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*Lights candles*
*Steps into pulpit*
*Cleans glasses*
*Sips water*
I know the hour is late, but y'all up.
I also wanted to go ahead and get this sermon out instead of push it back.
Plus clearly the timeline needs cleansing from all this Quincy disrespect
*Sprays holy water*
*Steps into pulpit*
*Cleans glasses*
*Sips water*
I know the hour is late, but y'all up.
I also wanted to go ahead and get this sermon out instead of push it back.
Plus clearly the timeline needs cleansing from all this Quincy disrespect
*Sprays holy water*
We're still going back to revisit and expand upon the early #MusicSermons, and the convos this week about great singer/songwriters and producers led me back to the book of Kenneth.... Edmunds.
Give him a hand praise.
Give him a hand praise.
Here's the thing about Babyface...
PUBLISHING.
That's it. That's the tweet.
PUBLISHING.
That's it. That's the tweet.
I'm kidding, but not really.
Babyface has 26 career #1 songs. And we need to talk about it. And we're not even gonna get into his OWN hits, but the ones he did for and with other people.
Now first, I have to acknowledge that this is largely an *LA* & Babyface convo.
Babyface has 26 career #1 songs. And we need to talk about it. And we're not even gonna get into his OWN hits, but the ones he did for and with other people.
Now first, I have to acknowledge that this is largely an *LA* & Babyface convo.
We leave Antonio out alot, but he's on them liner notes, too.
I said I'm not going into Face's own hits, but let's establish the beginning: LA and Babyface were part of '80s R&B group The Deele. LA as drummer, Face as like, 3rd lead vocalist (imagine!)
I said I'm not going into Face's own hits, but let's establish the beginning: LA and Babyface were part of '80s R&B group The Deele. LA as drummer, Face as like, 3rd lead vocalist (imagine!)
So, Babyface wrote a song for the group, wanted to sing lead. The group's like "Nah. You can have the bridge or the prechorus or somethin.'"
Face complains to SOLAR records head Dick Griffey. Griffey's like sing your damn song. I don't KNOW, but I think it's Sweet November.
Face complains to SOLAR records head Dick Griffey. Griffey's like sing your damn song. I don't KNOW, but I think it's Sweet November.
Griffey (and we'll get into him and SOLAR properly at a later date) encourages Babyface to branch out as a solo artist, and explore his potential as a writer and producer. Face & LA become in house production for SOLAR.
They work with Midnight Star...
(Please get into the 'fits)
They work with Midnight Star...
(Please get into the 'fits)
... with Klymaxx (assist from label mate Howard Hewett on the end)
... and gave The Whispers some fire so they could do WTF they do. (Shoutout to footwork)
And Babyface and LA were establishing a reputation as a songwriting production team outside out SOLAR.
And they were already racking up #1s
This is 100% an After 7 prototype.
And they were already racking up #1s
This is 100% an After 7 prototype.
Those of you who are of age will remember the song as a McDonald's commercial, too.
(I mean, they were the Mac Band. It made sense).
(I mean, they were the Mac Band. It made sense).
So Face and LA are great with male R&B groups, we know that...
... but where they excel, IMO, is with the women.
This was actually supposed to be for Vanessa Williams (which I can totally hear), but Pebbles heard it in the studio and was like “I’ll take that, thanks!”
This was actually supposed to be for Vanessa Williams (which I can totally hear), but Pebbles heard it in the studio and was like “I’ll take that, thanks!”
They helped define Pebbles' sound, and my girl - the ACTUAL underrated Karyn White's sound.
We sang this song in the Sevier Middle School cafeteria like we really had an unappreciative husband at home.
This good choir two step, though.
We sang this song in the Sevier Middle School cafeteria like we really had an unappreciative husband at home.
This good choir two step, though.
Karyn had some JOINTS. They were setting her up for crossover - and did.
She cracked the Top 10 on the Hot 100, #1 on the dance chart (they had a billion remixes). Karyn was coming for the girls. I wish she'd maintained momentum into the next album.
She cracked the Top 10 on the Hot 100, #1 on the dance chart (they had a billion remixes). Karyn was coming for the girls. I wish she'd maintained momentum into the next album.
If you've never given Karyn White's self-titled album a listen, I suggest you do and get, as they say, your life. It still holds up 30+ years later (the mark of good production).
It also shined a light on one of Face's greatest gifts: the duet.
