I’ve been listening to a lot of old school music lately, and Bobby DeBarge is an artist I cannot stop listening to. The man’s voice was phenomenal. I think it’s a shame he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. He’s one of great vocalists in R&B music history , and when it comes to his upper register, I think only a few others could even come close to Bobby’s range.

Here are a few songs Bobby sang that some people might not be familiar with. The first two are from his time with White Heat, the group he was in before Switch was formed. The other is a song Switch did with the group High Inergy.

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/...;<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/...p;amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/...;<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/...p;amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

<object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/...;<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/...p;border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>

[Edited 7/29/10 1:59am]

PerryMoore11 said:

I’ve been listening to a lot of old school music lately, and Bobby DeBarge is an artist I cannot stop listening to. The man’s voice was phenomenal. I think it’s a shame he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. He’s one of great vocalists in R&B music history , and when it comes to his upper register, I think only a few others could even come close to Bobby’s range.

Here are a few songs Bobby sang that some people might not be familiar with. The first two are from his time with White Heat, the group he was in before Switch was formed. The other is a song Switch did with the group High Inergy.

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/...;<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/...p;amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/...;<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/...p;amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

<object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/...;<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/...p;border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>

[Edited 7/29/10 1:59am]

[img:$uid]http://www.vinyl-masterpiece.com/catalog/images/switch_-_this_is_my_dream.jpg[/img:$uid]

Discussed over here : SWITCH 'This Is My Dream'...able on CD

It's not an official Motown-release btw. The distribute-company called Vinyl Masterpiece has been reissuing many 80's funk & soul,

but i'm not shure if they always have access to the mastertapes. Same for Funky Town Grooves and Boogie-Times.

It's a trip though to see what those sites have released so far. As far as i know, Hip-O Select is one of the main reissue-companies with access to the official Motown-tapes.

[Edited 7/29/10 4:50am]

I've always been a big fan of Bobby Debarge, it's tragic that his life long struggles with substance abuse really impeded his career. I still think Bobby leaving the group Switch was a mistake, left too soon, such a a gifited artist.

I see you, Ms Trina!!

Bobby Debarge is sooooooo underrated,just like his younger brother El.They sound so similar.......

scriptgirl said:

I see you, Ms Trina!!

I see you too script.

TD3 said:

scriptgirl said:

I see you, Ms Trina!!

I see you too script.

funkpill said:

TD3 said:

I see you too script.

That goes for you too, where have you been?

TD3 said:

funkpill said:

That goes for you too, where have you been?

oh..heah and there

Bobby was a better singer than El in my opinion. I think back in the day, El was struggling to sound like Bobby. He was a highly underrated vocalist.

Great voice with wonderful songs to go along with it. When it comes to slow jams, Switch is one of those groups that gets my dick hard.

funkpill said:

TD3 said:

That goes for you too, where have you been?

oh..heah and there

..everywhere,

Where Was You At?

this came to mind, from your response.

BlaqueKnight said:

Bobby was a better singer than El in my opinion. I think back in the day, El was struggling to sound like Bobby. He was a highly underrated vocalist.

I remember watching DeBarge's Unsung and Iris Gordy mentioned how she wanted El to hit those high notes and El was like "no you're trying to make me sound like Bobby." And Iris responded back, "you better thank your lucky stars if you sound anywhere CLOSE to Bobby."

BlaqueKnight said:

Bobby was a better singer than El in my opinion. I think back in the day, El was struggling to sound like Bobby. He was a highly underrated vocalist.

I agree Bobby did it so effortlessly, he made it seem so easy, El is a great vocalist don't get me wrong but Bobby was the REAL MCCOY!

regcart said:

BlaqueKnight said:

Bobby was a better singer than El in my opinion. I think back in the day, El was struggling to sound like Bobby. He was a highly underrated vocalist.

I agree Bobby did it so effortlessly, he made it seem so easy, El is a great vocalist don't get me wrong but Bobby was the REAL MCCOY!

Bobby was the heart and soul of the DeBarge family IMHO.

I feel the same way. I'm an El fan as well, but Bobby was just incredible. Also, thanks Timmy84 for embedding those youtube clips the right way. I was trying to fix it but I couldn't get it right for some reason.

PerryMoore11 said:

I feel the same way. I'm an El fan as well, but Bobby was just incredible. Also, thanks Timmy84 for embedding those youtube clips the right way. I was trying to fix it but I couldn't get it right for some reason.

You're welcome sir.

Bobby Debarge was a better vocalist during the first two Switch albums he was at his absolute best. But El surpassed his mentor vocally IMO starting with the Gemini album. El is a bit more versitile.

But Bob was monster back in the day. just like Cameo's Wayne Cooper.

TD3 said:

I've always been a big fan of Bobby Debarge, it's tragic that his life long struggles with substance abuse really impeded his career. I still think Bobby leaving the group Switch was a mistake, left too soon, such a a gifited artist.

It hink he left to soon as well But he probably should have released a solo album prior to introducing us to a younger brother who sounds very similiar. That would have been the better approach IMO.

daingermouz said:

TD3 said:

I've always been a big fan of Bobby Debarge, it's tragic that his life long struggles with substance abuse really impeded his career. I still think Bobby leaving the group Switch was a mistake, left too soon, such a a gifited artist.

It hink he left to soon as well But he probably should have released a solo album prior to introducing us to a younger brother who sounds very similiar. That would have been the better approach IMO.

I agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

By the time he left Switch he was so determined to get his younger family out there that he lost his way a little after Motown took over his family from him because he produced their first album, he and Tommy I believe (I think the other DeBarges took co-production on The DeBarges). And I think Bobby got so disilluisioned that he didn't care anymore. That's probably why we didn't get a solo Bobby project until '95/'96.

Timmy84 said:

By the time he left Switch he was so determined to get his younger family out there that he lost his way a little after Motown took over his family from him because he produced their first album, he and Tommy I believe (I think the other DeBarges took co-production on The DeBarges). And I think Bobby got so disilluisioned that he didn't care anymore. That's probably why we didn't get a solo Bobby project until '95/'96.

I think that might have been the case as well. It's a shame too because it would've been great to hear a few solo albums from him. It's been 15 years to the day since he's passed away. May he rest in peace.