For the Cool in You

Babyface

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 2008)
• Original Release Date: August 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
• ASIN: B0012GMY9G
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #147,630 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
In a rhythm and blues era when not just rappers but most singers as well try to outdo each other with the biggest beats, the roughest vocals, and the rawest attitudes, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds swims against the tide on For the Cool in You, a collection of understated, satiny romantic soul. It's a big gamble, for such an evocation of Smokey Robinson's "Quiet Storm" in 1993 invites charges of wimpiness and crossover sell-out. The charges are often accurate, for it's very hard to do atmospheric pop-soul without tumbling down the slippery slope of sentimentality. The triumph of "For the Cool in You" is that it avoids just that danger by building the songs on rhythmic and harmonic tensions that are no less effective for being subtly tucked behind the seemingly serene vocals. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars When R&B was just that, April 26, 2006

By	stevey wundar (Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For the Cool in You (Audio CD)

This is a Babyface classic and in my personal opinion the only "must-have" Babyface LP that should be in any R&B lovers collection.

Babyface (who, incidentally graduated from my high school -- Indianapolis North Central representin' ... sorry, had 2 do a quick shout out) is a megaproducer who'll go down in history and always be remembered for his hitmaking with basically everybody who's anybody.

However, as a singer and solo artist, his career for the most part rightfully took a back seat to more seasoned and charismatic vocalists of various stages of late 20th Century R&B (Keith Sweat, Bobby Brown, Al B. Sure, R. Kelly, Brian McKnight, D'Angelo, Maxwell, Usher, Joe ... there was always someone out harder and stronger e'ery time 'Face dropped an LP of his own).

However, listening to "For the Cool in You" 13 years after its release is a sweet reminder of the way things used to be.

Back in the day, R&B singers didn't HAVE to have rappers and multiple artist collaborations on their LPs to get noticed -- and "For the Cool in You" is an LP that's 100% 'Face and 100% R&B.

Babyface doesn't have a powerful voice or a deeply soulful voice. I can only offer that his swagger is more laid back and more conservative.

But sometimes less is more. That's what you get here.

The title track, "Lady, Lady, Lady," "And Our Feelings, "Never Keeping Secrets" and "When Can I See You Again" are all slow to midtempo tracks more appropriate for down time, perhaps low background music at your desk/on the job or just plain old great music to unwind to.

Babyface got the ladies hooked on this LP b/c he comes correct with clear, simple, honest and heartfelt lyrics.

This album is proof you don't always need Usher's kind of high energy, Janet Jackson-esque dance-track-ability or beggin' ass Keith Sweat's persona to tell that special someone how you really feel about them.

Short, sweet and cool.

Recommended LP!!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of his CD's..By Far, March 14, 2005

By	Honey (Heaven) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For the Cool in You (Audio CD)

Adult contemporary R&B. This CD is still in rotation at my house, in my car and at my office. Each and every song, sounds as good as they did when he released this gem. This CD displayed how much Babyface matured over the years. Poignant pleading jams, tasty midtempo jams, juicy slow jams and fast paced, finger popping, sing with me..jams! This CD has it all start to finish...I promise you!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Way R & B should be, October 9, 2000

By	Donovan Juan (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For the Cool in You (Audio CD)

Babyface's 'For the Cool in You' CD was my introduction to he great artist, although I had heard his songs on Boyz II Men albums and loved them all. My favourite song on this album are "Rock Bottom" and "When Can I see you again". Since this CD I have heard a lot of R & B albums and many are a far cry from the sheer genious of this offering.