Soulflower is very enjoyable. Much more solid than EV3 or Masterpiece Theater.

Maxine Jones has left the lineup and Rhona Bennet has joined. Rhona is a great addition. I am sad to see Maxine no longer with the group but Rhona brings an equally good contribution to the group.

This is a solid album. I don't think they'll ever come up with a better album than Funky Divas but this album is more in tune with what they should be doing as vocalists. If I'm to rate this, I'd give it a 3 3/4 or a solid B.

Gosh, I've always wished they do something really different. "Yeah, free your mind" was kinda edgy for them, but I've always thought they played it sort of safe. Their harmonies were tight. Couldn't they pull off a remake of LaBelle's "Messin' With My Mind" or some other LaBelle classic?

Give me a call when Dawn Robinson hook back up with them....

Nevertheless I'll check into this recording and see what's up.

BRO915 said:

Well I agree that they lost something when Dawn left, however as a fan I wasn't willing to abandon the rest of the group because one person left.

This album is worth checking out. I'm not sorry I bought it.

BRO915 said:

Dawn has the biggest chip on her shoulders, and she makes me sick. After Lucy Pearl and a lack-luster solo debut I hope she knows that she is not the shit. Big Headed hefer

jthad1129 said:

I agree,Dawn is really annoying,wasting all her time dissing the other girls.I remember a Vibe interview from a few years back,just right before her solo CD came out.She was laughing at the fact that EnVogue's 'EV3' CD flopped.It must have been a blow to her ego when her OWN album flopped shortly thereafter

i'll have to check this out.

i liked funky divas and ev3.

Don't know anything about the politics of band members & stuff, but i listened to the lucy pearl album a couple of times and really liked that too.

DavidEye said:

I didn't think "EV3" did that bad. Maybe about as well as Lucy Pearl. Now her solo album? That didn't even show up on the radar (sadly, I doubt this new En Vogue album will either...they aren't even on the cover!).

VinnyM27 said:

They are on the back cover tho

I believe the thing with Dawn is that she was considerably younger than the rest of the group and wanted to express herself in a different way than the direction of the group was headed. I don't fault her for that. If she was a bitch about it, she got her dues as I don't think her solo did that well. I bought it tho It wasn't as tight as I expected it would be. Half of it was good and the other half sucked.

EVs Soulflower is great. I recommend it.

Remember Terry Ellis' solo record??? I think it was called SOUTHERN GIRL...it was out in '95 or '96. I wasnt too crazy about it...but I think even her album did a little better than Dawn's. Man that record flop. Warner/Reprise didnt do a damn think to help it sell either.

I met and hung out with Lucy Pearl on their AZ stop during their tour w/ D'Angelo and Dawn was really cool. All of them were down to earth and funny. She may seem catty about En Vouge but rest assured she's a cool chick!

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

I bought Terry's release too I'm sure she aint all that bad, just young and wanting to do her own thing in the worst way.

I love EnVogue as much as you guys do,but let's face it...their new CD is dead on arrival.It'll be in the bargain bins by next week These ladies are so talented,but nobody seems willing to give them a second chance.


My advice? They need to get Maxine and Dawn back into the group,sign a contract with Clive Davis' label (I heard he was interested in signing them a few years back,bit only if they had all four original members) and make a kickass comeback CD.

DavidEye said:

That would be excellent but not likely. Check out the new CD, it's great.

Wasn't crazy about the album at first listen but it's grown on me. "Ooh Boy" and "Ooh La La" are great cuts. The remake of "Piece of my Love" is very well done.

intha916 said:

Totally agree!

DavidEye said:

Yeah...I hear ya....but it's basically the same ole same ole...as far as groups are concern. Groups start out...they're hungry for success, then the big hit album come.....then another ht album come.....then it's that inevitable fight for money power and fame between the group members.....Jealously sometimes erupt because certain members seemingly get too much attention...sometimes the group can't agree with what direction that want to go in....But mainly it's about ego and that cold hard cash. Sooner or later someone is gonna bail out the group.

The Four Tops is the only group from the 60's, that are still around, that have all of their original members....AMAZING!!!!!
[This message was edited Thu Mar 4 12:24:43 2004 by BRO915]