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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In My Songs is soul man Gerald LeVert's final farewell, a collection of vintage-sounding R&B equal to any of the discs he put out in his 20-year career. Only, of course, sadder: Prior to track one, Gerald's legendary father, the O'Jay's Eddie LeVert, reminisces momentarily about the months leading up to this album and his son's pride in presenting it; shards of that short speech linger through songs like "Sweetness," in which the man who was called "Teddy Bear" before Ruben Studdard was a twinkle in Paula Abdul's eye promises to "be sweeter tomorrow than I was today," and "Hang in There," a soulful plea sent out to a sulking lady friend. Two upbeat songs break the solemn mood midway through--"DJ Don't" molds itself to fit old-school party-night sensibilities, and "Wanna Get up with You" whisks the ladies off to the dancefloor--but even those tracks can't help going bittersweet around the edges. They represent LeVert's lost magnetism, after all. And they're reminders that the man who once promised to "sing it to you time and time again," won't. --Tammy La Gorce
Product Description
Gerald Levert's last studio album.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
His Songs,
This review is from: In My Songs (Audio CD)
The late Gerald Levert was an underrated R&B singer. His albums sold well, but he never garnered the high praise of many of his contemporaries. This posthumous release is a satisfying final testament to his smooth croon. His previous album found him reflecting on social issues, but In My Songs is a return to his wheelhouse. The songs focus on his trademark love and romance themes, but there is a underlying theme of ache. The title track finds him wishing he could find the love that he often sings about and "Deep As It Goes" (while being a bit of a double entendre) is about look for a truly deep love. "DJ Don't" lightens things up with a fun vibe and "M'Lady" harkens back to his father's, Eddie Levert, Philly Soul days as the songs was co-written with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The album closes with the poignant "Is There A Way To Heaven?" that has obvious extra meaning and gravitas given the circumstances.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Superb; One of Gerald LeVert's best albums,
This review is from: In My Songs (Audio CD)
Gerald LeVert was the standout example of the underrated soul singer. He had the pipes that could trump a number of his contemporaries, yet he didn't have the "contemporary" appeal that so many of today's youth look for from the R&B singer -- hip-hop. Throughout his career, the so-penned "Teddy Bear" made a couple of allusions to hip-hop, namely on his exceptional LOVE & CONSEQUENCES album where Layzie Bone appears. However, his hip-hop concessions aren't the real G, which is proved via two top twenty pop singles from LeVert including the innuendo filled "Thinkin' 'Bout It" (#12 on Billboard Hot 100) and the equally fantastic "Taking Everything" (#11 on Billboard Hot 100). Here, the retro-soul robust, raw vocals of LeVert convert to commercial success. What is true about the late Gerald LeVert is that when he was truly soulful without trying to appeal to a younger crowd he was at his best. What is also true is that no matter if he was singing a weaker, forgettable song, he alway sang the hell out of anything he sang. Sure STROKE OF GENIUS may not have been one of his top efforts, but he killed the songs he sang no matter whether it was truly inspired songwriting or not. What makes IN MY SONGS great is the fact that everything that has been successful and great about Gerald LeVert's career is pour into these memorable, sexy songs. While G is gone, he will never be forgotten, and he quite possibly left the "masterpiece" of his career via IN MY SONGS.
The album opens incredibly sadly as father Eddie LeVert pulls at any G fan's heart strings with his introduction commemorating his late (hard to believe Gerald's dead) son's career and giving some background behind IN MY SONGS. From the very beginning with "In My Songs" you can tell that Gerald really focused in the studio to make sure it was a quality album. I'm not dissing Gerald because personally he is one of my favorite R&B vocalists of all time, but STROKE OF GENIUS (to name one album out his discography) didn't feel as strong as his earlier material such as the exceptional FATHER AND SON or LOVE & CONSEQUENCES. However, this album and his prior one DO I SPEAK FOR THE WORLD? show(ed) to me a true resurgence in the 'real' "Teddy Bear". "In My Songs" stands up against his best performances and is a Grammy worthy performance in my eyes. Great too about "In My Songs" is that it proves not to be the only hit from IN MY SONGS. IN MY SONGS proves to be laced with hits, as opposed to just a couple of standouts, a trap LeVert fell into a trap in his "middle" career albums. "I Don't Get Down Like That" is very potent, and the production feels more modern than some of his previous material. Sure, he is trying a bit to concede to the contemporary urban sound, but he doesn't concede complelely leaving his soulfulness ubiquitous throughout the track and all the tracks for that matter. "DJ Don't" is definitely an attempt to woo younger fans, but it does so where it doesn't drive away LeVert's key audience, the "baby boomers" and adult R&B fans. Cool about "DJ Don't" may be the fact that it is a truly succesful up-tempo G Track; LeVert's strongest past tracks tend to be ballads, which makes "DJ Don't" feel all that much more stronger. "Wanna Get Up With You" continues to keep the momentum up, making for four strong tracks in a row. "Fall Back" isn't bad, but it doesn't quite allure as much as the previous four tracks, but the incredibly soulful "Deep As It Goes" makes up for any loss incurred via "Fall Back". "Hang In There" isn't bad either, but it is the exceptionally performed and written "Sweeter" that is perhaps the best G track that I've heard in years. It is incredibly touching and everytime you hear it it makes you sad to realize the "Teddy Bear" of R&B really is gone. "What 'Cha Think About That" isn't as strong as the strongest, but it is definitely above average. The remainder of the tracks ("To My Head", "M'Lady", and "Is This The Way To Heaven?") are all as strong as the strongest, making IN MY SONGS Gerald's most consistent album in years. After revitalized critical success via 2004's DO I SPEAK FOR THE WORLD, who would've thought that G's true return to form would come with IN MY SONGS, or on a sadder note, wouldn't be realized until his death? With virtually no misses, IN MY SONGS is definitely one of the most energized R&B releases of 2007 and I hope that it does well on the charts. Sure Gerald is gone, but his legacy still lives with us and I think he's a voice that will never ever be forgotten in R&B or music in general. 4 stars, IN MY SONGS.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Man, the "Stroke of Genius" Mr Levert delivers again....,
By MsRandall (The Bay Area California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: In My Songs (Audio CD)
I have every Gerald Levert cd so I know Gerald Levert! Close friends might say I am/was a little obsessed with him. This album is vintage GERALD LEVERT. My favorites are Wanna Get Up With You, Deep As It Goes and What Cha Think About That. The album is truly a Masterpiece but that what I expect from him. One of the few performers who deliver on an entire cd. Definately a MUST have!!!! RIP Mr Levert- You will truly be missed!!!
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