1998 was a hot year for R&B

[Clay]

>Thursday December 24 5:58 PM ET
>
>1998 was a hot year for R&B
>
>By Franklin Paul
>
>New York (Reuters) - For music lovers, 1998 was hot. But for music critics and journalists, it was a
>real twelve-month, 5-alarm blaze.
>
>The blossoming celebrity of twenty-something urban music moguls, an industry mega-merger, artists
>beating up writers and let's not forget new CDs by the likes of Whitney, Mariah, Aretha and the
>former Prince all kept writers busy ``slapping the Mac,'' in the words of Chuck D.
>
>During the year, R&B record labels, seemed to take a few more risks, releasing album by artists like
>Nicole Renee and N'Dea Davenport, whose alternative grooves bettered the genre by expanding it
>view. Too, hip-hop and soul continued to test and share their boundaries.
>
>Meanwhile, classic and reissue labels continued to mine the vaults. Among the treasures unearthed
>by Columbia/Legacy was Marvin Gaye's ``Midnight Love & the Sexual Healing Sessions'' -- one CD
>featuring a remastered version of the original 1982 album, the other CD featuring several outtakes of
>each track, including four of ``Sexual Healing.''
>
>1999 will be no less interesting. The $10 billion merger between Universal and Polygram promises to
>shuffle rosters at several ``urban'' labels and will leave many artists and groups without a record deal.
>
>Further, with just five global conglomerates now controlling more than 80 percent of the record-selling
>business, bottom line issues will factor more than ever into the decision-making process.
>
>That means the already dwindling focus on long-term artist development will likely shrink further, and
>fewer artists will enjoy extended, ``we're sticking by him despite disappointing sales''-style marketing
>campaigns (e.g., Kenny Lattimore, Chico Debarge).
>
>Here are just a few items that, in this critic's humble opinion, made 1998 unique, and will surely make
>1999 just as spicy.
>
>``MISSING'' ARTISTS RETURN VIA INDIES
>
>Last year, this critic pondered the whereabouts of a handful of talented young soul artists who had
>faded from view, due to splits with major record labels, hefty delays in product release or by
>conscious effort to lay low.
>
>Thankfully, some reemerged in 1998, albeit to lukewarm receptions at retail. By far the most exciting
>was Vesta's ''Relationships'' (Verve). The throaty singer, known for early 90's hits like
>``Congratulations,'' stretched her R&B legs with songwriter Barry Eastmond, and showed off her jazz
>chops, which bring to mind the great Carmen McRae, with songs featuring Lee Ritenour (''I Have
>To'') and Gerald Albright.
>
>Regina Belle also returned with her much-delayed debut on MCA, ``Believe In Me.''
>
>Singer Jody Watley actually cut an album, ``Flower,'' which was scheduled for an early spring
>release. But, Watley says, the label squashed the U.S. launch, opting instead to release it exclusively
>overseas (where her previous group Shalamar had a huge following). Still, Watley kept up her public
>exposure -- with a pictorial spread in Playboy magazine.
>
>Dionne Farris is headed into the studio in 1999, as is Sade, their respective Columbia and Epic labels,
>echoing comments made one year ago. Finally, Arif Mardin, Anita Baker's longtime producer, says
>she's working on tracks, but her label says nothing is due in the near term.
>
>RETURNING IN 1999?
>
>Toni Braxton may return in 1999, according to reports. Braxton and LaFace Records, last seen at
>each other's throats during a bitter legal battle, have made amends, says LaFace's L.A. Reid, who
>adds that Braxton is half done with a new album. It's due in May.
>
>Previously missing-in-action artists expected to return in spring 1999 include Shanice, (on LaFace in
>February) and MCA's Chante Moore. Also, former teen star Tracie Spencer is set to reemerge in the
>second quarter, after an eight-year layoff.
>
>Singer Rachelle Ferrell, a tireless road performer, has signed new R&B and jazz deals with Capitol
