"Your Smile" by René & Angela

Song#:  2662
Date:  03/22/1986
Debut:  89
Peak:  62
Weeks:  6
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  The duo of René Moore and Angela Winbush were experiencing their biggest success with their third album Street Called Desire. It would be a gold seller thanks to the #1 R&B hit "Save Your Love (For #1)" and it's follow-up "I'll Be Good" (#4 R&B/#47 Pop). They continued the streak with this third single, which became their second #1 at R&B. The tune was able to cross over to the Pop chart, but it wasn't as successful as "I'll Be Good." The song would also be a minor entry on the Dance chart at #47 (in combination with another album track "Drive My Love").

ReduxReview:  This ballad was probably a bit too soul-oriented to get picked up by pop radio, which is too bad as it is a pretty terrific song. It's sleek, sexy, smokey, and Winbush just slays it on the vocals. According to what I've read, Moore was not real happy that this turned into a Winbush solo vocal, but c'mon. It had to be. At the time the duo were more known for their groovy duets and Winbush always sounded good, but on this song she got to really spread her wings and fly. A great song with a highly underrated vocal performance.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Just prior to the formation of this duo, Angela Winbush wrote a song titled "The Power of Love" that got picked up by a female disco trio named Alton McClain and Destiny. It was recorded for their 1978 self-titled debut album. It was not issued as a single, but their song "It Must Be Love" would be a hit for them getting to #10 R&B, #32 Pop, and #25 Dance in 1979. A few years later, "The Power of Love" found its way to R&B star Stephanie Mills. She recorded it for her 1985 self-titled album. It was issued out as the album's second single and it would become Mills' first #1 on the R&B chart. Winbush herself would record the song for her 1989 solo album The Real Thing. It would not be released as a single. What's odd about the song is that when first done by Alton McClain & Destiny, Winbush was the sole composer listed. Yet when Mills covered the tune, the credit for composition on the LP was listed as being Winbush and Moore. Then on Winbush's solo album, she is solely credited for the writing. It's unclear as to why Moore's name was added to the Mills version, but it could have to do with agreements the duo had regarding songwriting at the time that were then negated once the duo split up.

_________________________________________________________________________________