I was chillin with one of my boys this weekend and in passing he asked what I thought of Kashif's new album. "Kashif has a new album?" was my reply. He smiled and handed me a burned copy. "You are in for a treat" he said. It's a 2 disk set with the first being all new stuff and the second a remastered version of his debut 1983 album. I figured the new stuff would be your same old run of the mill "old school cat tries to make a comeback by trying to sound "current". Wasn't too jazzed about the new stuff but having his first album in good quality really had me juiced as I was a big Kashif fan back in the day. I had about an hour drive ahead of me so I figured I'd scan through the new stuff real quick and jam "Stone Love", "The Mood" "Help Yourself To My Love", etc the rest of the way home. As I hit the freeway, I popped disk one in my player. Jesus! 15 tracks and not only was every one "playable" but 10+ were as good as anything he has ever released! How can an R&B album this well crafted be kept off the radio? Especially a cat with a track record like Kashif? This is the same dude that launch Whitney Houston for god's sake! But no "comeback" buzz, no radio play, no nothing. I'm a Kashif fan and had no idea this album was out. If R Kelly had made this album the media would be saying how it was proof he was the real king of R&B. It's clear now that true R&B in the mainstream is dead. "Music of my Mind" is not "neo-soul". It's not watered down R&B with hip hop beats. It's not a cat trying to recapture his sound or trying to sound "in". It's just an honest R&B record from one of the great producer/song writers of the 80's R&B scene. You would think that would be enough to get people's attention. Too bad everyone forgot what true R&B sounds like.

intha916 said:

It's true but he wasn't the most famous to begin with.

intha916 said:

But even that doesn't sound screamingly impressive.

CinisterCee said:

How old are you? Only a "youngin" would make those comments. 9-10 great songs not impressive? Guess you are too young to remember when that was a full album. And to say Kashif was never a big name in R&B? Kashif was one of the biggest R&B producers of the early 80's and has more than one Grammy to his name. He produced huge hits for acts named Whitney Houston, Evelyn "Champagne" King, George Benson and Kenny G. Maybe you heard of them? Any true R&B head knows Kashif. Where are my true old schoolers at, okaypimpn, Davideye. Handclapz? Someone school this cat on Kashif



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[This message was edited Mon Jul 19 9:54:30 2004 by intha916]

I have that album and god knows how many times I've posted about it in here but as always you guys get a kick of ignoring my threads

It was a helluva treat 4 me to hear the reissued debut album(since I neva heard it b4-except the tracks in the compilation The Definitive Collection Of Kashif).

The new album(cd #1) didn't settle with me at 1st(becoz it was so different than the debut album which was mo' fresh/innocent) but I gave it another listen while cleaning the crip one afternoon and dug the hell out of it

Its a shame that he ain't getting his props, alright but keep in mind that he's doing GREAT despite his backstage work(writing books, lecturing & selling softwares & instruments). I'd say the brotha is doing aight, he doesn't rely on his gigs ONLY and I give him that.

Ok, since we're talking about the brotha. Have u checked his 1998's comeback album(UK IMPORT btw):




If so, what do u think?

Harlepolis said:

Damn, didn't even know about that album. The last I heard from him was that awful "new jack" album he did around 89. And I feel you when you say "Music of my Mind" is different that his older stuff. But really thats a good thing. It shows he hasn't run dry creatively. I like the fact this time he neither followed "trends" nor fell back on his old sound. "Crazy Luv" is the type of song I was hoping Lionel Richie would have had on his new album. Songs like "Bout Time" and " He Don't Love You" make you feel good just listening to them. And "I Don't Give A Damn " gave me chills , it's been so long since I heard a slow jam that tightly produced. He really needs to get back in the game as a producer. Music of my Mind shows he still has a lot to offer.
[This message was edited Mon Jul 19 10:06:47 2004 by intha916]

intha916 said:

Check the audio samples:

http://www.allmusic.com/c...kqikvkbbf9

Its too Smooth-Jazzish lol not saying its a bad thing, its a VERY good thing but quite predictable from the ol'schoolers who got no so many to offer.

That guitarist from Toni Toni Tone is a constant session player in that album.

Go listen and lemme know what u think.

intha916 said:

I know the hot shit Kashif produced, but as far as I know, Kashif didn't have the highest profile as a solo artist, which makes it doubly difficult to "comeback".. smallish mainstream audience to begin with, plus an album that you described as 65% outstanding.

CinisterCee said:

I'm not saying dude was Michael Jackson or anything but he did have 3 gold albums. He also won a grammy for "The Mood". I can tell you right now, I've seen bigger deals made out of lesser rock acts. And you name me one album with 15 tracks that are all great. that's where I said you show your age. You have to realize albums used to be 9-10 tracks long. if I picked out the best 9 from this album it comes close to matching his best albums ever.

