvelous ballads and great contemporary dance hits. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide Read More

Don't Say It's Over
Artist: Randy Crawford

In her slippery, velvety tone, Randy Crawford blossoms on this diverse cast of songs, which includes jazz, dance, pop, and a little bit of boogie. She does nothing fancy or unique other than address these lyrically sound numbers with good old-fashioned singing. Crawford softly croons through the lead track "I'm Glad There Is You," accompanied by... Read More