It also shined a light on one of Face's greatest gifts: the duet.
We’ll come back to duets in a minute, but we can’t move on from their magic with women without talking @ Whitney.
After she got booed at the Soul Train awards Nippy put her foot down with Clive and said she wanted some R&B. Enter LA & Face
After she got booed at the Soul Train awards Nippy put her foot down with Clive and said she wanted some R&B. Enter LA & Face
Oh, wait. I almost forgot this jam.
(STILL. GOES)
(STILL. GOES)
Side note: Pebbles and Whitney were cute together.
This is them while hosting Friday Night Videos (y’all remember Friday Night Videos?!)
This is them while hosting Friday Night Videos (y’all remember Friday Night Videos?!)
So by 1989 Babyface and LA have sufficiently put enough joints on the chart to start their own venture, and form LaFace.
LaFace was probably the undoing of their partnership, honestly.
LA was the exec, Face stayed more on the creative side.
LaFace was probably the undoing of their partnership, honestly.
LA was the exec, Face stayed more on the creative side.
Also in ‘89, they lock into Babyface’s sound as a solo artist with his sophomore album.
Wait, wait, wait, wait...
I forgot a very very important moment.
I forgot a very very important moment.
... because you know who produced the MAJORITY of songs on Don’t Be Cruel?
I’ll give you a hint: not Teddy.
I’ll give you a hint: not Teddy.
New Jack Swing was coined around Teddy’s sound, but you gotta look to LA & Face and Jam & Lewis for the roots. Don’t Be Cruel is one of the first legit New Jack Swing albums, and LA & Face did every single except “My Prerogative”
The other thing Babyface is exceptional with: ballads.
This clip with Karyn felt appropriate. (Yes, they were dating.)
This clip with Karyn felt appropriate. (Yes, they were dating.)
But if we’re gonna talk about “Rock Wit’cha” I gotta go to the Quiet Storm Mix.
I’m actually going to put a pin here because it’s 2:30, and both my computer and my phone are trippin’. I should have been where I am now an hour ago. So we’ll pick this up from the beginning of the LaFace era manana. Promise.
Alright, y’all get comfy. We’re bout to finish the Babyface #MusicSermon. I need a praise and worship selection - who got one?
So boom, last night we talked about how Babyface and LA started as members of The Deele, and Face was tired of being relegated to backgrounds, so SOLAR boss Dick Griffey encouraged him to branch out on his own...
... and how LA & Face (+ sometimes Daryl Simmons. I should mention him) became an in-house production team for SOLAR
... and how by ‘89 they’d proven themselves as hitmakers, solidified the LaFace sound...
... and had proven they had an especially adept touch at working with women.
So in ‘89 they form LaFace, Babyface’s sophomore album is a hit so the debut is reissued, LA marries Pebbles...
I’m not touching none of this, BTW. Y’all saw the movie.
Face was AN in-house producer for LaFace but he wasn’t even, I’d say the *primary* LaFace producer, save some pet projects. So we’ll touch on those in a minute, but first, there was another Pebbles album. (Her songs really are still fire)
I think being a good duet partner is a skill. Blending voices without a. Overriding or B. Just doubling. He’s so good at it.
(Keep in mind I’m not going in direct linear order from here out).
While LaFace was growing as the Motown of the South, Babyface was also building acts outside of the label system.
Like his big brothers in After 7
(Melvin, the eldest, passed last year)
While LaFace was growing as the Motown of the South, Babyface was also building acts outside of the label system.
Like his big brothers in After 7
(Melvin, the eldest, passed last year)
Face has said both Kevon and Melvin were better singers than him. (I kinda agree).
I do love how family members will have similar singing voice & tone even when they don’t sound the same speaking.
I do love how family members will have similar singing voice & tone even when they don’t sound the same speaking.
And these weren’t just R&B hits. All three of these singles cracked the Hot 100 Top 20 (Can’t Stop and Ready or Not were in the Top 10). Crossover, boo.
And of course he was helping a young singer put together one of the most solid R&B albums of the decade (fight me)
“I’m Ready” is really everything you could want from a sophomore album. And that’s a tall order coming from a debut produced by Quincy, Al B. & Kyle West, Prince (who also produced on I’m Ready) and Michael Narada Walden (who we’ll discuss another day).
I def had that vest, BTW
I def had that vest, BTW
Again, you know Babyface’s touch as soon as you hear it, but it’s also always perfect for the artist. You don’t feel like he just had the song in the chamber waiting to give to whomever, like producers mostly do now.
Back to LaFace, Babyface obviously did have an hand in some of the label acts, although LA basically ran the shop.
He gave TLC a li’ somethin’
He gave TLC a li’ somethin’
A couple of somethins over their albums, actually...
Gave Pink a little somethin’...
But this... I always assumed this hit by LaFace in-house writer Antonio Jeffries aka The Tony Rich project was written and produced by Face, bc it sounds like a damn Babyface ref track. Nope. Just Jeffries & LA on the credits.
I’ma have to ask my LaFace ppl how that went over.
I’ma have to ask my LaFace ppl how that went over.
Like it was when Face was in his acoustic guitar period and everything. EYE might have moved some furniture if I came in the office and you played me a me song on my label and I wasn’t getting a writer producer credit on it.
But we all know Face’s creative heart was in two places @ LaFace:
Soundtracks
& Toni
Soundtracks
& Toni
But before we get into that, let me jump over right quick to another Babyface protegè and top Face duet.
Babyface had absolutely nothing to do with this song but I never mention blue-eyed soul boo Jon B without acknowledging the fire that is “They Don’t Know.”
So we all know the Toni origin story now: song was written for Anita. She was pregnant. Gave it to Toni. Star is born.
We’re gonna focus on the soundtracks first then come back to Face & Toni.
We’re gonna focus on the soundtracks first then come back to Face & Toni.
When LA & Face got the call for Boomerang, they used the recent success of the New Jack City soundtrack as a benchmark. This was the beginning of the 2nd golden era of Black soundtracks (the 1st was the Blaxploitation era).
They spent time on set to make sure they got it right.
They spent time on set to make sure they got it right.
Wait...
Did I mention they did “My, My, My”?
(Written by Face & their writing partner Daryl Simmons, produced by LA & Face).
I keep trying not to skip stuff but I swear it’s hard...
Did I mention they did “My, My, My”?
(Written by Face & their writing partner Daryl Simmons, produced by LA & Face).
I keep trying not to skip stuff but I swear it’s hard...
Back to Boomerang, in addition to giving Toni hits right out of the gate, it also gave Boyz II Men the song that propelled them to pop stardom. 13 weeks at #1 and I cringe a little now everytime I hear it. But I also sing along. Because it burrows into your brain. 
I swear every song Face did with them is like “This song is beautiful oh god I never wanna hear this song again make it stop”
So Kenny realized that he had been bestowed with the gift of soundtrack curation, and was like ok, now lemme do a soundtrack of all women, of multiple ages and career level, with mutiple genre backgrounds, multiple sounds... and this time I’ma produce all of it (except 1 song)
I did not know a single woman, of any race or creed or age, who did not see this movie and immediately buy the soundtrack AND probably also gift it to a friend or buy the soundtrack and immediately go see the movie.
Everybody was covered.
The weary, fed up homegirls...
Everybody was covered.
The weary, fed up homegirls...
The supportive sisterfreinds and wholesome saints...
Cece’s hair is never not ‘90s hair goals. I swear.
Cece’s hair is never not ‘90s hair goals. I swear.
... the young boppers...
... and the unbothered aunties.
... and that’s why it sold 7 million albums and was nominated for 11 grammys.
Not done! Babyface also produced a version of “When You Believe” for the Prince of Egypt. The version that went to radio, that we all know, that’s performed here. But there’s a story here...
Most animated movies have a score version of the theme song that’s IN the film proper...
Most animated movies have a score version of the theme song that’s IN the film proper...
Stephen Schawrtz composed the Prince of Egypt score, and didn’t feel Babyface’s production for “When You Believe” was significant enough to add him to the Oscar ballot.
So when the song won, and Face’s name was not called, Whitney wanted to know WTF was going on. A gif was born
So when the song won, and Face’s name was not called, Whitney wanted to know WTF was going on. A gif was born
While we’re in soundtracks, if y’all have followed me for a while y’all know I hate this greenscreen-ass video, but it’s from Nutty Professor, so it counts.
One last Babyface soundtrack.
Dru Hill is the most extra R&B group of ALL TIME... Except maybe Troop.
Dru Hill is the most extra R&B group of ALL TIME... Except maybe Troop.
