Lovesexy82 said:

Hey, it's your personal choice and you can use whatever subjective or definitive criteria you want. But I would imagine after questioning Alex choosing Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel" ... well, let's say Babyface's "My Kinda Girl" is a head-scratcher.

I will have to come up with a list later, but unless asked I don't want to bog down the thread with "My list is better than your list"-type games.
[Edited 8/19/07 17:00pm]

I was at first unsure if it was personal tastes or musical merits, so that's why I questioned it. But Alex clarified it for me. My list probably won't be better...just different.

Lovesexy82 said:

OK, but it still doesn't explain the logic in questioning Alex selecting Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel" (the song that made Babyface and L.A. Reid prominent producers) and then coming back with Babyface's "My Kinda Girl" (a good song, but IMO one that doesn't separate itself from the legion of other hit songs he wrote).

Being a personal taste issue or any other criteria, "Don't Be Cruel" is one of 'Face's landmark songs.
[Edited 8/19/07 17:20pm]

I'm gonna have to come up with a list to rival yours! But I don't know if I have have energy for 100 and I know that no one's gonna agree with my number 1. I'm gonna give you a preview and say that my personal #1 song written/produced by Babyface is "My Kinda Girl." Now when I hear this song I think "Damn, this is the best song Babyface has ever written!"

***Hides face***

I know that you had it at #87, but each his or her own.

Lovesexy82 said:

Actually, I have it at #37 ("Lady, Lady" is the song 50 spots lower). Interestingly enough, when I was retyping the list, I thought to myself that "My Kinda Girl" was a little low. I love that song. In fact, I think the bridge ("I get a real good feelin'...") is one of his very best vocal performances.

But, as you can see, "Tender Lover" is my favorite song from that album (and my favorite solo Face song). Of course, neither one of them are "Don't Be Cruel."

Najee, I restricted it to only songs Face wrote or co-wrote. I absolutely love "Always," though.

Changing the subject slightly, I was wondering if anyone has seen Babyface/The Deele (or even After 7 for that matter) in concert. What was your experience. I know that Babyface doesn't tour much, so I was wondering what you all thought.

I'll start:

The last time Face toured was in 2005 (Grown & Sexy) and he was coming to Oakland, CA the day before Thanksgiving and I really wanted to go. I asked my new boyfriend at the time if he would take me and he was said he would. I made it clear that I couldn't fuck with the balcony (The Paramount has horrible acoustics) and I wanted to be somewhere in the orchestra section. (I know, I know, I'm evil).

It would've cost a pretty penny, but it was Babyface.

As the time approached for the concert, he finally confessed that he didn't have enough money for the tickets (and you know all the balcony seats went first) and I had to give up my dream. So, of course my grown ass sulked like it was the end of the world and resigned myself to a Babayface-less Thanksgiving Weekend.

The day of the concert, he did a radio interview on KMEL (one of the highlights of which was how he wrote the song "Roni," for a girl that was dissed by one of his Deele bandmates, if I remember correctly) and as I'm sitting there they saying that there were still tickets to the concert.

I was like fuck this, I gotta go. So, my boyfriend gave me half of the money needed to buy the ticket and I called Ticketmaster and all they had left was Row UU or something in the mezzazine (a.k.a The very back of the floor) and I said "Give it to me!"

Long story short, I went home got dressed in my finery, put my makeup on and my best heels to go to a Babyface concert by myself!!!!! I felt a little sad when I saw all the couples and I didn't get to take those pictures with the background that they have at all black concerts. But once Babyface started singing I forgot where I was.

He sang all the classics, did a medley of songs he wrote and/or produced with his brother Kevon and ended with an acoustic set. For about 90 mins, I didn't feel so much like a loser anymore. After Prince, it was the best concert I've ever been to. And yes, that guy is still my boyfriend, but he never pulled that again.
[Edited 8/20/07 10:17am]
[Edited 8/20/07 10:20am]
[Edited 8/20/07 10:24am]

It's hard to believe that it's been 20 years since Babyface and L.A. Reid started out as producers -- I was in college when these members of The Deele produced The Whispers' "Rock Steady." Inspired by this thread, I created a six-disc set of their hit songs (I'm not going to list my top 100 songs, because that's a little more subjective):

DISC ONE:

"Don't Be Cruel" reprise

After 7 - "Can't Stop" (remix)
Boyz II Men - "I'll Make Love to You" (sexy remix)
Pebbles with Babyface - "Love Makes Things Happen" (remix version)
Madonna - "Take a Bow" (silky soul mix)

After 7 - "Heat of the Moment"
Toni Braxton - "Seven Whole Days"
TLC - "Diggin' on You"
Bobby Brown - "Roni"

You mean the ("Don't Be Cruel" by Bobby Brown) prelude, right? That's a great way to start it off.

