"Next Love" by Deniece Williams

Song#:  2012
Date:  08/11/1984
Debut:  83
Peak:  81
Weeks:  4
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  Williams got her second and biggest #1 hit with "Let's Hear It for the Boy" from the Footloose soundtrack. In addition to that song being on the soundtrack, she was also able to use it on her next studio album, which was named after the song. Thanks to the hit, the LP sold well and got to #10 at R&B and #26 Pop. It would eventually become her best-selling solo album going platinum. Unfortunately, the follow-up singles from the LP couldn't capture the same magic as the title track. This second single could only manage a #22 showing at R&B while peaking at #17 at Dance and barely getting on the Pop chart. A third single titled "Black Butterfly" also got to #22 at R&B, but missed the Pop chart completely. Despite the lack of other hit singles, Let's Hear It would be Williams' commercial peak.

ReduxReview:  I think the main problem here is that "Let's Hear It" was such a great pop song that folks wanted more of the ilk from Williams. However, she was really an R&B artist at heart and the material she both culled and co-wrote for the album didn't include anything like "Let's Hear It." This song, co-written by Williams and George Duke, is a good track, but it's not all that catchy and lacks crossover appeal. It sounds a bit like a Luther Vandross tune co-written with Madonna. It was going to take a fantastic song to get her near the top of the charts and this one just wasn't it.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Also included on the album was the traditional song "Whiter Than Snow." That album-closing track got the attention of the Grammys and they gave Williams a nomination for Best Inspirational Performance.

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