"Mercedes Boy" by Pebbles

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  3510

Date:  05/07/1988

Debut:  77

Peak:  2

Weeks:  18

Genre:  R&B, Dance-Pop

Pop Bits:  This singer's debut single, "Girlfriend," became a major hit reaching #1 R&B and #5 Pop. It was taken from her self-titled debut album as was this second single. It would do even better getting to #1 R&B, #2 Pop, and #2 Dance. The pair of singles brought attention to the album and it would end up being a platinum seller that got to #5 R&B and #14 Pop. A third single, "Take Your Time," would be another R&B hit reaching #3 (#41 Dance), but it would fail to make the Pop chart. A fourth single would just be a minor entry at R&B.

ReduxReview:  This was just the perfect follow-up to "Girlfriend." It was a slick, sexy jam that was different from the more in-your-face "Girlfriend," yet it was complimentary. The chorus, while subtle, was catchy and memorable and the production headed up by Charlie Wilson (lead singer of The Gap Band) was as sleek as a Mercedes. Pebbles wrote this song and it was the one that got her signed to MCA. I probably would have to had this song been presented to me. "Girlfriend" and "Mercedes Boy" would be one of the best one-two punches by a new artist in the late 80s.

ReduxRating:  9/10

Trivia:  Pebbles' second LP, 1990's Always, would be another platinum success (#12 R&B/#37 Pop). Like her debut album, it would feature two R&B #1's including "Giving You the Benefit," which also got to #4 at Pop and #10 Dance. It would take her nearly five years to record a third album and by that time the musical landscape had changed. The synth-driven dance-pop she had been doing wasn't really in favor, so she chose to try and keep up with the times by incorporating elements of soul, funk, and hip-hop into her tracks. The first single, "Are You Ready?," didn't fare well and could only manage to reach #38 at R&B. It seems no other singles were issued out. The LP then stalled at #43 R&B/#146 Pop. With those results, her time on MCA Records came to an end. She would not record again until 2008. By that point in time, she had become an ordained minister and had developed her own ministry. She was also going by the name of Sister Perri (Perri being her birth name). Her first gospel album, Prophetic Flows, Vol. I & II, was released in 2008 and it reached #12 on the Gospel chart.

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