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Alexander O’Neal, performing in Britain two years ago: “I just decided enough is enough, and came home.”

Home funky home for Alexander O'Neal

http://www.startribune.co...:_Yyc:aUUr

Soul man Alexander O'Neal is back in town with a new CD echoing the glory days of the Minneapolis Sound.

"This album is meant to be a journey, from that 'Minneapolis Sound' that is so danceable and uptempo to more of that East Coast, mid-tempo thing and then journeying into the ballads," he said by phone from his home right outside Minneapolis. "This is gutsy: I paid for this record and I am the executive producer of it. The strings on there are not samples; I brought in the violins.

"Baby-boomer artists have to understand that they aren't handing out record contracts in this new world unless they can make a fast buck. We need to take matters into our own hands. I've done that and I am showing people, 'This is who Alexander O'Neal is today.'"

Be it yesterday or today, O'Neal always has been tenacious. Dropped from the Time right before it became part of the commercial groundswell surrounding Prince, he dusted himself off and built a formidable solo career. With the Flyte Tyme production team -- former bandmates Jimmy Jam Harris and Terry Lewis -- O'Neal churned out hits that ranged from bedtime duets with the female singer Cherrelle ("Saturday Night Love"), to torrid, funky-purple soul stompers ("Fake"), to slinky midtempo romantic testimony ("All True Man").

When the hits dried up in the mid '90s, O'Neal decided to relocate in England, where he'd always been extremely popular.

"When I left I wasn't very positive about Minneapolis. It felt like we were in limbo, and I didn't like the way the police seemed to be given a free hand to profile and to bash people," he says. "Minneapolis was always home; even in the 10 years I commuted. But I learned a lot. I used to think going to Miami or Jamaica was the end of the world. I never dreamed of places like the Canary Islands and all the culture in Europe.

"But having seen the world, I began to wonder if I was getting too comfortable -- would I die someplace other than here? I thought about being back in Minneapolis, beside my wife, who has been holding down the fort here -- we've been married 21 years. And I just decided: enough is enough, and came home."

Retro but still riveting

Of course, returning home with a brand-new album that celebrates this area by sound and by name on a few tracks (there's one called "Minnesota Shuffle") is also a good way to jump-start his career after a fallow period. Listening to the first few songs -- a thoroughly credible recreation of the "Minneapolis Sound" without Jam and Lewis -- one can regard them as durably danceable retro romps or a hopeless attempt to resurrect a place and time that no longer exist.

But the pastiche of styles on "5 Questions: The New Journey" also demonstrates that O'Neal remains a riveting singer with legitimate ways to extend his career, regardless of where he is located. "You Make Me Smile" is a sophisticated soul-jazz number in which O'Neal toys with the lyrics and investigates his emotions with the playful élan of an Al Jarreau, right down to the excursion into scat-song. "Love Won't Let Me Wait" likewise benefits from laid-back horns, well-suited to O'Neal's smooth confidence. The title song, "5 Questions," demonstrates that O'Neal retains the passionate, bristling delivery he brought to "Fake." And the Minneapolis Sound numbers could start a party under the right circumstances.

"Hopefully there will be a good reception to the new material, but we are also going to be playing all the hits," assures O'Neal about the Dakota gig. "Audiences want to like the new stuff, but they also want to hear the old stuff -- I've seen too many artists shoot themselves in the foot not playing what the fans want."

That balancing act is all part of the process, one that he is eager to embrace.

"I'm not afraid to come back and start over. That's what this is, a new day and some new genres. If I can get my fans to realize there is a new Alexander O'Neal with a new album, then we'll see what happens."

Great picture. Will read the article later. t4p !

"You're a FAKE, baby, and I'm disgusted!!!"

Alexander was the man! I even bought that n*gga's Christmas album!!!

StonedImmaculate said:

"You're a FAKE, baby, and I'm disgusted!!!"

Alexander was the man! I even bought that n*gga's Christmas album!!!

That Christmas album is my favorite christmas album.

^^^

Yup!

"Sleigh Ride!!!"

StonedImmaculate said:

"You're a FAKE, baby, and I'm disgusted!!!"

Alexander was the man! I even bought that n*gga's Christmas album!!!

I did too!!!

I like Alex a lot but the new album just isn't happening.

Hmm interesting, so he was really living in London only for a time? I thought he split time between London and Minneapolis?

I got his last album and while it recaptured the mpls sound, there was something missing. Not sure if I am ready to re-invest in what this guy is making. Any orgers reviews would be appreciated.

sosgemini said:

I got his last album and while it recaptured the mpls sound, there was something missing. Not sure if I am ready to re-invest in what this guy is making. Any orgers reviews would be appreciated.

I feel the same.

Glad that you posted this. Welcome back, uncle Alex!!!

Having only heard about 4 tracks off the album, I'm going to reserve judgement on it for now, but the tracks that I heard (I'm Back, My House, Minnesota Shuffle and I've Found True Love) while no way up there with the jams from the 1st 2 albums, have a fun funky groove to them.

I'll still buy the album just to complete the set (even the Xmas one's there) even if the rest is rubbish.

Anyone hear Alexander on the Tom Joyner Morning Show this morning? I had never heard that Alexander was replaced as the leader of the Time due to money and his skin color. Allegedly, Alexander was a bit too dark.

He also said Jimmy and Terry tried to convince him to Bad mouth Prince and the Time after they were kicked out but he refused. But I was most surprised that he actually stated, "Prince is Black when it is convenient".

Even with that said, he did not come across as bitter believe it or not. I wish him good success on his new album.

I had no idea he had been living over here.

New cd sounds like a winner.

VelvetJ said:

Anyone hear Alexander on the Tom Joyner Morning Show this morning? I had never heard that Alexander was replaced as the leader of the Time due to money and his skin color. Allegedly, Alexander was a bit too dark.

He also said Jimmy and Terry tried to convince him to Bad mouth Prince and the Time after they were kicked out but he refused. But I was most surprised that he actually stated, "Prince is Black when it is convenient".

Even with that said, he did not come across as bitter believe it or not. I wish him good success on his new album.

I heard Alexander on the Tom Joyner Morning Show this morning. Wow, the things you hear on early morning radio. He did not seem bitter, but, he put it out there that he's a Black Man. 8 kids. Bro better keep singing...wow can he sing.

VelvetJ said:

Anyone hear Alexander on the Tom Joyner Morning Show this morning? I had never heard that Alexander was replaced as the leader of the Time due to money and his skin color. Allegedly, Alexander was a bit too dark.

He also said Jimmy and Terry tried to convince him to Bad mouth Prince and the Time after they were kicked out but he refused. But I was most surprised that he actually stated, "Prince is Black when it is convenient".

Even with that said, he did not come across as bitter believe it or not. I wish him good success on his new album.

Not surprising, since it's true!