Their second album was virtually forgettable and a waste of money, but "5 Miles To Empty" came close to making up for the letdown.

Their career started a lot like Jodeci's: flop first single followed by a smash second single. Too bad they couldn't keep it going long.

Brownstone signed with Michael Jackson's recorded label, need I say more.

They were finished before they began.

TD3 said:

They were finished before they began.

You must be talking about Quo. Actually, Brownstone had the usual group problems that had nothing to do with the label. A couple of them reunited around 2007 and has performed some shows, but has not recorded.

Yes, Brownstone had their own drama, but MJ missed up business pratices didn't help them either. As I said, they were finished before they started.

TD3 said:

Yes, Brownstone had their own drama, but MJ missed up business pratices didn't help them either. As I said, they were finished before they started.

At least they had some success, unlike most Paisley Park acts. They could sing too, unlike most Paisley Park acts. As far as I know the only performer to have a really successful label was Frank Sinatra with Reprise. Maybe Madonna's Maverick and Quincy Jones' Qwest did well for awhile, but not to the same degree as Frank's. Most others only had vanity labels with their own releases and nothing else (Johnny Mathis, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, etc.)

My favorite song from the girls (during their brief Kina-featured lineup):

MickyDolenz said:

TD3 said:

Yes, Brownstone had their own drama, but MJ missed up business pratices didn't help them either. As I said, they were finished before they started.

At least they had some success, unlike most Paisley Park acts. They could sing too, unlike most Paisley Park acts. As far as I know the only performer to have a really successful label was Frank Sinatra with Reprise. Maybe Madonna's Maverick and Quincy Jones' Qwest did well for awhile, but not to the same degree as Frank's. Most others only had vanity labels with their own releases and nothing else (Johnny Mathis, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, etc.)

Sam Cooke's SAR label could've had potential to make the acts on the label stars had December 11, 1964 not happened.

Timmy84 said:

MickyDolenz said:

At least they had some success, unlike most Paisley Park acts. They could sing too, unlike most Paisley Park acts. As far as I know the only performer to have a really successful label was Frank Sinatra with Reprise. Maybe Madonna's Maverick and Quincy Jones' Qwest did well for awhile, but not to the same degree as Frank's. Most others only had vanity labels with their own releases and nothing else (Johnny Mathis, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, etc.)

Sam Cooke's SAR label could've had potential to make the acts on the label stars had December 11, 1964 not happened.

It was rumored that was why he was killed (plus his publishing, as he was one of the few singers that owned theirs at the time). Sam refused to sell out to the mob is what was said. The girl he went to the hotel with was a girlfriend of a mafia boss.

MickyDolenz said:

Timmy84 said:

Sam Cooke's SAR label could've had potential to make the acts on the label stars had December 11, 1964 not happened.

It was rumored that was why he was killed (plus his publishing, as he was one of the few singers that owned theirs at the time). Sam refused to sell out to the mob is what was said. The girl he went to the hotel with was a girlfriend of a mafia boss.

Yeah I heard that for years. I thought the death was suspicious because the girl took most of his clothes out of there. But I still don't understand Bertha's reasoning she shot (and killed) him in self-defense when after shooting him she hit him with a bat. That don't sound like justifiable homicide. I get mad thinking about it. Snuffed out over some bullshit.

Am I the only person who bought Nicci's CD?

Timmy84 said:

MickyDolenz said:

It was rumored that was why he was killed (plus his publishing, as he was one of the few singers that owned theirs at the time). Sam refused to sell out to the mob is what was said. The girl he went to the hotel with was a girlfriend of a mafia boss.

Yeah I heard that for years. I thought the death was suspicious because the girl took most of his clothes out of there. But I still don't understand Bertha's reasoning she shot (and killed) him in self-defense when after shooting him she hit him with a bat. That don't sound like justifiable homicide. I get mad thinking about it. Snuffed out over some bullshit.

People who saw Sam's body said it had bruses that was not consistent with the story the two women told. Sam's family and his manager Allen Klein wanted to do an investigation and autopsy, but was talked out of it by Barbara Cooke.

MickyDolenz said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah I heard that for years. I thought the death was suspicious because the girl took most of his clothes out of there. But I still don't understand Bertha's reasoning she shot (and killed) him in self-defense when after shooting him she hit him with a bat. That don't sound like justifiable homicide. I get mad thinking about it. Snuffed out over some bullshit.

People who saw Sam's body said it had bruses that was not consistent with the story the two women told. Sam's family and his manager Allen Klein wanted to do an investigation and autopsy, but was talked out of it by Barbara Cooke.

That's another person I raise red flags about: Barbara Cooke... and Bobby Womack has been quite suspicious. It's like there's a story within a story within a story about what was going on with Sam Cooke in the days/weeks/months leading up to his death.

TD3 said:

Yes, Brownstone had their own drama, but MJ missed up business pratices didn't help them either. As I said, they were finished before they started.

From what I know, Michael's business issues had nothing to do with them breaking up. There was beef among their members

therevolutionwillnotbe said:

Am I the only person who bought Nicci's CD?

Nope

I bought it too through ebay many years ago...

Now, I fell in love with this song- "I can't tell you why", I know it's a cover, but the vocal arrangement is amazing here...

Unfortunatelly the album version is different and the video version was never released.

bboy87 said:

TD3 said:

Yes, Brownstone had their own drama, but MJ missed up business pratices didn't help them either. As I said, they were finished before they started.

