Great album that I was listening to all throughout 1987.One hit after another.My favorite is "Why You Treat Me So Bad"

ReddBlitz said:

The group imo never came close to ever topping this one.

I agree.I purchased their second and third albums and while there were a few decent tracks on each one,none of it compares to the excellent tracks on the debut album.

This album was their best. Why You Treat Me So Bad, Situation Nr.9, Jealousy and Heavy on my Mind are my favorite songs on this album but I liked their next album, too. My favorite song on that one was Share Your Love.

Too bad that they kind of faded away.

edit: Changed my post because I got the second and the third album mixed up. I liked both but preferred the third (Under A Nouveau Groove). That was a nice album but after that I stopped following them.

[Edited 8/30/18 8:16am]

"Heavy On My Mind!" Da JAM!!!!

The female lead vocalist was a little weak 4 MY tastes, but the album was, is and will ALWAYS BE an R&B masterpiece. <3

ReddBlitz said:

Album is classic. It's fair to say it was a precursor to the New Jack Swing era. The group imo never came close to ever topping this one.

Agreed but, in the grand scheme of things, few albums come close to topping this one especially when played start to finish. Now that I think of it, the lead single (and 1st song on the album) "Jealousy" may have been the weakest song on the album.

whitechocolatebrotha said:

The female lead vocalist was a little weak 4 MY tastes

Really? I love Valerie Watson's vocals I actually met her at a nightclub in 1993.She mentioned that she was planning a solo album.Not sure it it ever came out.

CoolMF said:

ReddBlitz said:

Album is classic. It's fair to say it was a precursor to the New Jack Swing era. The group imo never came close to ever topping this one.

Agreed but, in the grand scheme of things, few albums come close to topping this one especially when played start to finish. Now that I think of it, the lead single (and 1st song on the album) "Jealousy" may have been the weakest song on the album.

Jealousy IS Rumours with different lyrics.

SoulAlive said:

whitechocolatebrotha said:

The female lead vocalist was a little weak 4 MY tastes

Really? I love Valerie Watson's vocals I actually met her at a nightclub in 1993.She mentioned that she was planning a solo album.Not sure it it ever came out.

Valerie Watson sang at my cousin's wedding, June 1991 in Oakland, CA. I dont remember what the connection was, but someone from the groom's family knew her. She sang that Whitney Houston song "He fills me up...he's all i have in this world..." Acapella...it was STUNNING. There wasnt a dry eye in the church, myself included.

SoulAlive said:

whitechocolatebrotha said:

The female lead vocalist was a little weak 4 MY tastes

Really? I love Valerie Watson's vocals I actually met her at a nightclub in 1993.She mentioned that she was planning a solo album.Not sure it it ever came out.

She's a great vocalist. I'm surprised Jay King didn't make that happen. I remember when

Samuelle went solo Jay was going on about how Valerie was the only one in the group

that was ready for a solo career. Samuelle has rejoined them in recent years on tour.

This was a sensational debut for the group loaded with great songs. My favorite was Jealousy

and Situation #9.

The follow up album Listen To The Message was an album in hindsight that Jay wish didn't happen.

He admitted later that maybe the album was a little to preachy but it had a few gems on it

nevertheless. For The Love Of Francis was a good song that sounded like it fit right in

with the first album and I also liked the album's final track A Better Way.

I remember buying Under A Nouveau Groove for 99 cents new during a store closeout.

The only thing I remember about that damn album was the title track and Ain't No Friend Of Mine.

Will admit, only heard lean on Me, but what a song - one of the best of 1987 (I know its 86, but it was early 87 when it hit here). Whats up with Claire Huxtable on the cover though?

.

Always seem to associate it with other great one hit wonder upbeat songs of the 1986/87 era - Cest La Vie by Robbie Nevill, Rumours by Timex Social Club and Word Up and Candy by Cameo, Rocket 2 U by the Jets, along with the daddy of them all - The rain by Oran Juice Jones. Just some great funky R and B cuts coming out at the time.

[Edited 8/31/18 0:10am]

Wow Cool. She's a great vocalist!!!

phunkdaddy said:

The follow up album Listen To The Message was an album in hindsight that Jay wish didn't happen.

He admitted later that maybe the album was a little too preachy

it was I appreciate what they were trying to do,but the album was a real downer for me.The topics were kinda depressing.

phunkdaddy said:

I remember buying Under A Nouveau Groove for 99 cents new during a store closeout.

The only thing I remember about that damn album was the title track and Ain't No Friend Of Mine.

I still have my vinyl copy of this album.It's a good album and alot more 'fun' than the second album.

SoulAlive said:

phunkdaddy said:

I remember buying Under A Nouveau Groove for 99 cents new during a store closeout.

The only thing I remember about that damn album was the title track and Ain't No Friend Of Mine.

I still have my vinyl copy of this album.It's a good album and alot more 'fun' than the second album.

True.

Share Your Love and Aint No Friend of Mine were my favorite jams on it.

UncleJam said:

SoulAlive said:

Really? I love Valerie Watson's vocals I actually met her at a nightclub in 1993.She mentioned that she was planning a solo album.Not sure it it ever came out.

Valerie Watson sang at my cousin's wedding, June 1991 in Oakland, CA. I dont remember what the connection was, but someone from the groom's family knew her. She sang that Whitney Houston song "He fills me up...he's all i have in this world..." Acapella...it was STUNNING. There wasnt a dry eye in the church, myself included.

she's a great singer.A very nice person,too.

The Whitney Houston song is "All the man that I need" off her 1990 album - I'll be your baby tonight. That is a magnificient song and she sang the heck out of it, so would love to hear this other woman's version if she ever recorded one.

SoulAlive said:

UncleJam said:

Valerie Watson sang at my cousin's wedding, June 1991 in Oakland, CA. I dont remember what the connection was, but someone from the groom's family knew her. She sang that Whitney Houston song "He fills me up...he's all i have in this world..." Acapella...it was STUNNING. There wasnt a dry eye in the church, myself included.

she's a great singer.A very nice person,too.

Huh. I hope I didn't offend anyone's ears. I'll revisit and ck her again. I DID LOVE her voice on "Heavy On My Mind" tho. <3

SoulAlive said:

whitechocolatebrotha said:

The female lead vocalist was a little weak 4 MY tastes

Really? I love Valerie Watson's vocals I actually met her at a nightclub in 1993.She mentioned that she was planning a solo album.Not sure it it ever came out.

I don't think that ever happened, Soul. It probably would have done her good since Barbara Weathers tried a solo career after Atlantic Starr. Barbara's didn't fare well tho, nor did Mary Davis of the S.O.S. Band when she went the solo route in 1990. Great vocalists from great bands and their solo stuff sadly flops. I don't understand that.

whitechocolatebrotha said: