(4 / 5)
Karyn White became one of the most successful international artists in R&B with this, her debut album, in 1988. A chart topper in the US R&B chart and Top 20 here.
Platinum sales and five hit singles from it, including “Superwoman” one of the most popular and enduring soul ballads of the era. This double CD deluxe edition marks the 30th anniversary of Karyn’s first hit and features bonus songs and remixes, 26 tracks in all here.
Karyn White began her career as a session singer for R&B artist O’Bryan, while they were supporting the brilliant Cameo. After using former Tower Of Power vocalist Michael Jeffries’ studio, both White and Jeffries were signed as the lead vocalists for Jazz Fusion artist Jeff Lorber’s Warner Brothers debut album in 1986.
The album, “Private Passion,” spawned the White led hit “Facts Of Love,” (R&B #17/Pop #27/Dance number nine), which led to White being signed to Warner Bros.
The majority of the album was produced by LA & BABYFACE at the height of both their creative and commercial powers, including the New Jack Swing styled first single “The Way You Love Me” (R&B number one/Pop number seven/Dance number five/UK #42), which firmly put Karyn White on the map.
When “Superwoman,”(R&B number one/Pop number eight/UK #11) followed in early 1989, White found herself enjoying huge international success with a song that resonated with broken hearts across the globe. The silky soul duet ballad with Babyface, “Love Saw It,” gave her a third R&B chart-topper soon after.
The hits continued with the dance styled “Secret Rendezvous,” (R&B number four/Pop number six/Dance number one/UK #22), and the Steve Harvey produced “Slow Down” (R&B #36). White then reunited with Michael Jeffries on his “Not Thru Being With You,” which gave the pair another Top 40 R&B hit at the turn of the decade.
This is the first ever deluxe re-master of the debut album. It includes 19 bonus tracks, rare promotional remixes and exclusive interviews with Karyn White, Daryl Simmons and Jeff Lorber. Presented in a ‘super’ jewel case complete with a 20-page booklet and detailed liner notes. If New Jack Swing, Soul, Pop, R&B and Dance is your thanng…….
By Sally Fox
(1 / 5) ‘Dull Zone’
(2 / 5) ‘OK Zone’
(3 / 5) ‘Decent Zone’ (4 / 5) ‘Super Zone’
(5 / 5) ‘Awesome Zone’