The Real Thing

Performer: Vanessa Williams (R&B)
Artist: Javier Colon
Producer: Rob Mathes; Keith Thomas; Rex Rideout; Babyface
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Gayle Levant (harp); Alyssa Park, Rebecca Bunnell, Anatoly Rosinsky, Johana Krejci, Katia Popov, Robin Olson, Roberto Cani, Bruce Dukov, Raymond Kobler, Natalie Leggett, Phillipe Levy, Margaret Wooten, Darius Campo (violin); Irina Voloshina, Brian Dembow, Roland Kato, David F. Walther, Victoria Miskolszy (viola); Christina Soule, Trevor Handy, Stephen Erdody, Armen Ksadjikian (cello). On 2005's EVERLASTING LOVE, Vanessa Williams updated her favorite `70s R&B tunes, revealing a deep love for that era's smooth, soulful sounds. THE REAL THING incorporates some of the previous album's sensual, retro vibe into a song cycle detailing the stages of a modern romantic relationship. Bill Withers's "Hello Like Before" is given a languid, tropical treatment, while the big band-backed Babyface composition "Loving You" sounds like a lost popular standard. Throughout, Williams has the assured confidence of a veteran vocalist, singing the songs with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of care. On The Real Thing, her sixth studio album (not counting two Christmas releases), Vanessa Williams switches from the '70s soul covers that made up 2005's Everlasting Love to a mix of adult contemporary originals and faithful interpretations. While Rob Mathes produced the entirety of the previous set, the labor here is divided between him and Rex Rideout (Boney James, Will Downing), as well as Keith Thomas and Babyface, both of whom go way back with Williams. With four people sharing the producer's chair, the whole album nonetheless carries a relaxed, serene feel, even when it is at its most active and spirited. The highlights tend to come with the Latin material -- including the title track, written by Stevie Wonder for Sergio Mendes, and "If There Were No Song," switching between a lush ballad and splashes of percussion and horns -- which Williams pulls off with natural ease. It's not likely to raise anyone's body temperature, but it's too welcoming to ignore. ~ Andy Kellman

Billboard (p.36) - "[S]everal cuts -- such as 'Loving You,' a jazzy new Babyface original -- showcase Williams' Broadway bona fides."

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.5