Customer Reviews

Tevin

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All my friends liked Bobby Brown in the sixth grade, but I never liked to pine away for guys who were out of my league. No ... I liked them at least remotely obtainable. So I latched on to Tevin and never let go. This, his first album, is also his best. Although Tevin would go on to complain he hated the way his voice sounded on it because he was in the midst of puberty at the time, the ballads and the pop songs still surpass any of the crap on the radio today. Its a classic album with a classic sound and age appropriate material, unlike that other whipper snapper Usher Raymond. I hated Usher at the time because he dissed Tevin on his first song saying that "I'm not going 'Round and Round,' I ain't confused," on "Just Call Me A Mack." Mack what! You're 13!!! But asides from that, at the time, Tevin was the biggest of the two. After all, LL needed Cool Moe Dee to diss, Usher needed to diss TC. Tevin went on to make a good follow up but then as he got older, everyone started to notice that he was taking to women in the same way Michael Jackson did ... as in he wasn't dating any. They he propositioned that undercover police officer, and well ... like LL, Usher won the beef.

I still love Tevin though. Everytime I listen to this album it takes me back to when I was in the seventh grade and in love with an eigthth grader. I was too shy to talk to a boy, but I could always talk to Tevin.

All the songs were either hits or potential hits with the Prince penned "Round and Round," the ballads "Alone With You" and "Tell Me What You Want Me To Do," and the funk enduced dance songs "Just Ask Me To" and "Strawberry Letter 23." My song to this day is "Goodbye" which I used to play over and over again while I pined away for yet another teenage boy who was unobtainable for me.

I still love Tevin and would purchase the former Prince/Quincy Jones/Babyface protege next album if he ever releases another. Despite his "mishaps" he is a talented musician and I'd love to hear his voice croon once again over some new material. Sure, he wasn't the next Michael Jackson as Quincy thought he'd be, but it sure was a nice dream while it lasted.

It recently occurred to me that one reason middle aged white music fans (of which I am one, I gotta admit) don't particularly care for contemporary R&B is that it is not funky and raw the way that we understood the best black music to be back in the 60s and 70s. We admired the blues because it was raw and vital. And even if we recognized that Atlantic and Motown soul were considerably slicker, they were still direct and emotive and ultimately more powerful than almost anything else on the top 40 playlists of the era.

Somewhere along the line, R&B became a lot less about R and only vaguely connected to the B. It was as slick and as studio oriented as much of the product of contemporary white artists. Clearly it was sassier and more street smart than most of the other stuff we were hearing on the radio. But by then, we old guys had pretty much abandoned the radio anyway, and were more likely to hole up with our old Aretha or Tina albums than we were to listen to the newer artists--or for that matter to even listen to most of the newer Aretha or Tina albums.

It's very easy to become and old fuddy duddy. All you have to do is live long enough. But it's also a good exercise to at least occasionally explore music you might have otherwise ignored or abandoned. Whenever I listen to urban R&B of the past 15 years or so, I am often surprised by it. The production is slicker, the arrangements more sophisticated, and the songs more frankly sexual than what we used to call R&B. But it still works, and even if there are few divas to rival Aretha (just wait a millenium or two), the singers are much more powerful and emotive than I ever would have guessed.

Take Tevin Campbell, for example, I do recall hearing the name in the early 90s, but I don't think I was even aware that his popularity soared and then diminished precipitously as he matured. (And, yes, after reading some of the postings here, I realize that that may have had a lot to do with some personal "troubles"--some of which, in this supposedly enlightened age, should never have been so troubling.)

But anyway, what a voice! The adolescent "Tevvy Tev" of this record had a remarkable range. He opens this album with a Prince song, "Round and Round," which evokes Prince but does not slavishly imitate his phrasing. The wail that begins and ends the song sounds almost primitive, like a call to a tribal gathering. A remarkable performance for so young an artist.

