"I'd Still Say Yes" by Klymaxx

Song#:  3108
Date:  05/02/1987
Debut:  89
Peak:  18
Weeks:  20
Genre:  R&B, Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  This all-female R&B band finally broke through in a more mainstream way when their ballad "I Miss You" got to #5 at Pop (#3 AC/#11 R&B). The hit helped their fourth album, Meeting in the Ladies Room, become a gold seller. Afterwards, the band retreated back to the studio with various producers to come up with their self-titled follow-up album. The effort had an early preview with the track "Man Size Love" (#15 Pop/#43 R&B) which was also featured in the film Running Scared. The follow-up single, "Sexy," was a more funk-leaning track that got to #18 at R&B, but failed to hit the Pop chart. However, this third single did much better going Top 10 at R&B (#7) and AC (#8) while reaching the Pop Top 20. Unfortunately, the hit didn't do much to boost sales of the album, which only got to #25 at R&B while barely cracking the Pop 100 (#98). The band would break up in 1989, but after some legal wrangling concerning the name, an iteration of the band returned with 1990's The Maxx Is Back. It featured the #4 R&B track "Good Love," but it failed to generate any other significant hits. An indie album in 1994 tanked and that ended the band's recording career.

ReduxReview:  This pop ballad format worked well the first time around, so why not again? Just like "I Miss You," it's a pretty, sentimental ballad that played well on the radio. The addition of Howard Hewitt on backing vocals gave it a little boost while Joyce "Fenderella" Irby's vocals sounded like the love child of El DeBarge and Michael Jackson (Irby also co-wrote and produced the track). The issue is that it sounded like a lesser version of "I Miss You" and we didn't necessarily need a second one. The band had talent and might have gone further, but it seems like once they hit their stride they fell apart. It happens.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  The band's founder, Bernadette Cooper, wrote and produced a lot of Klymaxx's material. Their success allowed her to work with other artists including developing a female vocal trio called Madame X. Cooper co-wrote and produced their 1987 #4 R&B/#7 Dance hit "Just That Type of Girl." Cooper would later embark on a solo career. She signed with MCA and issued out 1990's Drama According to Bernadette Cooper. It featured two minor R&B entries including the #30 "I Look Good."

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