Usher

My Way
Released: August, 30, 1994
Record Label: La Face
Peak Position: The Billboard 200 #167 on October 29, 1994

Review:
Usher’s debut CD is an album that celebrates the undeniable Black soul power of post-New Jack Swing music, an era that saw the rise of acts like Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly and SWV. On this album, a somewhat chubby 14 year-old Usher is introduced. With production work by Al B. Sure, Puff Daddy, and Jodeci’s DeVante Swing, (as well as shimmering background vocals by Faith Evans), this album is a “must hear” for folks who enjoyed the first half of 90s soul/R&B.

There aren’t any solid crossover hits like “You Make Me Wanna” or even “You Remind Me” on this album; rather, you get nothing but the smoothest jams. “Can U Get Wit It” is an early winner, produced by Jodeci’s DeVante – the lyrics on this track (as well as the rest of the album) are extremely racy for a 14 year-old; oh well, that’s showbiz for ya. The album continues on a consistently good basis, and then we reach “The Many Ways”, an Al B. Sure midtempo that borrows heavily from Al B’s work with Tevin Campbell (think: “Alone With You” from Tevin’s debut)…anyhow, this song should have been a single in my opinion…

“Love Was Here” is an extremely soulful song (once again, Al B) with Faith Evans shining through on the backgrounds, but it’s DeVante’s masterpiece “Whispers” that really sets things off in a major way, and is still to this day (after almost 7 years) my favorite song that Usher ever recorded; extremely smooth, dark and mysterious (thanks to DeVante), “Whispers” is probably the only reason to try out this album in my opinion – if you like soul/R&B.

There really isn’t a bad song on this debut, and production-wise it was defintely top notch, yet underrated because it didn’t cross over to the “mainstream” pop audience; but for the R&B headz, I cannot recommend this album enough. The best way to describe Usher’s sound on this album (he’s still trying to find himself here) is at times like Tevin Campbell, sometimes like Tony Thompson of Hi-Five, and amazingly (like on “Can U Get Wit It”) he sounds like Ginuwine…

Bottom line: this album is Usher’s super-plush, velvety R&B masterpiece.

C.H.R.

Tracklist:
1. I’ll Make It Right
2. Interlude 1
3. Can U Get Wit It
(DE GRATE DONALD EARLE JR)
4. Think Of You
(CHUCKY THOMPSON / DARNELL JONES / FAITH EVANS / USHER RAYMOND / WILLIAM JEFFREY)
5. Crazy
6. Slow Love
(BROWN ALBERT JOSEPH III / LEE, ISAIAH)
7. The Many Ways
8. I’ll Show You Love
9. Interlude 2 (Can’t Stop)
10. Love Was Here
(BROWN ALBERT JOSEPH III / GRIFFIN KIYAMMA R)
11. Whispers
12. You Took My Heart
(CORBETT WARD / EDWARD FERRELL / DANIELLE L JONES / USHER RAYMOND / KENNY TONGE)
13. Smile Again
(FAITH EVANS / DAVID LE CHAINE HOLLISTER / HERBERT MIDDLETON)
14. Final Goodbye