Harlepolis said:

See now this is what i thought his new stuff was going to sound like. Way too passive for my tastes. UR right, too many old schoolers come with stuff like this. See George Bensons new album for an example. I'm glad he got back on track with MOMM.
[This message was edited Mon Jul 19 10:38:54 2004 by intha916]

intha916 said:

Mmm,,,,I think he's only nominated not a winner.

Harlepolis said:

You might be right. I'll have to look it up. I remember watching the show back then and thought he won. Maybe it was just a nomination. Either way that's a GREAT song.

intha916 said:

Aaight.

You're right Harlepolis, he was just nominated. He was nominated a few other times I wasn't awear of. Here's a good bio for those that aren't up on Kashif.

From his teenage years as a member of the '70's seminal funk band B.T. Express, through his award-winning albums as a solo artist and his hit-making productions with such major artists as Whitney Houston, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Kenny G., Evelyn "Champagne" King, Melba Moore, Me'lisa Morgan, and Dionne Warwick, Kashif has always been an innovator, a multi-talented individual, whose cutting edge approach has placed him in the upper echelons of contemporary R&B, Pop, and Jazz music.

During the early 1980's, while signed as a solo artist with Arista Records, Kashif began using new software and hardware developed by New England Digital for the Synclavier to create unique blends of synthesized and live music. With hit records like "I Just Got To Have You (Lover Turn Me On)", "Stone Love", "Help Yourself To My Love" and the Grammy-nominated instrumental "The Mood", Kashif began creating a solid reputation among record buyers for his distinctive musical sound.

His second album, "Send Me Your Love" resulted in two Grammy nominations ("Edgartown Groove", featuring Al Jarreau, and "Call Me Tonight"), while his 1985 release "Condition of the Heart" also yielded another Grammy nomination with "The Movie Song." He produced George Benson and Kenny G., and teamed up with then-newcomer Whitney Houston. The result was Whitney's first across-the-board smash "You Give Good Love", which he also co-wrote, and "Thinking About You", a single track from Whitney's astounding 17-million selling debut-album.



Kashif also worked with Whitney Houston on her second, 15-million selling album. He produced and was the legendary Dionne Warwick's duet partner on the hit "Reservations For Two". He also enjoyed a major hit of his own with "Love Changes", a duet with Mel'isa Morgan taken from his best-selling album of the same name, following it with "Kashif", another well-received LP. Kashif has also amassed gold and platinum albums for his work with Evelyn King, George Benson and Kenny G.
In the 90's, with an invitation from the famed UCLA Extension program, Kashif created a course called "Contemporary Record Production With Kashif". He wrote and released the now highly acclaimed book Everything You'd Better Know About The Record Industry. The Urban Music Directory, A&R Source Guide, and Music Publisher's Source Guide. Each of these books is designed to assist people that have an interest in the music industry.
With a career that spans over four decades, with over 70 million records sold and the most recommended book on the music business, Kashif continues to be one of music industry's most sought after songwriters, producers, and authors

My FAVE Melba Moore songs are the Kashif pinned once

That cat knows how to get the FUNK out of people's chests. Melba Moore(broadway singer) Whitney Houston(balladist) Kenny G(a VERY VERY VERY dull musician) George Benson(what can I say?) and Evelyn Champagne King(Disco child star).

For some reason he didn't save the BEST ones 4 himself with the exception of afew(Lover Turn Me On & Help Yourself To My Love which is my FAVE).

Harlepolis said:

I agree he gave many of his best to other artists but then again he might have figured that a pretty face like Whitney or a white sax player like Kenny G would be able to sell more records in the end. I think he did his best production jog on Kenny G. I actually saw Kenny in a small club right when that album dropped. Kenny joked around at the show about how Kashif told him he was going to "blacken him up". Honestly Keeny G and his band was very tight that night. The Keny G of 83 was nothing like the "Songbird" Kenny G a few years later.

But it wasn't like Kashif didn't have enough jams to spread around though. His first album is solid all the way through as was most of his second. "Stone Love", "Don't Stop My Love" and "Help Yourself to My Love" were always my favs from the first album. Have you heard the full second album? Some real gems on there as well.

Oh man,I really dig Kashif! I remember playing his debut to death back in 1983.Songs like "I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On)","Stone Love","Help Yourself To My Love".....he pretty much had his own sound and it was really infectious.He was also a great producer.If you listened to R&B radio in the 80s,you heard alot of his productions...


"I'm In Love" by Evelyn King (1981)
"So Fine" by Howard Johnson (1982)
"Love's Comin' At Cha" by Melba Moore (1982)
"Love Come Down" by Evelyn King (1982)
"You Give Good Love" by Whitney Houston
"Inside Love (So Personal)" by George Benson (1983)
"Mind Up Tonight" by Melba Moore (1982)

His second album,released in 1984,is a favorite of mine.I love the song "Baby,Don't Break Your Baby's Heart".I'll have to get his new CD,especially since it contains a remastered copy of his debut album.

DavidEye said:

I was a HUGE Kashif fan!!!! The Mood is one of my favorites!!!
[This message was edited Sat Jul 24 23:25:08 2004 by SteamForest]