Keyed to a Funkadelic sample that re-contexualized George Clinton’s legacy for a new sonic era, “Me Myself & I” impressed us because it was deceptively light. Goofiness was not a virtue prized by the boomers, geezers, Bad Englishes, and Richard Marxists on the AT40. Introspection set to a falumphing Bernie Worrell keyboard — gimme more. Dr. Dre would take Clinton down more malevolent directions three years later.
The other 1989 discovery for us who listened — and we were listening, even us high school sophomores — was a Brixton collective for whom no contemporaneous American precedent existed.Across the ocean Marcello Carlin observed Soul II Soul’s impact in real time:
To appreciate the full impact of “Keep On Movin’,” the third Soul II Soul single but the first one to cross over into the Top 40, you really needed to have ambled through the imposing terraces of West London in that enlightened spring of 1989, since the overwhelming impression given by the record is one of elegance – an unhurried walk through the patience of reason. It slowed pop back down, made it breathe again rather than hyperventilate, even if the “keep on movin’, don’t stop” motif had social directions in mind; it was the perfect soundtrack for an idle wander around the outskirts of the Circle Line on an empty, cloudy Bank Holiday Monday, but much, much more as well.
Just so. That shufflebeat of Jazzie B’s was the footprint, pointing the way to St. Etienne’s cover of Neil Young’s “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” and the darker corridors of Massive Attack. As for Caron Wheler’s work on “Back to Life”? Why return to the likes of Regina Belle and Atlantic Starr? Even “Miss You Much,” the much-anticipated Janet Jackson single, clatters to no discernible purpose — her dullest single to date (every Rhythm Nation 1814 single improved on it)
“My Fantasy,” confusingly credited to Teddy Riley ft. Guy (“George Michael ft. Wham!”?), appeared in Do the Right Thing: a not-bad attempt to duplicate “My Prerogative” without Bobby Brown and it demonstrates how a lack of vocal charisma can park the track in “not bad.” Speaking of, Brown appears on “On Our Own,” keyed to Ghostbusters II, and one of LaFace’s grandest productions. The lead singer of The Deele, about to become the premier R&B crossover songwriter-producer of the ’90s, makes his solo debut on “It’s No Crime” and “Tender Lover.”
In this climate Prince’s “Batdance” — his first #1 in two years and a bewildering, inspired demonstration of sampling prowess — was a relic. 1989 featured vets whose adapting to the times meant friskying up their beats, hiring a guest rapper, or holding fast to their tried-and-true before it was too late. Best known to white people for 1981’s “Call Me,” Skyy came back with “Start of a Romance,” faux jack swing with neat electric guitar picking and Worrell-esque synth lines. The Gap Band, like Earth, Wind & Fire a couple years earlier, MIDI-ed and synthed up their sonics. The O’Jays added a rapper who must’ve been a big influence on the New Power Generation’s Tony M (Thomas Inskeep on their R&B #1s blog: “It’s not bad, exactly, just a bit tiresome and dreary – I mean, ‘have you had your love today,’ really? Like vitamins?”). Maze and Frankie Beverly changed not a note of their sound, and why should they have? After a solid 1987-1988 that culminated with a smash Springsteen cover, Natalie Cole returned the Land of Dreck with “Miss You Like Crazy.” A mortifying Pretty Woman soundtrack non-hit would follow (the first single!) before she played respectability politics with her dad Nat “King” Cole’s legacy and became a star newly ascendant at the height of the Poppy Bush Interzone.
New to me: Chuckii Booker’s “Turned Away,” lightly percussive delicacy, a cross between Keith Sweat and Al B. Sure!
The Hague
Surface – Shower Me With Your Love
Jermaine Jackson – Don’t Take It Personal
Atlantic Starr – My First Love
Natalie Cole – Miss You Like Crazy
Meh
Eric Gable – Remember (The First Time)
Regina Belle – Baby Come to Me
Surface – You Are My Everything
Luther Vandross – Here and Now
The Boyz – Just Coolin’
Today – Girl I Got My Eyes On You
The O’Jays – Have You Had Your Love Today
Sound, Solid
Prince – Batdance
Babyface – Tender Lover
Janet Jackson – Miss You Much
Skyy – Start of a Romance
Karyn White – Love Saw It
Regina Belle
Bobby Brown – Every Little Step
Roberta Flack – Oasis
The Gap Band – All of My Love
Stephanie Mills – Home
Anita Baker – Just Because
Good, Great
Soul II Soul ft. Caron Wheeler – Back to Life
De La Soul – Me Myself & I
Stephanie Mills – Something in the Way You Make Me Feel
Karyn White – Superwoman
Soul II Soul – Keep On Movin’
New Edition – Can You Stand the Rain
Babyface – It’s No Crime
Chuckii Booker – Turned Away
Miki Howard – Ain’t Nuthin’ in the World
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly – Can’t Get Over You
Bobby Brown – On Our Own
Jody Watley – Real Love
Vanessa Williams – Dreamin’
Humanizing The Vacuum 