Babyface proud to be mature

Let the Rolling Stones march into their senior years still decked out like teenage rabble-rousers. Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, 46, is content to be Grown & Sexy, as the veteran R&B performer/producer/songwriter has titled his ninth album. It's due July 26.

"So many of us try to run away from our age," Babyface says. "But it's cool to be fortysomething and have your life on track, and not try to be anything other than what you are. You can still be youthful. It's a theme that I think a lot of artists should take on."

The mature tracks on Grown, which Babyface describes as mostly "about relationships," include the single Sorry for the Stupid Things, available for radio play Monday and co-written with Daryl Simmons, a frequent collaborator on the CD. Among the other tracks are Tonite It's Goin' Down, Goin' Outta Bizness, Good 2 B in Luv, God Must Luv U, Can't Stop Now, The Loneliness and She.

- Elysa Gardner

Last year,he was planning to release an album called 'Love Story' but it was delayed repeatedly,even though the first single "The Loneliness" was already getting some radio airplay.The tracklist to that album is as follows...

God Must Love You
Red Dress
Getting 2 Know U
Makin' Love
Love Song
Sentimental Reasons
The Loneliness
Wish That I Could Tell You
Together Forever
Still My Boo
I Promise


So,it looks like he went back into the studio,wrote some more songs,and came up with a totally different album,although some tracks from 'Love Story' will remain ("God Must Love You"...."The Loneliness").Let's hope this album is better than his last album,2002's 'Face 2 Face',which found him chasing trends badly.