Song#: 3586
Date: 07/23/1988
Debut: 93
Peak: 61
Weeks: 12
Genre: R&B, Soul
Pop Bits: With two albums, Jackson established himself as one of the leading R&B crooners of the 80s. Both LPs would hit #1 at R&B and go platinum. He would also amass six #1 R&B hits. Several of his singles would cross over to the Pop chart, but only four would make the Top 40 with "You Are My Lady" doing the best at #12. He kept things rolling with his third album Don't Let Love Slip Away. Jackson didn't change his winning formula and that seemed fine with fans and R&B radio listeners who helped the song become his seventh #1. Over on the Pop chart, the song hung on for three months, but it wasn't able to get over the halfway mark. Unfortunately, it would end up being Jackson's final entry on the Pop chart. A second single, "Hey Lover," would reach #1 at R&B while a third would make the Top 10. The hits helped the album get to #1 R&B, but it didn't do as well as his previous two on the Pop chart (#48). It seems the lack of support in a more mainstream way played into sales with the LP only going gold.
ReduxReview: Jackson was one of those artists who hooked up with the right producers/songwriters (mainly Paul Laurence and Barry Eastmond) and happened upon a formula that worked. That is great for an album or two, but at some point folks are going to tire of that formula and I think that is what happened to Jackson. Over the course of four albums he didn't stray from what made him famous with his first LP and it worked well with each one hitting #1 R&B. However, by the fifth time around, his signature sound was getting old and his career started to wither. Yet, he still continued to work with Laurence and Eastmond on a good chunk of his tracks, which probably wasn't the best idea. By the time his third LP came out, he could have used a booster shot from a hip songwriting/production team, but instead he just stayed the course and the results felt like "been there, heard that." None of it was bad, it was just that nothing truly stood out. This single was the best of the bunch with its easy going quiet storm groove, but it didn't do anything to update Jackson's sound or advance his career. It was more or less a song and an album that kept things steady. There was no rockin' the boat. By the time he was ready for a change, it was too late. However, I guess there is something to be said for an artist who just wants to do what they do best and if they can maintain a successful following for years after their hit making days are over, then more power to them.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Jackson's fourth LP, 1990's Do Me Again, would be his fourth R&B #1 and a gold seller. It would feature Jackson's final two #1 R&B singles, which gave him a total of ten. After that, Jackson's chart fortunes dwindled. He would eke out one more R&B Top 10 single and album in 1992. A few minor chart entries would follow, but his hit making days came to a close. Jackson would continue to record over the years and do well with his tours and appearances.
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