Customer Reviews

You & I

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

 

 

All you have to do is listen to "You and I" to discover why old-school (or, if you prefer, "ol' skool") R&B is enjoying a revival. Teddy Pendergrass proves once again that romance may be old-fashioned, but it's always in style. In fact, he is one of the very few performers who stayed true to his vision after contemporary black music by male artists split into two distinct groups: the rap thugs, who sing about what they want to do TO women, and the grovelers (e.g., Babyface, Boyz II Men), who sing about what they want to do FOR women. Teddy, who sings about what he wants to do WITH women, gets it right, although on "Hurry Up" he sounds as if he's veering into the hardcore camp (lyrically speaking, that is). The early part of the album focuses a little too much on what Oprah would call "relationship issues," but Teddy's delivery is confident and the music is consistenly entertaining. When the focus turns to love (physical and spiritual), the album soars. The smoldering sensuality of "Give it to Me" and the achingly tender beauty of "Slow Ride to Heaven" prove that Teddy Pendergrass is as timeless as the subjects he sings about.

Although I will be only 31 years old come this November (and, thus, too young to attend his once popular "For Women Only" performances), I have been a fan of Teddy Pendergrass since his days with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (my father and I each have copies of their LP "Wake Up Everybody" - he on LP, me on CD) and his earlier solo recordings (among them, "Close the Door", "Only You" and "You Can't Hide from Yourself") are pure classics - examples of the pure, raw and unadulturated soul pumping out of Gamble and Huff's PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL RECORDS. Upon learning of his near-fatal car crash and his subsequent paralysis, I was among the many fans who feared that this great vocal instrument will be forever silenced. Needless to say, his first recordings after his paralysis did not exactly move me the way his previous recordings did......until this CD. This is purely vintage Teddy Pendergrass - from talking and preaching about relationships and the battles between the sexes to his infamous romantic interludes (take particular note of "Don't Keep Wasting My Time, "Let's Talk About it", the title track "You and I", "Hurry up and Finish" and "Give it to Me"). With this CD, Teddy Pendergrass seems to have regained his stride. A REAL treat for all long time Teddy Pendergrass fans!

By the time of this CD's release in 1997, Teddy Pendergrass was (sadly) no longer as popular in urban contemporary circles as he had been during the 1970s-'80s. This near-perfect album, however, proved that there is still a market for REAL R&B vocalists and that the romantic soul ballad has not died. An impressive and very enjoyable comeback CD from one of R&B's true "Living Legends".

If anyone listens seriously to music (that is actively, critcally) the bass player, Phil Polsinelli's (who industry people will know, I'm sure) work on this album is absolutely outstanding. Worth it just for that.

Just as I expected! The CD was packaged and in great condition. This purchase was actually a gift for Father's Day and it was shipped a day before Father's Day! Great timing! Thanks.