Does anyone consider Babyface a legend? Do you like his music/songwriting?

I'm not sure whether he is a legend or not. I like his music on his first two solo albums then he started to get too syrupy. I like his songwriting, especially for Boys To Men ( Wait Till the Water Runs Dry is my fav).

To tell you the truth, I haven't really heard much of his solo stuff. Though, as I recall, he went solo some time in the late eighties, which is really not my cup of tea anyways.
I am familiar with his work with Manchild. They recorded a couple of albums in the late seventies, which I do like.
To answer your initial question, no, I don't consider him a legend.

I think he's a legend. Babyface owned the late 80's early 90's. He's never been an innovator like James Brown (funk), Stevie Wonder (synths), Ike Turner (electric guitar) or folks like that, but as a songwriter and performer only Prince and MJ have done as much or more in R&B and Pop from the late 80's forward.

LoveIsTheMessage said:

Rowdy Deele


[Edited 7/25/09 8:06am]

Babyface is a legend in my world. He's written so many incredible songs. Between Jam and Lewis, I'm not sure who's written more. Prince owns the soundtrack of my life by far but Babyface has a few chapters in there. I saw him earlier this year and it was a really good concert and the man has a great sense of humor and yes, so many hits/so little time ...

He's certainly gotten his notch and a seat in the business. LaFace had a sound as recognizable as Jam/Lewis or any other great production team at the time. Babyface's solo stuff was good. I still love "My Kinda Girl", a greatly underrated track I think. His Unplugged is good, and I think people kind of forget the songs he's written for other people. His live version of "Change The World" with Eric Clapton on the Unplugged in NYC disk TAKE YOU TO CHURCH!

I was just thinking about Face this morning. I pulled out my "Bobby" cd from Bobby Brown and jammed "Humpin Around" and "Good Enough" and started to reminisce about the wonderful music that he made that help form the soundtrack to my life. He and LA did some wonderful work together. Some of my favs are:
Damian Dame - Exclusivity
After 7 - After 7 (Debut cd)
The Whispers - Rock Steady and the So Good album
Babyface - For The Cool In You (album)
Mac Band - "Roses are Red" and "Stuck"
Shalamar - "Circumstancial Evidence" and "Games"

RnBAmbassador said:

Yeah, I can tell he's a good guitar player after listening to him do solos of while singing "Sorry For the Stupid Things" when it came out.

Babyface is a legend in my book...

A quick Face mix tape:

Mary Mack
Work it Out
Two Occasions - The Deele
Whip Appeal
Change the World - LIVE w/ Eric Clapton
Please Come to Boston
Simple Days
I'll be There - El DeBarge
I Said I Love You
Chivilry
As Soon as I Get Home
Sweet November - The Deele
Crazy 'Bout Cha - The Deele
When I'm With You - Kevon Edmonds
If Given a Chance

Yes he is a legend.

He's been in two successful R&B groups (Manchild and the Deele), he has had a decent solo career, and he was a hitmaker for more than a decade as a songwriter and producer and music entrepreneur. Yes he is. You have to put all of his careers together.

He is a VERY good songwriter.
Writes/produces very nice ballads.

His singing is good and pleasant, not exceptional, but suits his songs well.

Generally, I would say he is not that diverse.

However, all in all, I think he has done enough to gain legendary status.

He's definitely made his mark in music.

Legend in my book.

Accomplished? Yes.
Legend.....ur...not even close.

Go back and play Face's top 10 hits.....it is the SAME song with different lyrics.

Graycap23 said:

U wrong for that.
For the most part true.

Graycap23 said:

Well, it's all in how you look at it. I think he achieved legendary status when he did End of The Road, then with "I'll Make Love To You". Those records took him to legendary status in popular music.

As for r&b music, I think he achieved legendary status after he did the "Don't Be Cruel" album and "Tender Lover". There was hardly a black household that didn't have either of those albums.

Legend to me too. He´s written so many incredible songs for others. I don´t know much of his solo work, but I love what he´d done for others. I was just thinking today that there´s noone out there right now writing such beautiful songs for others.

Graycap23 said:

Yeah, he did recycle sometimes.

Sheena Easton: Days Like This and No Deposit, No Return
http://www.youtube.com/wa...s9nKAUGSk8
http://www.youtube.com/wa...VWDh-_obOM

daPrettyman said:

Timmy84 said:

U don't think so? Black folks love Face...mostly for "Rock Steady", "Don't Be Cruel" and "Whip Appeal".

daPrettyman said:

I was agreeing with you.

Timmy84 said:

Sorry, it got lost in translation.

daPrettyman said:

...most times.
Peep this, grab a guitar or a keyboard, and play the melody of Face's hits.
U will find yourself playing the SAME notes, over and over again.

Graycap23 said:

That's true.

Especially after he and LA split. Songs like "These Are The Times" (Dru Hill) and "Kissing You" (Faith Evans) are ironically similar.

Of course, the same could be said for Prince, Jam and Lewis and other writers and producers.

daPrettyman said:

I'll take Prince recycles over ALL of face's entire catalogue.

i barely like any of his own material, but when he was doing production and writing for others he was unstoppable and they were all good quality, not to mention bit hit records.

but some of his stuff later on became the repetitive 1,2,3 drum pattern songs where he started to fall off (johnny gill 0 lets get the mood right, boyz ii men - end of the road, boyz ii men - i'll make love to you etc.

with that said he is a legendary sought out producer, writer and hitmaker. his own solo career/deele career though, he was just "meh" to me.