Customer Reviews

Intimacy

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4 star:		(2)
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Jody Watley's first four solo albums were like story books that dealt with the ups and downs of her relationship with her former producer and partner, Andre Cymone. "Intimacy" was by far her most accomplished MCA album, and it was also her last with the label. It has a warm 70s retro feel to it in parts and Jody had never sounded better vocally. This album demonstrates her maturity as an artist.

Ms Watley teamed up with a formidable ensemble of producers, including David Morales, Art & Rhythm, Jon Nettlesbey & Terry Coffey, and Andre Cymone, who'd worked on all of the lady's MCA albums. Most of the songs were co-written by Jody.

The album opens with the bright and breezy "Workin' on a Groove", which has a catchy pedestrian beat. The harmonica interlude gives this track a Stevie Wonder feel.

"When A Man Loves a Woman" is has a hypnotic, urban groove that has Jody talking through the verses and singing only on the chorus. The controversial lyrics are bound cause debate, even to this day!

"Are You the One" is a pop groove that I'm sure would've done well in the UK had if it was released as a single.

It's the ballads that are outstanding here and the first is Jody's version of Stevie Wonder's "Too Shy Too Say". Jody's nuanced delivery adds a new dimension to the song, and it gives a dreamy, classy feel. The second outstanding ballad is the gorgeous "Take Me in Your Arms", which is, perhaps, her finest vocal performance on the album. The album closes with the romantic overtones of "Best of Me".

My favourite up-tempo tracks are "Your Love Keeps Working On Me" (good R&B cut), the old school groove of "To Be With You" and the cool tones of "Together", with its lovely flute interlude towards the end.

It's strange that Jody's finest MCA album is probably not well known among the masses, but I recommend that you give it a try - you won't be disappointed. The Queen of Cool had never sounded better!

This album has a lot of great songs especially "WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN" and " YOUR LOVE KEEPS WORKING ON ME". Those songs are also the singles. The whole cd is great. If you are a fan of Ms. Watley, this album is a must. ...

She is looking for a real love and can really thump that base. I'ts bumpin and the absolute best of Jodey Wately other than her songs with Shalamar. Take it with you coast to coast, from Boston to LA.

Intimacy was a lot better than the '91 album before it. There's an emphasis on soul here than her dance heavy albums. But Your Love Keeps Working on Me keeps her on that dance element. The songs with Jon Nettlesby and Terry Coffey are mostly midtempo songs and ballads, but Jody sounds very good on them. Longtime producer Andre Cymone's songs aren't his best with Jody here. But this is a good album from her.

The sounds of these tracks are light and airy...just like a Sunny day in May! I really enjoy listening to this CD. I think Jody Watley is at her best here!

"Music has a poetry of its own, and that poetry is called melody."

-Times, 17 Mar 85
Joshua Logan

Somewhere in between leaving Shalamar and Jody Watley beginning as a solo artist she recreated her sound and some fans wondered why- now it's obvious. The commercial impact of her albums on MCA reached the masses around the world - "Intimacy" reached out to the lover in all of us. This one is for all the old Shalamar fans who wanted her to return to her roots...Jody is an artist who stands on a stage seperate from her contemporaries (as dancer, singer, stylist, choreographer, songwriter, artist, independent label owner)- she fills a void that many may not be aware of in today's market. The last single "The Best of Me" should speak volumes to all listeners.

THIS IS ONE OF HER BEST ALBUMS. THIS IS THE ALBUM IS WHERE HER REAL MATURITY STARTED AND IT SHOWS. IT IS MOST VISIBLE ON "YOUR LOVE KEEPS WOKING ON ME"& "WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN". QUITE AN IMPRESSIVE FORTH EFFORT THAT IS FINALLY NOTICED AND APPRECIATED. GET YOUR COPY OF "INTIMACY" TODAY! CHECK OUT THESE FABULOUS CD'S: DEBORAH COX-"ONE WISH", DAWN ROBINSON-"DAWN", ROBIN S.-"FROM NOW ON", GLORIA ESTEFAN-"GLORIA", COVER GIRLS-"SATISY"& "HERE IT IS",EXPOSE-"EXPOSE", CHANTE MOORE-"EXPOSED", CHANTAY SAVAGE-"THIS TIME", MILLIE JACKSON-"YOUNG MAN, OLDER WOMAN", OLETA ADAMS-"ALL THE LOVE", REGINA BELLE-"THIS IS REGINA", CE CE PENISTON-"THOUGHT 'YA KNEW", CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS-"REAL MEN DO", JOHNNY GILL-"PROVOCATIVE", SILK-"LOVE SESSION", H TOWN-"LADIES EDITION", BILLY OCEAN-"GREATEST HITS",& THE ISLEY BROTHERS-"MISSION TO PLEASE". SIGNED... MUSIC FAN.