I'd take the original versions of these songs.

After 7 - "Heat of the Moment"
Toni Braxton - "Seven Whole Days"
TLC - "Diggin' on You"
Bobby Brown - "Roni"

No love for Jermaine Jackson? I think the You Said album is pretty underrated.

Lovesexy82, I saw Babyface in concert around '95 with Boyz II Men and Brandy. He was excellent. I was floored by how good he was.

Changing the subject slightly, I was wondering if anyone has seen Babyface/The Deele (or even After 7 for that matter) in concert. What was your experience. I know that Babyface doesn't tour much, so I was wondering what you all thought.

I'll start:

The last time Face toured was in 2005 (Grown & Sexy) and he was coming to Oakland, CA the day before Thanksgiving and I really wanted to go. I asked my new boyfriend at the time if he would take me and he was said he would. I made it clear that I couldn't fuck with the balcony (The Paramount has horrible acoustics) and I wanted to be somewhere in the orchestra section. (I know, I know, I'm evil).

It would've cost a pretty penny, but it was Babyface.

As the time approached for the concert, he finally confessed that he didn't have enough money for the tickets (and you know all the balcony seats went first) and I had to give up my dream. So, of course my grown ass sulked like it was the end of the world and resigned myself to a Babayface-less Thanksgiving Weekend.

The day of the concert, he did a radio interview on KMEL (one of the highlights of which was how he wrote the song "Roni," for a girl that was dissed by one of his Deele bandmates, if I remember correctly) and as I'm sitting there they saying that there were still tickets to the concert.

I was like fuck this, I gotta go. So, my boyfriend gave me half of the money needed to buy the ticket and I called Ticketmaster and all they had left was Row UU or something in the mezzazine (a.k.a The very back of the floor) and I said "Give it to me!"

Long story short, I went home got dressed in my finery, put my makeup on and my best heels to go to a Babyface concert by myself!!!!! I felt a little sad when I saw all the couples and I didn't get to take those pictures with the background that they have at all black concerts. But once Babyface started singing I forgot where I was.

He sang all the classics, did a medley of songs he wrote and/or produced with his brother Kevon and ended with an acoustic set. For about 90 mins, I didn't feel so much like a loser anymore. After Prince, it was the best concert I've ever been to. And yes, that guy is still my boyfriend, but he never pulled that again.
[Edited 8/20/07 10:17am]
[Edited 8/20/07 10:20am]
[Edited 8/20/07 10:24am]

AlexdeParis said:

That's what I meant -- the prelude.



Hey, I did have to get The Whispers' "In the Mood" in there!

AlexdeParis said:

I also saw that tour in 1995, and Babyface was excellent. I was impressed with his voice, which was more powerful than I thought it was.
[Edited 8/20/07 19:00pm]

Just wanted to add that I dusted off my Lovers album and it's sounded pretty good. I never cared for this album much before, but it was jammin last night."You Make Me Feel Brand New" is my favorite. Followed by "Chivalry," "I Love You Babe" and "Lovers." I can't find my CD cover though--does anyone know who's singing the duest with him on "Faithful?"

Just wanted to add that I dusted off my Lovers album and it's sounded pretty good. I never cared for this album much before, but it was jammin last night."You Make Me Feel Brand New" is my favorite. Followed by "Chivalry," "I Love You Babe" and "Lovers." I can't find my CD cover though--does anyone know who's singing the duet with him on "Faithful?"

SoulAlive said:

What made Babyface's version of "This Is for The Lover in You" terrible was that he made it a rap song (with L.L. Cool J having more prominence, IMO) with the members of Shalamar singing the chorus -- essentially, Babyface was a guest performer on his own song. It was further compounded by Howard Hewett outsinging 'Face when Hewett did his part in the bridge. 'Face gets kudos only for getting Shalamar (more particularly, Hewett and Jody Watley) together to agree to sing it.