>and Blue Note Records, respectively, according to her manager. A new R&B CD will be released
>first; that is, once she begins to record one. So its anyone's guess when new product will appear.
>
>Singer Amel Larrieux and producer Bryce Wilson, who comprise the group Groove Theory (''Tell
>Me,''), have collaborated successfully -- and separately -- with the likes of Sweetback and Braxton,
>but no follow-up to their 1995 Epic Records debut is in the works, their label said.
>
>Sadly, Johnny Gill, Lisa Fischer, Lalah Hathaway, Howard Hewitt, Miki Howard, James Ingram,
>Sounds Of Blackness, Tony Terry and Toni Tony Tone' (sans Rafael Saadiq) are either without
>record deals or are between indie projects (although Fischer has been on the road with the Rolling
>Stones almost nonstop since September 1997).
>
>The industry's ``make hits or hit the road'' philosophy sparked several artists to push out independent
>releases in 1998. Soul diva Chaka Khan dropped ``Come Into My House'' on the Artist's NPG label.
>
>The indie parade also included Jean Carne (''Make Love,'' Place One), Cece Winans (''Everlasting
>Love'', Pioneer), Glenn Jones (''It's Time,'' SAR), Soul IV Real (''Heat,'' Chrome Dome) and Troop
>(''Mayday'', Warrior).
>
>Harmonic group Shai, best known for the 1992 single ``If I Ever Fall in Love,'' is expected to return
>early in 1999 with ''Destiny,'' on Big Play Records.
>
>D'ANGELO, TLC -- 1999's HEAVY HITTERS?
>
>Next year, two artists who in years past sparked sea changes in their segment of the R&B music
>world, will return after long layoffs. Their music will immediately test the market's interest in styles
>whose time may have expired.
>
>Early 1999 bring ``Voodoo,'' the highly anticipated sophomore effort from singer D'Angelo (born
>Michael D'Angelo Arthur), the soul man who in 1995 kicked R&B's lazy labels in the pants with
>``Brown Sugar.'' It set the standard for 90's retro-soul by recalling Marvin Gaye and early Prince,
>while embracing hip-hop's rawest vibes.
>
>Cornrowed and chain smoking, D'Angelo's bluesy grooves opened the door for Maxwell, Tony Rich,
>Erykah Badu -- but he sat out the party while they collected platinum albums and brass statues. Lets
>hope his newest reflects the same soothing vocals and keyboard vibe as his ``Heaven Must Be Like
>This,'' from the ``Down in the Delta Soundtrack.''
>
>Finally, TLC, the female soul-hip-hip trio, returns with ''Fan Mail.'' When they burst onto the scene in
>1992, TLC picked up where Bell Biv Devoe (BBD) left off -- brash hip-hop flow, funky urban
>fashions and superproducers (Babyface and Dallas Austin) behind them. They added sexuality to
>their recipe for ''CrazySexyCool'' in 1995 and sold 10 milllion albums, making them the best-selling
>U.S. female group ever.
>
>Of course they then filed for bankruptcy protection. (The suit was later settled.)
>
>But who will the Atlanta-based group be this time? Will rapper/songwriter Lisa ``Left Eye'' Lopes,
>who hosts an MTV program and reportedly has completed a solo album, demand more mike time?
>Will Rozonda ``Chilli'' Thomas demand a primary role, potentially cutting into verses sung by lead
>singer Tionne ''T-Boz'' Watkins, who has been acting (including a role in the recent film ``Belly?'')
>
>Perhaps most importantly, will their audience, three years older and now in love with solo artists like
>Aaliyah, Lauryn Hill and R. Kelly, care?
>
>It looks like 1999 could very well be a great year for music critics too.
>
>(Next Month -- 1998's Best R&B CDs/R&B Soundtracks fail to exhale/Whatever happened to Black
>Rock?)
>
>(Franklin Paul writes about R&B for Reuters. Opinions expressed are his own. He can be reached at
>Franklin.Paul (at) Reuters.Com)
>
>Reuters/Variety

The LEFT 4 DEAD...
-C-

[J Perry Fecteau]

i typically hate most contemporary r&b (can't hold a candle to 70s r&b) but i
must say that the music has gotten better. some great albums are mary j
blige's, aliyah's, and brandy's.

--
Perry Fecteau, King of the Black Race
http://w3.nai.net/~perfecto/