Search - Jody Watley :: Intimacy

Cool R&B Grooves With Retro Undertones

M. Edwards | Buckinghamshire United Kingdom | 04/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jody Watley's first four solo albums were like story books that dealt with the ups and downs of her relationship with her former producer and partner, Andre Cymone. "Intimacy" was by far her most accomplished MCA album, and it was also her last with the label. It has a warm 70s retro feel to it in parts and Jody had never sounded better vocally. This album demonstrates her maturity as an artist.



Ms Watley teamed up with a formidable ensemble of producers, including David Morales, Art & Rhythm, Jon Nettlesbey & Terry Coffey, and Andre Cymone, who'd worked on all of the lady's MCA albums. Most of the songs were co-written by Jody.



The album opens with the bright and breezy "Workin' on a Groove", which has a catchy pedestrian beat. The harmonica interlude gives this track a Stevie Wonder feel.



"When A Man Loves a Woman" is has a hypnotic, urban groove that has Jody talking through the verses and singing only on the chorus. The controversial lyrics are bound cause debate, even to this day!



"Are You the One" is a pop groove that I'm sure would've done well in the UK had if it was released as a single.



It's the ballads that are outstanding here and the first is Jody's version of Stevie Wonder's "Too Shy Too Say". Jody's nuanced delivery adds a new dimension to the song, and it gives a dreamy, classy feel. The second outstanding ballad is the gorgeous "Take Me in Your Arms", which is, perhaps, her finest vocal performance on the album. The album closes with the romantic overtones of "Best of Me".



My favourite up-tempo tracks are "Your Love Keeps Working On Me" (good R&B cut), the old school groove of "To Be With You" and the cool tones of "Together", with its lovely flute interlude towards the end.



It's strange that Jody's finest MCA album is probably not well known among the masses, but I recommend that you give it a try - you won't be disappointed. The Queen of Cool had never sounded better!

"

She's Hot !!

Mark F. Towns | 04/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"She is looking for a real love and can really thump that base. I'ts bumpin and the absolute best of Jodey Wately other than her songs with Shalamar. Take it with you coast to coast, from Boston to LA."

More soul driven than her dance heavy albums

Preston | nc | 02/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Intimacy was a lot better than the '91 album before it. There's an emphasis on soul here than her dance heavy albums. But Your Love Keeps Working on Me keeps her on that dance element. The songs with Jon Nettlesby and Terry Coffey are mostly midtempo songs and ballads, but Jody sounds very good on them. Longtime producer Andre Cymone's songs aren't his best with Jody here. But this is a good album from her."