The two guys broke away from their respective bands/groups to drop maybe the two most underrated urban/new jack swing (or whatever you wanna call them) albums of 1989. Randy & The Gypsys 'self titled' and Timmy Gatling's 'Help'. Of course I was only two in 1989, but over the years I discovered these gems.

It's no reason why these brothers didn't have success in that market. I wanna no what happened in 1989, why weren't these hits like the pther urban albums being released around this time (Janet Jackson, Babyface, New Edition, Guy, Bobby Brown, TTT, Karyn White, Pebbles, ect.)

None of the albums charted, Randy's two singles charted on the lower end of the RnB charts.

Randy's album and 2300 Jackson Street were released at the same time, and R&B radio chose to play the group album, because I heard She (as well as Nothing and the title track) played on the local station. I don't think She was even a single, just an album track.

MickyDolenz said:

Randy's album and 2300 Jackson Street were released at the same time, and R&B radio chose to play the group album, because I heard She (as well as Nothing and the title track) played on the local station. I don't think She was even a single, just an album track.

But it was 3 other Jackson albums out at that time too, Rhythm Nation, Don't Take It Personal Be The One. Why did Randy's get the least promotion? Ok well, compared to Jackie's at least?

Was it just a bad time to release a Jackson's record when 4 other family albums are already out on the market?

LittleBLUECorvette said:

MickyDolenz said:

Randy's album and 2300 Jackson Street were released at the same time, and R&B radio chose to play the group album, because I heard She (as well as Nothing and the title track) played on the local station. I don't think She was even a single, just an album track.

But it was 3 other Jackson albums out at that time too, Rhythm Nation, Don't Take It Personal Be The One. Why did Randy's get the least promotion? Ok well, compared to Jackie's at least?

Was it just a bad time to release a Jackson's record when 4 other family albums are already out on the market?

Janet was never a part of The Jacksons (unless you count the Vegas and TV appearances of the 1970's). Her career was always separate since Good Times. So she doesn't count. Jermaine already had some radio presence already, no wasn't a new act. Randy & Jackie never actually had a solo career before. Jackie had a little known album on Motown and Randy had a couple of little known singles in the late 70's and early 80's. I think there were plenty of New Jack acts already, so another one wasn't really going to make any difference. Jermaine's album wasn't New Jack. It was more adult R&B & pop. So it got play there. Was Jackie's album on a major? If not, then his label probably didn't have the promotional money (aka payola) to get on the radio.

MickyDolenz said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

But it was 3 other Jackson albums out at that time too, Rhythm Nation, Don't Take It Personal Be The One. Why did Randy's get the least promotion? Ok well, compared to Jackie's at least?

Was it just a bad time to release a Jackson's record when 4 other family albums are already out on the market?

Janet was never a part of The Jacksons (unless you count the Vegas and TV appearances of the 1970's). Her career was always separate since Good Times. So she doesn't count. Jermaine already had some radio presence already, no wasn't a new act. Randy & Jackie never actually had a solo career before. Jackie had a little known album on Motown and Randy had a couple of little known singles in the late 70's and early 80's. I think there were plenty of New Jack acts already, so another one wasn't really going to make any difference. Jermaine's album wasn't New Jack. It was more adult R&B & pop. So it got play there. Was Jackie's album on a major? If not, then his label probably didn't have the promotional money (aka payola) to get on the radio.

Janet is a Jackson, you don't have to be a male to be a Jackson. You think she got her gig on Good Times cause someone heard she was a cut kid actor? It was all in the name. Jackie album sold better than Randy's, his actually charted for Polygram Records.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

MickyDolenz said:

Janet was never a part of The Jacksons (unless you count the Vegas and TV appearances of the 1970's). Her career was always separate since Good Times. So she doesn't count. Jermaine already had some radio presence already, no wasn't a new act. Randy & Jackie never actually had a solo career before. Jackie had a little known album on Motown and Randy had a couple of little known singles in the late 70's and early 80's. I think there were plenty of New Jack acts already, so another one wasn't really going to make any difference. Jermaine's album wasn't New Jack. It was more adult R&B & pop. So it got play there. Was Jackie's album on a major? If not, then his label probably didn't have the promotional money (aka payola) to get on the radio.

Janet is a Jackson, you don't have to be a male to be a Jackson. You think she got her gig on Good Times cause someone heard she was a cut kid actor? It was all in the name. Jackie album sold better than Randy's, his actually charted for Polygram Records.

But she wasn't a part of The Jacksons/Jackson 5 group. She wasn't doing a side solo project during a break from the group. She also already had a music career, and Randy didn't. Look at Shalamar. Jody Watley had a fairly successful career and Howard Hewitt, Jeffrey Daniel, Gerald Brown, Micki Free, etc. didn't. George Michael had a successful career and Andrew Ridgely didn't. Groups rarely have multiple success as solo acts. The only ones I can think of is Genesis (Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Mike & The Mechanics) and New Edition (BBD, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill). They still had solo gigs that was less successful (Ralph Tresvant, Tony Banks, Steve Hackett). Even with the Beatles, it was mostly Paul who had consistant popularity as a solo act, not John, George, & Ringo.

What about Timmy?

LittleBLUECorvette said:

What about Timmy?

I've never really followed the career of Guy. My friend was a big NJS & Teddy Riley fan, so he would talk about them. I liked some New Jack Swing songs, but I didn't listen to it (or most of the R&B of the time for that matter) in general. Maybe Gene Griffin sabotaged him.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

MickyDolenz said:

Randy's album and 2300 Jackson Street were released at the same time, and R&B radio chose to play the group album, because I heard She (as well as Nothing and the title track) played on the local station. I don't think She was even a single, just an album track.

But it was 3 other Jackson albums out at that time too, Rhythm Nation, Don't Take It Personal Be The One. Why did Randy's get the least promotion? Ok well, compared to Jackie's at least?

Was it just a bad time to release a Jackson's record when 4 other family albums are already out on the market?

Actually, there's probably some truth to that. Both Janet and Randy were on A&M Records. I remember reading a review of Randy's album in Billboard Magazine, back when it was released. The reviewer gave it very good marks , but also wrote that it was a shame that he was releasing the album at the same time as Janet's disc. It was as if the industry had already acknowledged that the company wasn't gonna bother promoting his album, because Janet's was out at that moment......

...

paligap said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

But it was 3 other Jackson albums out at that time too, Rhythm Nation, Don't Take It Personal Be The One. Why did Randy's get the least promotion? Ok well, compared to Jackie's at least?

Was it just a bad time to release a Jackson's record when 4 other family albums are already out on the market?

Actually, there's probably some truth to that. Both Janet and Randy were on A&M Records. I remember reading a review of Randy's album in Billboard Magazine, back when it was released. The reviewer gave it very good marks , but also wrote that it was a shame that he was releasing the album at the same time as Janet's disc. It was as if the industry had already acknowledged that the company wasn't gonna bother promoting his album, because Janet's was out at that moment......

...

There was a recent article about The Gypsys album, from last year I think or maybe 2009. It had comments from some of the band members, but not Randy. It was on MJJC, but I don't wanna go over there and look for it. Since the site was changed a few months ago, it takes forever for it to load.