"Off on Your Own (Girl)" by Al B. Sure!

Song#:  3605

Date:  08/06/1988

Debut:  93

Peak:  45

Weeks:  12

Genre:  R&B, New Jack Swing

Pop Bits:  This singer/songwriter nabbed his first R&B #1 hit with "Nite and Day," the first single from his debut album In Effect Mode. The song would also be his first to make the Pop Top 10 getting to #7. For a follow-up, this next track was selected. Over at R&B, the tune would replicate the success of his first single and hit #1. Unfortunately it didn't do as well at Pop where it stalled short of the Top 40. The album had already reached #1 R&B and #20 Pop and a week after this song debuted on the Pop chart, the LP would be certified platinum.

ReduxReview:  "Nite and Day" was a sleek and sexy track that was prime for crossover action. This follow-up didn't quite have the same mainstream appeal. The hook wasn't quite as memorable or catchy and then it kind of veered off in various directions including a pseudo rap section. The whole back end of the tune was kind of scattered and odd. "Nite and Day" was crisp and clean whereas this song was a bit messy and unfocused. There were good elements in it, but as a whole the track didn't fully come together.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  The success that Albert Joseph Brown III, aka Al B. Sure!, had with his first album allowed him to branch out and work with other artists. Among his first ventures was writing and producing for the R&B vocal quartet Jodeci. Brown co-produced six tracks for their 1991 debut album Forever My Lady co-writing two of those tracks; the title track and "Come and Talk to Me." Both songs would be singles and would reach #1 at R&B (#25 and #11 Pop, respectively). The album would hit #1 R&B/#18 Pop and sell over three million copies. He also worked on the debut albums of Prince protégé Tevin Campbell and Usher.

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