And speaking of his age (14 to 15) at the time of this recording, there is a youthful buoyancy to most of these tracks that is refreshing and quite honest. For the most part, he sings as if he's 15 and not 30. A playful song like "Little Brother"--featuring singer Tyler Collins in the role of the unattainable exotic SEVENTEEN year old he's pursuing--plays off his youth in an lively, exuberant way. Tevin sounds irrepressible and just a little cocky. And that's part of his appeal throughout.

And he can just as handily take on a love-and-brotherhood Alan and Marilyn Bergman showstopper like "One Song" and imbue it with depth and meaning that many adult singers could never muster. Ideals that might sound a little schlocky expressed by a more mature singer sound just about right (and a heck of a lot less naive) when sung by a younger artist.

Like so many R&B records of the 80s and 90s, this record splits up production duties, and this time they're divvied up among some of the greats, including Quincy Jones and Narada Michael Walden. The 15 year old Tevin Campbell was indeed lucky to win the patronage of such accomplished producers. There is nothing splotchy about the album (unlike many records with multiple producers at helm at different times): it flows beautifully. About the only production touch (or was it an artist's whim?) that I would disagree with is the jokey ending to "She's All That." Cute the first time, the "Hefty Bagd full of chips" line loses its charm after the first couple of hearings, and this bit of adolescent silliness really is NOT the way to close out an album that otherwise showed great polish and maturity.

Tevin Campbell can sing much better than any of these *N Sync pop tarts...His rich, soulful voice holds a note much longer and better than anyone else. With a Michael Jackson flava, this album (produced by Quincy Jones, musical great) is one of Tevin's best. Can you believe he was only about 13? Here are my reviews of the songs on this album. 1.) Round And Round: A head-bopping, feet-tapping song, Tevin croons along with Prince on this feel-good tune. 2.)Interlude: Over the Rainbow and Onto the Sun: Tevin's soft, gentle voice leads into a sweet ballad. 3.) Tell Me What You Want Me To Do: It placed high on the R+B Singles Chart, and with good reason. Tevin's passionate voice brings tears to your eyes. 4.) Lil Brother: A funny song, it illustrates Tevin's problems in getting an older girl to go out with him--something anyone can relate to! 5.) Alone With You: Another head-bopping song shows off Tevin's rich voice. 6.) Strawberry Letter 23: Okay, I admit I had no idea what this song was about, but it makes you wanna dance anyway. 7.) One Song: This definitely brings tears to your eyes. A choirboy feel with a choirlike background, Tevin sings with passion and certainty in this song about getting along. 8.) Just Ask Me To: With a brief appearance from Chubb Rock, Tevin's voice makes this a foot-tapping hit. 9.) Goodbye: Truly awesome. A breakup from someone he loved has never sounded better. 10.) Perfect World: Not as cheesy as the title; it makes you dance. No annoying "uh's" and "babys" like Britney Spears. 11.) Confused: Tevin's confusion in this song makes you think, hey I know what he's talking about. His great singing voice is truly visible here. 12.) (Look What We'd Have) If You Were Mine: Really an amazing ballad. This is one of my faves. 13.) She's All That: Another song that makes you nod along to it, Tevin's flirty vibe makes you wanna hit Repeat. Overall grading, A+. You'll love it.

I remember when I first heard this album back in 1994 (roughly three years after the album's release). I just recently bought the album last November and even though I haven't heard the album in eight years, it still sounds just as good as when I heard it the first time. My three favorites on this one is "Confused", "Look What We'd Have (If You We're Mine), and "Goodbye". "T.E.V.I.N." is arguably one of my all-time favorite albums!

T. E. V. I. N. Came out in 1991 when I was a senior in college. This album was greatly anticipated after he, as a twelve year old, came out with "Tomorrow" from the Quincy Jones CD "Back on the Block". He had great influence in the music industry help him (Quincy Jones, Prince, Babyface), and this is surely evident in his early releases. The songs are just great pieces of contemporary (ie early '90s) R&B in their own right. The greatest thing about this album, though, when I listen to it over ten years later, is the sincerity, power, and conviction in Tevin's voice. More amazing is the fact that he was only fourteen. Even though I was not pubescent at the time, he sure did remind me of those times! I think it's great that younger people are rediscovering him.

