"Tasty Love" by Freddie Jackson

Song#:  2928
Date:  11/08/1986
Debut:  84
Peak:  41
Weeks:  12
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  Jackson's debut album, 1985's Rock Me Tonight, was a #1 R&B platinum seller thanks to four R&B Top 10 hits including two #1's - the title track (#18 Pop) and "You Are My Lady" (#12 Pop/#3 AC). It was quite the debut and it left Jackson with the daunting task of following it up. He came out of the studio with his second LP Just Like the First Time. This first single introduced the album and it became his third solo single to top the R&B chart (fourth overall, see below). It stayed at #1 for four weeks. The tune crossed over to the Pop chart, but unlike his two other #1's it couldn't break into the Top 40. It stopped at the dreaded #41 spot. Despite the lack of support at Pop, the album would be a huge hit at R&B hitting #1 and staying there for an amazing 26 weeks (23 of them consecutive).

ReduxReview:  The vibe of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" is all over this one, yet it doesn't sound like an imitation. Jackson nails the vocals and the groove is quite sweet. Plus, how can you resist a song called "Tasty Love?" I'm surprised Prince didn't think of that one first. The song is good, but I don't think it was as hooky as his previous two Pop entries and that is probably why it stopped shy of the Top 40. It's too bad as this song was...well...tasty.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  In between his albums, Jackson appeared as a guest on Melba Moore's album A Lot of Love. Jackson would duet with Moore on the track "A Little Bit More." The song would be the LP's second single and it would end up hitting #1. It was Moore's first #1 on the chart and Jackson's third. The two were already familiar with each other as Jackson had previously been one of Moore's backup singers.

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