Evolution

Performer: Boyz II Men
Artist: Babyface; Michael Thompson; Greg Phillinganes; Reggie Griffin
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Boyz II Men: Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman (vocals). Additional personnel: Keith Crouch (various instruments); Babyface (guitar, sitar, keyboards, bass, programming); Michael Thompson, Reggie Griffin, John "Jubu" Smith, Sonny Lallerstedt (guitar); Greg Phillinganes, John Carroza (piano); Jamar Jones (Hammond B-3 organ); Nathan East, Jackie Street (bass); Scott Meder (drums); Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Randy Walker (programming). Producers include: Boyz II Men, Shawn Stockman, Babyface, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Keith Crouch. Engineers include: Jim "Jiff" Hinger, Manny Marroquinm, Paul Boutin. Recorded at Stonecreek Studios, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania; Brandon's Way Recording, The Record Plant, and Studio 56 (B-Funk Lab), Los Angeles, California; Flyte Tyme Studios, Edina, Minnesota. EVOLUTION was nominated for a 1998 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. EVOLUCION contains Spanish language versions of Boyz II Men songs. Boyz II Men: Shawn Stockman (vocals, various instruments); Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Wanya Morris (vocals). Additional personnel: Babyface (guitar, keyboards, bass, programming); Reggie Griffin, Michael Thompson (guitar); Greg Phillinganes (piano); Nathan East (bass); Randy Walker (programming). Producers: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Babyface, Boyz II Men, Shawn Stockman. Engineers include: Steve Hodge, Jim Hinger, Brad Gilderman. Personnel: Babyface (guitar, sitar, keyboards, keyboard programming, drum programming); Sonny Lallerstedt, John Smith, Michael Thompson, Reggie Griffin (guitar); Greg Phillinganes, John Carrozza (piano); Scott Meeder (drums); Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Randy Walker (programming). Audio Mixers: Dave Dillbeck; Aaron Lepley; Jim Hinger; Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander ; Booker T. Jones III; HG Hollans; Jon Gass; Ronnie Brookshire; Shawn Stockman; Steve Hodge; John Saylor. Recording information: 16th Avenue Sound, Nashville, TN; Brandon's Way Recording, L.A., CA; Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL; Flyte Time Studios, Edina, MN; OceanWay Recording, Hollywood, CA; REcord Plant, L.A., CA; Sound On Sound, NY, NY; Stonecreek Studios, Gladwyne, PA; Studio 56, L.A., CA. Photographers: George Holz; Aaron Rapoport; Riesig & Taylor. Unknown Contributor Roles: Michael McCary; Nathan Morris; Wanya Morris. Arrangers: Jimmy Jam; Babyface; Terry Lewis. EVOLUTION proves to be a rather prophetic title for this release from the famed R&B quartet. The album finds Boyz II Men growing musically and emotionally, and all the songs here demonstrate the added depth that is the result of the group's artistic maturation. One thing that hasn't changed is the silky-smooth harmonies that are the band's trademark. Their elegantly intertwining voices lead you gently through ballads about both good times and bad. The production is state-of-the-art as usual, underlining the strength of the material. EVOLUTION finds the boys strutting their stuff as full-grown men.

Vibe (11/97, p.144) - "...Boyz II Men have withstood personal tragedy, music industry ineptitude, and the dumbed-down...regression of contemporary black music....With grace and skill, the Boyz in the band have indeed morphed into Men, and they have the songs to prove it..."

While rap music was the music of choice on the urban charts and radio playlists by the late 1980s/early '90s, vocal group Boyz II Men re-introduced the merits of soul and contemporary R&B, laden with perfectly executed harmonies. The group became one of the most successful chart acts of the '90s, especially when their 1992 single, "The End of the Road," set the record for most weeks atop the Billboard charts, a record which they would subsequently reclaim in 1996 with the duet with Mariah Carey, "One Sweet Day."

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