Tevin and I are around the same age, and I remember listening to this tape over and over again. I particularly like Strawberry Letter 23, and Tell Me What You Want Me To Do, and One Song. It seems that everyone forgot about Tevin when Usher came along, but thats okay, I will still continue to listen to Tevin Campbell. I don't like the songs they come out with now a days. I will continue to represent the old R&B songs.

Upon tuning in to the 2007 New York City Marathon, who did I happen to see & hear performing the national anthem, live to the world? One Tevin Campbell. I have often wondered what has happened to him, down the years.
This is his first, and to my mind, his best,CD. After this, most of his releases seem to deteriorate (I do wish that 'Can we talk' was on this release rather than I'm Ready, which, this track apart, is a rather disappointing joint) I purchased this upon release, but, like many of my CDs down the years, seems to have gone for a walk.
What makes this such a good CD? Well, firstly Mr. Campbell then (and now) can sing. At the time of this release his voice hadn't broken, and I have read that he doesn't like to hear his voice, pre puberty. When given half decent material to work with, this man is like the postman, he always delivers. Want proof? Just listen to: 'Just Ask Me To', the new jack sounding track which is also featured in the movie Boyz 'N' The Hood
'Just Ask Me To'( and also features a great cameo appearance from Chubb Rock, with production by Al B Sure) The full blown ballad 'Tell Me What you Want Me To', the funky 'Little Brother', the mid tempo '( and one of my favorites ) 'Alone with you' and the great 'Goodbye', with it's Soul 2 Soul beat, 'Perfect World', 'Confused', Look What we'd have( If you were mine). I mean mid tempo, upbeat or quiet storm, this man (or 14/15 year old as he was at the time) can produce the goods no matter the requirements of the song.
Whilst good, this CD just falls short of being great due to some filler material ( Round & Round, which I think was written & produced by Prince , Strawberry letter 23, & she's all that) but I could be accused of being a bit hard.
None the less, 16 years later, and this CD still packs a punch, and leads me to the question: Why isn't this man producing music on a major label? Or any label? His personal problems have been well documented, but, upon the evident of his performance at the New York marathon, he's still got the pipes for the job. One despairs at a music industry that has no room for the Johnny Gills, Jason Weavers, and Tevin Campbell's of the world. It just goes to show that talent isn't enough, It's who you know!

THE ALBUM IS GREAT EVEN THOUGH I HAVENT HEARD IT SINCE I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ANYWAY THERE ARE REALLY GREAT LOVE SONGS LIKE TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO ONE OF MY FAVORITE. SOME SONGS ON THE ALBUM MAKE YOU WANT TO GET UP AND DANCE WITH THAT GREAT R/B FLAVA. TEVIN HAD A GREAT VOICE WHEN HE WAS YOUNG. IT SHOWS IN THE ALBUM. ID LIKE TO OWN THIS ALBUM BECAUSE THE SONGS BRING BACK MEMORIES FROM EIGHT YEARS AGO. ID RECOMMEND EVERYONE ESPECIALLY THE LADIES TO BUY THIS ALBUM.

I love the song Tell Me What U Want Me 2 Do. That's the main reason I got this cd. Then as I listened to it more, I forgot there are alot of other hits on here. Round and Round, Goodbye, Alone With U. Tevin's best material is on this one cd and it's nice to hear 90's music in the year 2011. It's better than the new stuff!

I had to re-order this CD because I'm not feeling this new music out. It was a like fresh breze of air hearing the talented and handsome Tevin Campbell sang thru my CD player. My fav fav "Alone With You".OMG!! That song was HOTTTT! Of course he was the man when "Just Ask Me" appeared in Boyz In The Hood! Another fav was the infectious "Goodbye" and "Confused". Then, there was the beautiful "Tell Me What You Want Me To Do" where Tevin saaaaang his little heart out! I also loved the Interlude "Over The Rainbow".