Funky Divas

Performer: En Vogue
Artist: Chuckii Booker
Producer: Thomas McElroy; Denzil Foster
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: En Vogue: Terry Ellis, Maxine Jones, Cindy Herron, Dawn Robinson (vocals). Additional personnel: Thomas McElroy, Denzil Foster (vocals, keyboards, drum programming); Chuckii Booker (vocals); Wayne Jackson (rap vocals); Jinx Jones (guitar, bass); James "Jinx" Gardner (guitar); Jeffrey McCormick, Les Harris (saxophone); Tony George (trumpet); Chris Mondt (trombone); Michael Fellows (drums); Juan Escovedo, Jon Bendich, Peter Michael (percussion). Engineers: Michael Semanick, Neil King, Steve Counter. Recorded at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California. En Vogue: Dawn Robinson, Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones (vocals). This video includes interviews with each of the "Funky Divas of Soul." FUNKY DIVAS still stands as one of the finest R&B albums of the '90s. With their mixture of old-school soul, funk, contemporary hip-hop edge, cool harmonies, and a sexy, stylish image, En Vogue alighted upon a highly successful formula that they perfected on this sophomore release. But what makes FUNKY DIVAS such a winner, beyond the quartet's skills, is the notably strong material. The unbelievably catchy smash "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" laid a sassy, in-your-face message over a thumping funk hook , and remains one of En Vogue's finest moments. Their updates of Aretha Franklin's version of "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and "Free Your Mind" (which borrows the hook from Funkadelic's psychedelic anthem "Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow") were also hits, as was the doo-wop inflected "Give It Up Turn It Loose." Surprisingly, the rest of the material is just as strong, making this, hands-down, the pop quartet's strongest release. FUNKY DIVAS still stands as one of the finest R&B albums of the '90s. With their mixture of old-school soul, funk, contemporary hip-hop edge, cool harmonies, and a sexy, stylish image, En Vogue alighted upon a highly successful formula that they perfected on this sophomore release. But what makes FUNKY DIVAS such a winner, beyond the quartet's skills, is the notably strong material. The unbelievably catchy smash "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" laid a sassy, in-your-face message over a thumping funk hook , and remains one of En Vogue's finest moments. Their updates of Aretha Franklin's version of "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and "Free Your Mind" (which borrows the hook from Funkadelic's psychedelic anthem "Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow") were also hits, as was the doo-wop inflected "Give It Up Turn It Loose." Surprisingly, the rest of the material is just as strong, making this, hands-down, the pop quartet's strongest release.

Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p.72) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's." Spin (12/92, p.69) - Ranked #16 in Spin's list of the "20 Best Albums Of The Year" - "...Rock, reggae, funk, house, rap, ballads--En Vogue didn't just try on a few different hats, it set up a chapeau shop..." Q (6/92, p.92) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...this quartet have the ability to keep faith with the soul tradition while sounding young and alive throughout..." Q (4/93, p.120) - 3 Stars - Good - "...Pointers Sisters-style sophisto-soul with a sassy edge...judging by the interview footage punctuating the clips, [the divas] are four perkily individual members..." Village Voice (3/2/93, p.5) - Ranked #21 in the Village Voice's list of the 40 Best Albums Of 1992.

Female R&B foursome En Vogue defined a new image and sound for R&B in the '90s. With the help of producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy (Club Nouveau, Timex Social Club) they combined a sexy girl-group image with '70s soul songcraft and contemporary hip-hop production techniques for a distaff variation on New Jack Swing that was termed "New Jill." They scored a number of big hits early in the decade and broke lyrical ground with "Free Your Mind." Despite time off for solo projects, En Vogue kept following their musical path into the 21st century.

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