I`ve heard their version of The Beatles` "Yesterday" and the two songs from "Sparkle", but how is the rest of the album?

That "Yesterday" song is atrocious. Everything else is some of the best soul/dance/r&b of the 90's...oh yeah, and then there is "Free Your Mind". Still not sure how I feel about it.

It's a great album. The lead single, "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)," was a smash hit (and I honestly can't believe you've never heard it). It and the follow-up "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" reached #1 on the R&B charts. The guitar-heavy "Free Your Mind" was the album's third consecutive single to reach the top 10 of the pop charts. The final singles were "Give It Up, Turn It Loose" and "Love Don't Love You." Some standout album tracks include the opener "This Is Your Life" and "Desire." Give it a try! It's their best, most consistent album.

sosgemini said:

There are some good songs on there that are nearly sunk by some bad ones. Yeah, that Yesterday cover is terrible, really dreadful. I never really liked Free Your Mind either - that line about her credit not being bad makes me wanna pull her FICO file and fuck some shit up on it. And that Fat Lady song (can't recall the exact name, too lazy to look it up) is bad, too. They needn't rap...ever. Give It Up Turn It Loose is great, and though I don't think it's aged well, My Lovin' was fun at the time even though the video just made me go, "Hey, it's the I've Got You Under My Skin video with four chicks instead of Neneh Cherry!" The Sparkle tunes are good but just make me wanna hear the original.


It was a hit in the USA and parts of Europe. I can't recall where Sunny's from, Finland maybe?

RipHer2Shreds said:

I`m from Norway.
I`m not familar with the song, guess i`m too young

Didn`t they sample a Jackson 5 hit for a song on this album?

My Lovin' (sampled James Brown's The Big Payback).

http://www.youtube.com/wa...y72lpZWtzo

I loved their stuff back in the day, but I listened to some of it recently...They weren't very good singers.

RipHer2Shreds said:

I have their greatest hits and love it but is this album worth buying (keep in mind I would buy it used or deeply discounted)? Sounds like everyone is mixed here.

guitarslinger44 said:

WTF? Oh please, tell me who you consider to be good singers, since you don't think EnVogue...(EnVogue? ) were good singers?

guitarslinger44 said:

okay your attention seeking!

VinnyM27 said:

Yes.

So many people dissing "Free Your Mind"...

"Weren't very good singers"?

what is the other song
from Sparkle that they covered?

I never heard any of their albums

DirtyChris said:

"Hooked on your love"

It doesn`t compare to the original though. My favorite from "Sparkle" is "Rock with me"

SunnySkies said:

No, but both "Sparkle" covers are still good. And En Vogue's "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" is still the sexiest video of all time AFAIC.

AlexdeParis said:

Yeah, they did a good job...

SunnySkies said:

I think your talking about Hold On which sampled "Who's Lovin You"??

that was on the first album

muse87 said:

To be really technical, (1) it was re-sung as opposed to being sampled and (2) it's a Miracles song covered (and perfected) by the J5.
[Edited 6/2/07 14:05pm]

Okay, i`m way off then I haven`t heard the Miracles` original version

SunnySkies said:

You really don't need to hear it. Michael stole that song outright.

SunnySkies said:

It is definitely worth purchasing. Overall, I would grade the album a B-. You can definitely tell that Denzel Foster and Thomas McElroy were the backbone of this group. My favorite trax are "Give It Up, Turn It Loose", "It Ain't Over...'Til The Fat Lady Sings" and "Giving Him Something He Can Feel". I still prefer Born To Sing over this album (their debut), but it is a good album.

AlexdeParis said:

I wouldn't say MJ stole it, I would say that Berry Gordy and the rest of the Association made him sing it like that. Come on, he was probably 12 or so.

RipHer2Shreds said:

daPrettyman said:

He means stole it as in made it his own, made you forget the original, etc. Not literally steal.

SunnySkies said:

oh snap...

"what can I do ::waves right arm twice::
with this feeeeeling
hooked on your love sweet love love..."


I just might watch Sparkle tonight

the jackson 5 sample was when they released their first album Born To Sing, singing accapella of Who's Loving You at the beginning of Hold On

this album is totally overrated, I was disappointed in it, the only good songs are the ones that were released, and hip hop till you drop & desire were so-so