In light of regcart's thread about Bobby and El Debarge, I made a point on that thread that I thought Bobby was the best when it came to talking on his ballads. His intro speech to "I Call Your Name" is off the hook. Not so much because of the words he's saying, but how he says them along with the music. His tone was perfect for all of the swirls and beautiful music that was underneath. He understood the vibe of the day (1979) and what young girls, especially black girls, (Switch's target audience) at that time, wanted to hear. I compare this to Michael's "She's Out Of My Life" and P's "Do Me, Baby", which both came after "I'll Call Your Name". Like I posted in regcart's thread, Bobby owned that "pretty boy/I'm so sensitive"/ soft spoken brother" mac.
Although Michael was a bonafide superstar, I think Bobby put a little heat on Michael. He definately got Michael's attention. Especially with Jermaine producing. When it came to P, well, P had his second album going and didn't have his mac down yet. he would master that with "International Lover', some 3 years later. I'm talking about the three songs I mentioned with the 3 artists. Who do u feel had the best "Oh, I'm fey as hell/but love me anyway" mac?

I know "I'll Call Your Name" and "She's Out Of My Life" both came out in 79. From memory, I know "Off The Wall" was out during that summer. "I'll Call Your Name" if memory serves me correctly, came out that fall. Cuz school had started back up when that song hit.

Bobby. "I'm a man now, baby..."

Classic stuff.

JesseDezz said:

"A GROWNNNNN man. And I've come a loooonnng way." And the contradiction; "Is this really her phone number?"

blackguitaristz said:

OH HELL yeah.....NOW see thats the stuff legends are made of....I remember me and my boyz crooning this and i was the only one that could hit the notes....yeah i was in a group....LOL keyboard player of course....."I'm not worried bout a doggone thing i take anything you bring"

I'm afraid I'm not fimiliar with MJ's dialogues in his music other than the famous "I'm a lover not a fighter" versus Paul McCartney.

I know he's not mentioned here on this thread but I've alwaysed dug Bobby Womack's story telling manner in most of his ballads' intros. Some of them are downright funny.

blackguitaristz said:

I KNOW SoulAlive would know about this.

Harlepolis said:

You've heard "She's Out Of My Life". And Womack was way to "manly" to fit in this category with Bobby, MJ and P.

blackguitaristz said:

You all just made me start me day with this song! I just mailed to to my baby so he can trip out on it like I am

SoulAlive said:

I Call Your Name Came after She's Out Of My Life, right?

I like the dialogue best in "Do Me Baby" but I'm a whore so of course I would.

When it comes to dialogues though, or a "rap" before the word took a new meaning, NO ONE could fuck with Millie Jackson.

vainandy said:

Yeah Millie was something else, but I also liked Betty Wright's Clean Up Woman, the live version where she starts going off on everybody.

I liked Switch, but there were plenty of sexy dialogue's going on in songs back in the day, Teddy Pendergrass was it "Close the Door"? There was one song that was mighty sexy. But "Do Me Baby" was the bomb!!!

LQ

Since we're adding ladies, what about Betty Wright's "Tonight is the Night" (live version).

blackguitaristz said:

Actually,"I Call your Name" was released as a single first.The 'Off The Wall' album was released in August 1979 but the song "She's Out Of My Life" wasn't released as a single until 1980.If I remember correctly,"I Call Your Name" was a single in the summer of '79.If I'm wrong,someone will correct me,lol.

JesseDezz said:

Yep. I always wondered at one point of the song, what was she DOING?!

blackguitaristz said:

Tough call. But out of those 3 artists you mention, My vote goes to Prince because he's straight to the point with his dialogues.

Now if this was about the artists with THE best dialogues in general, My vote goes to Barry White.