New Label, Album for Boyz II Men

By Barry A. Jeckell

NEW YORK (Billboard) - R&B group Boyz II Men will issue an album of covers, including Michael Jackson (news)'s "Human Nature" and Al Green (news)'s "Let's Stay Together," on Aug. 24.

"Throwback," the debut release on the group's MSM Music Group label, marks its first album since 2002's "Full Circle" (Arista), which sold 345,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Pared down to a trio following the retirement of founding member Michael "Bass" McCary, Boyz II Men now consists of Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris, whose surname initials make up the MSM moniker.

A version of Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do for Love" featuring a guest appearance by rapper MC Lyte will be the 11-track set's first radio single. Other songs the group tackles on "Throwback" include Hall & Oates' "Sara Smile" and the Dazz Band's "Let It Whip."

"This is our chance for creative expression, considering we've been tied to major record labels for our first 12 years in the business," Morris says. "The labels would think that an album like this wouldn't be financially viable for them. But we decided that our first album back would be something that we wanted to do."

First signed to Motown, Boyz II Men released four albums on the venerable imprint before a corporate reshuffle found them on Universal Records for two releases. "Full Circle" was its sole Arista release.

Here is the full "Throwback" track list:

"Let It Whip," the Dazz Band

"Let's Stay Together," Al Green

"What You Won't Do for Love," Bobby Caldwell

"Cutie Pie," One Way

"Close the Door," Teddy Pendergrass

"For the Love of You," the Isley Brothers

"Sara Smile," Hall & Oates

"Human Nature," Michael Jackson

"Time Will Reveal," DeBarge

"I Miss You," Klymaxx

"You Make Me Feel Brand New," Stylistics

Reuters/Billboard

VoicesCarry said:

Way to be open minded .
I'm not excited about this release either, but why not reserve our barfing emoticons until after we've heard the thing?

Wow!

Sounds quite

OdysseyMiles said:

I'm sorry but attempting to cover material like "Let's Stay Together", "Sara Smile" and "Human Nature" elicits that response. The tracks will no doubt end up sounding like all other Boyz II Men tracks do. Couple that with statements such as "This is our chance for creative expression" (about a COVER album), and you get .

if Tina Marie, NE and The Time can do it, then why not jump on the bandwagon and ride it 'til the wheels fall off!

I think a Boyz 2 Men cover album is a pretty good idea. They always perform and arrange their stuff well, but their songwriting has really slipped in the last few years. Now, at least we know the songs will be good, as well as performed well....

They are ruining just way too many worthy songs. And what the hell is MSN Music Group? That is just frightening. Too few people with too much damn power!