"I'll Be Good" by René & Angela

Song#:  2479
Date:  09/28/1985
Debut:  82
Peak:  47
Weeks:  10
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  Singer Angela Winbush was learning the ropes of the music business working with Stevie Wonder and becoming part of his backing group, Wonderlove. While with Wonder in L.A., Winbush happened to meet musician René Moore. The pair hit it off and in 1979 decided to become a duo. They were signed by Capitol Records and over the course of three albums they were able to score six Top 40 R&B singles including their biggest to-date 1983's "My First Love" (#12). They were doing well, but not breaking through in a major way. After a label switch to Mercury, the pair recorded their fourth album Street Called Desire. The first single from the album, "Save Your Love (For #1)," gave them a big boost by reaching #1 on the R&B chart and staying there for two weeks. Unfortunately, the song couldn't quite make the Pop chart, but this second single did. It nearly made the Pop Top 40 while hitting #4 at R&B and #7 Dance. The pair of hits helped the album sell well and the duo were on their way.

ReduxReview:  I remember two things about René & Angela - the hook on this song and the album's cover. There was something cool about the purple street scene, the red/yellow writing, and the duo's pose that caught my attention. I nearly bought the album, but did not. They were obviously talented people who had recorded three decent LPs, but this album is where they truly came into their own and took it to a new level. "Save Your Love" was a tasty track with its rap, but it didn't click at Pop, which is too bad. They had better luck with this smooth groovin' track. At minimum, it really should have reached the Top 40, but at least it did well enough to get them a bigger audience.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Their R&B hit "My First Love" was originally written by the duo for Janet Jackson. René and Angela were tapped to work on Jackson's 1982 self-titled solo debut album. They ended up co-writing and co-producing four songs for the a-side of the album including the lead single "Young Love," which made it to #6 R&B and #64 Pop. They were hoping to get "My First Love" on the album, but apparently Jackson passed on the song. The duo kept the tune in their back pocket and finally just decided to record it themselves for their third album. It was the LP's second single and it became the duo's biggest hit up to that point. The song was later covered by R&B singer Avant. His version, done with singer Keke Wyatt, was the second single from his 2000 debut album and it got to #4 R&B and #26 Pop.

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