"Jody" by Jermaine Stewart

Song#:  2868
Date:  09/20/1986
Debut:  80
Peak:  42
Weeks:  9
Genre:  R&B, Dance-Pop



Pop Bits:  Stewart broke through to the mainstream with his #5 Pop hit "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off," the first single from his second album Frantic Romantic. Despite the widespread success on pop radio, the song didn't do well at R&B where it stalled at a low #64. This second single would end up doing the reverse. It had a little more urban influence, therefore it ended up doing better at R&B getting to #18. Yet the tune's less pop-oriented sound caused it to peak early at Pop just outside the Top 40. The song did best in clubs and it became a hit reaching #9 on the Dance chart. Both singles contributed to sales of the album, which would reach #34 Pop and #31 R&B. It would end up being his most popular LP.

ReduxReview:   While this song is not nearly as catchy as "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off," it's still a good, groovy tune. There are hints of Michael Jackson here as well as Prince. Walden's production was solid and Stewart sells the tune well. It nearly cracked the Pop Top 40, but I think it stepped a bit too far away from the hooky dance-pop of "Clothes Off"to really catch on at pop radio.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  When Stewart was younger, he was a regular dancer on the Chicago-based show Soul Train. It was there that he befriended two other dancers. The three auditioned for a new vocal group being formed by Soul Train host/creator Don Cornelius along with Dick Griffey. Stewart's two friends got the gig, but he did not. The group ended up being the trio Shalamar and Stewart's friends were Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel (Gary Mumford aced Stewart out of the third spot). Perhaps as a consolation prize, Stewart would go out on tour as a dancer for Shalamar. He would maintain his friendship with Watley and he would use her as inspiration for this song that he co-wrote with Jeffrey Cohen and producer Narada Michael Walden.

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