this is just a general statement but eye really njoy chico debarge's "long time no see" album and it was really ignored by the media when it first came out... eye think it had a really nice jill scott, erika badu, d angelo, angie stone feel 2 it.... eye hate the music business it controls so much of what we hear... who has heard this album? and what do y'all think of chico?

his second album eye never got 2 buy, and was not interested in it anyways cuz the song they released 2 promote it with that trashy girl trina was just too commercial and "popy" 4 me... eye guess he figured since long time no see flopped, that he would go that route... o'well.... it's a shame....

I enjoyed Chico's first album. Nice Marvin Gaye feel in there, updated.
I haven't heard his second album, either. I need to check it out since the first was good.
Chico seems talented and capable of sticking around and giving us some good stuff. Hope the power brokers in da wreckid biz don't do him in like others.
I hear ya.

Peace

I actually dug a couple of his songs on that album, ESPECIALLY the Superman track (muy caliente!!!).
ONE of the problem's was that anyone who came out after D'Angelo was accused of trying to imitate him, which I found ridiculous. Even Bilal was accused of being a clone; and, personally I find his CD much more enjoyable than D's 2nd album. But, that's just me.
Another thing, I've BEEN hearing a lot of people saying that they're tired of the whole NEO-SOUL era. So as soon as the ears hear that word, they ain't try'na hear anything u sing! Sad, but true.

Actually, to correct this thread, Long Time no see is actually his second album. He released his first solo album in the mid 80's and had the mildly successful hit Talk to Me. I think it is out of print now and I rarely play the copy that I have.

maka: actually he has done more then just one album

aspera: that superman song is offdahook!

long time no see is a great album.

"Long Time No See" was a good album, but his second album only had like two good tracks. And the problem with the NEO Soul thing is society trying to label things. In other genres "they" do not label it and try to make it a hip thing to do. NEO Soul has always been here so it shouldn't even have that name.

A few days ago,I read that The DeBarge family are reuniting for a summer tour.Chico was never a part of the singing group,but he will join El and the rest of the family.

eldra was the bomb backintheday! he is washed up now though... so r the rest of them...they literally fight 4 the mic these days!

El Debarge is one of the most underrated R*B artists EVER.

* Brother 9/15 aka CR3

I'll follow up my post with why I made the last statement I made. First of all he has an astonishing falsetto. He's a great producer, arranger and keyboardist/pianist. Debarge's album "In A Special Way" is hands down one of the best 80's R&B albums. Two songs build around the amazing arrangements of El off this album was sampled by 2pac and Notorious B.I.G.. Biggie Smalls' One More Chance sampled El's piano chord for Debarge's Stay With Me and 2Pac sampled the piano part of "A Dream" for one of his biggest hits "I Ain't Mad At Cha".

Also his 1992 album IN THE STORM was awesome. One of the best records that year PERIOD. You talking hot sensual sexy slow jams. He showed his producing and arrangements skills to full effect and he tapped Maurice White from Earth Wind And Fire to help co-produced the record. This CD is good from beginning to end and it's very diverse(it featured the hit "You Know What I Like" featuring the beautiful Chante Moore). However, a lot of people in 92' slept on this record and missed it. It's out of print now, but please look for it at a used CD store near you.

* Brother 9/15 aka CR3

Brother915 said:

And you do know that Prince contributed a track to that album? The song is called "Tip O'My Tongue".

DeBarge was cool,but I was also a big fan of Switch,which also featured two of the DeBarge brothers.Lead singer Bobby had a great falsetto that you can hear on their hits "There'll Never Be"(1978),"I Call Your Name"(1979) and my favorite "Love Over and Over Again"(1981).I strongly recommend you check out their Greatest Hits.They also got that slammin' funk hit "Best Beat In Town"(1979).

DavidEye said:

Yes I'm aware that LIL MAN contributed that song to the project. BTW, I think that this album has some of the greatest musical interludes EVER!!!! Especially, I like that little keyboard/synth interlude before "In The Storm", the title track.

* Brother 9/15 aka CR3

You know it was producer Maurice White who came up with the idea for all those interludes.You can hear alot of interludes on Earth Wind and Fire's albums,too.

DavidEye said:

Good Morning Davideye and Everybody Else,

Yes Maurice was responsible for that. Giving that unique EW&F flavor to EL.

* Brother 9/15 aka CR3

DavidEye said:

MAN!!!!, "Best Beat In Town" used to get played to death on R*B radio in 79'here In Atlanta. Probably one of the most played songs during that time along with "Ring My Bell" "Bad Girls" "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" and "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough".

* Brother 9/15 aka CR3

DavidEye said:

**Once again, Glad I ain't the only one who can recall all that good old skool music~ Well done Mr. Eye~

El, or Eldra (as he was called back in the day) DeBarge has such a beautiful (and very original) voice. It's always a pleasure 2 hear...

I put on the DeBarge greatest hits cd every now and then. He hasn't been just sitting there either, he did some back up on Kenny Loggins' "Vox Humana" cd, and some work on the Quincy Jones disc, "Back On The Block", course those were both done quite awhile ago. I'd love 2 hear him get back on the radio...I don't think their days as radio players r over, just some good producing will do them justice.