From what I know, Michael's business issues had nothing to do with them breaking up. There was beef among their members

Yeah it definitely wasn't on the fault of Michael's label. Other labels would've picked them up if they were getting along. An original member left because of tension between her and the other two members and another member was mad she didn't get to have many leads because the original members refused to give her that freedom so she rebelled and became a rock singer. Don't know of any of their whereabouts but it's rumored the original two members (Nikki and some other girl) are with a new girl and are recording a new album.

tritoncin said:

therevolutionwillnotbe said:

Am I the only person who bought Nicci's CD?

Nope

I bought it too through ebay many years ago...

Now, I fell in love with this song- "I can't tell you why", I know it's a cover, but the vocal arrangement is amazing here...

Unfortunatelly the album version is different and the video version was never released.

I have a question about the album version of that song. The male voice sounds A LOT LIKE Jon B. This has been bugging my head for a minute...

oh, and they could sing live!

from 2009

Timmy84 said:

bboy87 said:

From what I know, Michael's business issues had nothing to do with them breaking up. There was beef among their members

Yeah it definitely wasn't on the fault of Michael's label. Other labels would've picked them up if they were getting along. An original member left because of tension between her and the other two members and another member was mad she didn't get to have many leads because the original members refused to give her that freedom so she rebelled and became a rock singer. Don't know of any of their whereabouts but it's rumored the original two members (Nikki and some other girl) are with a new girl and are recording a new album.

That was Kina (the replacement) from the 2nd album who left to sing rock. The original member was Monica Doby. She left because of sickness, but it was said she also left because of infighting. I remember seeing them once on TV with the original 3 plus the replacement as a quartet. Then Monica was gone.

tritoncin said:

Now, I fell in love with this song- "I can't tell you why", I know it's a cover, but the vocal arrangement is amazing here...

Unfortunatelly the album version is different and the video version was never released.

Wasn't it on the maxi single?

MickyDolenz said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah it definitely wasn't on the fault of Michael's label. Other labels would've picked them up if they were getting along. An original member left because of tension between her and the other two members and another member was mad she didn't get to have many leads because the original members refused to give her that freedom so she rebelled and became a rock singer. Don't know of any of their whereabouts but it's rumored the original two members (Nikki and some other girl) are with a new girl and are recording a new album.

That was Kina (the replacement) from the 2nd album who left to sing rock. The original member was Monica Doby. She left because of sickness, but it was said she also left because of infighting. I remember seeing them once on TV with the original 3 plus the replacement as a quartet. Then Monica was gone.

Interesting. But I believe it was infighting. I think Monica confirmed it as such a while ago. I forgot the other girl's name... wasn't it Maxine? Nikki, Maxine and Monica, then Kina replaced Monica. I bet Kina's still singing rock music. Monica's probably retired while Nikki and Maxine are going on with whatever member has a strong vocal to fill in with them lol

Nevermind, found the right name - Maxee, not Maxine.

MickyDolenz said:

tritoncin said:

Now, I fell in love with this song- "I can't tell you why", I know it's a cover, but the vocal arrangement is amazing here...

Unfortunatelly the album version is different and the video version was never released.

Wasn't it on the maxi single?

No.

A very similar version to the video version was released on the maxi single labeled as the R&B version edit. It lasts almost the same 3:58.

It's the same version until it reaches 3:00, then it's different and fades out without the final part of the video version.

Too bad.

I had to download the video and then get the audio... Not the best quality though.

Do you know if there's an original release of the video?

It would be great

Thanx

I never heard their second disc, but the first one was classic.

MickyDolenz said:

I remember this song....didn't know she was in Brownstone. I know Nicci was in the one of the Tyler Perry plays.

I love Brownstone!!! They're my favorite girl group of the '90s! They were talented.

Timmy84 said:

MickyDolenz said:

People who saw Sam's body said it had bruses that was not consistent with the story the two women told. Sam's family and his manager Allen Klein wanted to do an investigation and autopsy, but was talked out of it by Barbara Cooke.

That's another person I raise red flags about: Barbara Cooke... and Bobby Womack has been quite suspicious. It's like there's a story within a story within a story about what was going on with Sam Cooke in the days/weeks/months leading up to his death.

It's was also questionable of the older woman saying she struggled with Sam before she shot him. Sam was a young man and she was in her 50's or 60's I think. It seems to me that Sam wouldn't have to do much to defend himself or do much "struggling". As far as the girl he was with (said to be a prostitute), how can Sam have been trying to rape her if he was in the shower and she stole his clothes and money and he came out to find her missing? That is why he went to the hotel clerk (Bertha) in the 1st place.

MickyDolenz said:

Timmy84 said:

That's another person I raise red flags about: Barbara Cooke... and Bobby Womack has been quite suspicious. It's like there's a story within a story within a story about what was going on with Sam Cooke in the days/weeks/months leading up to his death.

It's was also questionable of the older woman saying she struggled with Sam before she shot him. Sam was a young man and she was in her 50's or 60's I think. It seems to me that Sam wouldn't have to do much to defend himself or do much "struggling". As far as the girl he was with (said to be a prostitute), how can Sam have been trying to rape her if he was in the shower and she stole his clothes and money and he came out to find her missing? That is why he went to the hotel clerk (Bertha) in the 1st place.

i have asked the same exact questions... the cycle continues... i believe he was murdered for his publishing.