Personal Conversation

Performer: Case
Artist: Joe; Cam'Ron; Nathan Morris; Lil' Mo; Nikko
Distributor: Fontana Distribution

Notes: Personnel includes: Case (vocals); JOE, "Eddie F", Darren Lighty (various instruments); Calvin Gaines, Joshua Thompson (guitar); Milton Thorton, Brent Ski, Ray Watkins, Kevin McDaniels (keyboards); Bo (bass); JoJo Brim, Kowan "Q" Paul (drum programming); Rhonda Blackwell, Chris Henderson, Danny Rosenbaum, Levar A. Wilson, Lil' Mo, Londell "Nikko" Smith, Lee "Big Bub" Drakeford, Tracy Hale, Tyve Turman (background vocals). Producers include: Fats, JOE, Chris Henderson, Nathan Morris, Milton Thorton. Engineers include: Patrick Viala, Serban Ghenea, Jim Personnel: Nathan Morris (vocals); Cam'ron (rap vocals); Melvin Sparks (guitar); Ray "Heat" Watkins (keyboards); Christopher "Deep" Henderson, Traci Hale, Levar "Lil' Tone" Wilson, Dan Rosenbaum, Lee Drakeford (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Dexter Simmons; Darin Prindle; Serban Ghenea. Audio Remixer: Darrin Lightly. Arranger: Christopher "Deep" Henderson. Case's sophomore album followed in the footsteps of his debut, and perhaps surprisingly, entirely avoided the sophomore slump by scoring three hit singles, the biggest resulting in his first Top 10 pop and chart-topping R&B hit, "Faded Pictures." Case's rich baritone, coupled with more sophisticated, adult contemporary-leaning quiet storm, results in an earnest and personal album. Case scores higher when the songs are mid- to up-tempo, but the slow numbers, especially towards the end, tend to meander. Not to say that they are bad, but a little less interesting than the others. There are some fine moments on this set, most notably the album's biggest hit, the elegant and poetic duet with Joe, "Faded Pictures," as well as its follow-up, "Happily Ever After." Case comes off not as the typical over-the-top R&B crooner, and especially not as an R&B lothario, but as a sentimental and earnest singer, who delivers his sincere messages straight from the heart. Perhaps this can explain this singer's enduring appeal, which has resulting in his being one of the most consistent and successful R&B singers to have emerged in the 1990s. ~ Jose Promis For starters, Case deserves an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for PERSONAL CONVERSATION, which surely ranks as the album with the most chime-sweep intros in recording history. That fact is indicative of the unfettered romanticism that is Case's trademark. Though PERSONAL CONVERSATION takes advantage of some of the studio techniques made popular in the wake of hip-hop, Case is just an old softie at heart, with nothing more on his mind than getting up close and personal with the object of his desire. Breathy vocals, smooth harmonies and a sparse, beat-driven backdrop are the common threads running through this album, all pointed toward a kind of sonic seduction that can only be perpetrated by a man who really means it. After listening to PERSONAL CONVERSATION there can be no doubt that those plentiful chime sweeps are earned.

Melody Maker (5/1/99, p.36) - 3 stars (out of 5) - "...Mean and moody, but a little bit sensitive. He can pout and he can fight..." Rap Pages (7/99, p.151) - "...This...interlude-free PERSONAL CONVERSATION with Case demonstrates a great deal of maturity, making this tete-a-tete one we won't soon forget."

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