In 1989 I bought my first three CDs from a big department store downtown Stockholm. One of them was Babyface’s second album “Tender love”. The by then still quite new CD technique had attracted my for some years but it wasn’t until now I had the money to buy my precious Pioneer PDS702 CD-player. The competent machine is still around today and still offering that all fresh and spectacular crystal clear sound.Babyface, or Kenneth Edmonds, was not new name to me back then. He had both produced and written, together with friend L.A. Reid, several hits in my possession for the legendary The Whisper (“Rock Steady”), Pebbles (“Girlfriend”) and Bobby Brown (“Every Little Step”). He even got his own band with Reid called The Deele that had a few minor hits during the 80s. In many ways he took over after the decline of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in the late 80s as THE hot black producer and I liked his stuff a lot!
His second album on the legendary Solar label is really competent soul and it is preferably the heart aching ballads that really catches my attention. And even though much of it sounds awfully similar I must admit that it is very hard, why not say impossible, to resist the touching music. Track one, the quirky pop funk “It’s no crime” became a huge hit (#1 on the R&B charts) but it’s the amazing ballads a bit later of “Whip Appeal” (#2 on the R&B charts), “Soon As I Got Home” and “Given A Chance” that unconditionally open up the door to my heart. Both the music and the lyrics here are meaningful, so touching full of pure love! The rest is fine soul too but these three really raises my spirit sky high. Babyface has the ability to really affect people. It’s hard to describe what it is; he simple moves me over and over again.
I really hope you haven’t missed this beautiful album, otherwise I strongly suggest that you buy one of the finest moments in the late 80s and lay back and close your eyes.
Patrik Andersson
Patriks Soul Funk Special