Face even put together a sibling supergroup with his brothers and them Hailey boys for Soul Food. I would have liked to see what a Milestone album sounded like, the Edmunds’ smooth played against the Hailey’s rough.
And there’s that other inescapable Boyz II Men song that I’m just not gonna include ‘cause I might actually hate it. (
)
BUT... I do invite y’all to read my recap for Vibe about the Golden Era of Black Music Soundtracks.
Moving on! https://www.vibe.com/amp/2019/02/music-sermon-black-soundtracks
)BUT... I do invite y’all to read my recap for Vibe about the Golden Era of Black Music Soundtracks.
Moving on! https://www.vibe.com/amp/2019/02/music-sermon-black-soundtracks
We’re (finally) near the end of OUR road for this sermon, and I thought it only appropriate to save Toni until the end.
Toni and Babyface are one of the great artist & writer/producer pairings of modern music.
I love Toni’s looks from the first album. Love.
Toni and Babyface are one of the great artist & writer/producer pairings of modern music.
I love Toni’s looks from the first album. Love.
I’ll confess that there are some Babyface songs (I’ve already mentioned the Boyz II Men ones here) that were SO big and SO catchy that I feel like I can never listen again (listen again, listen again). But then I hear them and I’m during a full performance. That’s why he’s him.
Top 10 depressing video of all time.
Also, Tyson is still fine on this day. Praise.
Also, Tyson is still fine on this day. Praise.
Wait, I lied, we gotta cover one more thing.
Face did R&B songs that crossed to pop, but he also produced Top 40 hits for pop stars.
Madonna used the “Take a Bow” video as her audition tape for the movie Evita (spoiler: it worked).
Face did R&B songs that crossed to pop, but he also produced Top 40 hits for pop stars.
Madonna used the “Take a Bow” video as her audition tape for the movie Evita (spoiler: it worked).
And finally, “Change the World” was actually a cover Babyface produced for/performed with Eric Clapton, but there version is now the definitive. I gotta let the intro ride here bc the guitars are the point. This is from Babyface’s Unplugged; a great watch if you can find it.
If you see Babyface live now, he’ll spend about a good half hour reminding you that his mailbox is never empty. Kinda like this.
We’ll get into the A-Z of LA & Face’s other halves, Jimmy & Terry next time (seriously, between the two of them they produced damn near every R&B hit from like 86-91 minimum).
But for now, if all hearts and minds are FULL...
May music bless you & sustain you.
May it ease hard days, and be gracious unto you.
May it bring memories of bright days, and give thee peace.
And all the people said...
May music bless you & sustain you.
May it ease hard days, and be gracious unto you.
May it bring memories of bright days, and give thee peace.
And all the people said...
Playlist is coming!
And as the ushers come forth, if you’re able to give a little change to the streaming fund (or just cause you love me), it’s appreciated.
Even if you’re unable, I thank you for rockin’ with me.
http://Cash.me/$musicsermon or Paypal: info@musicsermon.com.
And as the ushers come forth, if you’re able to give a little change to the streaming fund (or just cause you love me), it’s appreciated.
Even if you’re unable, I thank you for rockin’ with me.http://Cash.me/$musicsermon or Paypal: info@musicsermon.com.
Oh, and a postlude, if you will:
I mentioned that the forming of LaFace was probably the thing that killed their creative partnership. From an LA Times piece from 1993 about rumblings of their split.
(Also to note: Babyface was never a LaFace artist himself).
I mentioned that the forming of LaFace was probably the thing that killed their creative partnership. From an LA Times piece from 1993 about rumblings of their split.
(Also to note: Babyface was never a LaFace artist himself).
I’m almost finished with the Babyface playlist, y’all. I’m stuck on one spot in the sequencing. It’s coming
BOOM: For the Cool: Babyface & LA playlist.
For Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7jLRpXBqqnwR7aMnkZ3JbW?si=hm8qqCKRQ0uw3F84G25jOA
For Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/for-the-cool-babyface-la/pl.u-4JomXEbTaMDRl5
Some of you might follow the playlist already (I originally created it in 17) but it's completely updated, new songs, new sequencing.
For Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7jLRpXBqqnwR7aMnkZ3JbW?si=hm8qqCKRQ0uw3F84G25jOA
For Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/for-the-cool-babyface-la/pl.u-4JomXEbTaMDRl5
Some of you might follow the playlist already (I originally created it in 17) but it's completely updated, new songs, new sequencing.
