Focus: Pass Me Not (CDM) (Pure Records, 1994)

They may have been the city's biggest export but Beyonce were not the only female R&B group to come out of Houston, Texas in the 90s. Here is a lesser known trio and a mixture of gospel, New Jack Swing and contemporary R&B. I don't know anything about them but as per the back both tracks were to appear on their album "Focus Eyes On A Prize" which I don't think was ever released. Produced by Julius Papion who later went on to produce for many local rap/G-Funk artists at his studio (Papion Sound Studios) in Houston Texas. A few years later, the label signed another group B.L.A.K. who also never lasted beyond one single.

Pass Me Not (Radio Edit) 3:24
Pass Me Not (Album Version) 4:05
Pass Me Not (Rap Version) 4:17
Pass Me Not (Urban Rap Version) 4:43
There's A Saying That Goes (Radio Edit) 3:43
There's A Saying That Goes (Album Version) 5:08
There's A Saying That Goes (Remix) 5:08
There's A Saying That Goes (Phone Mix) 4:29

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Adonis featuring J.J. Carn: Don't Be Afraid (Promo CDM) (Constantica Music, 1997)

From the daughter of renowned jazz/soul vocalist Jean Carn, a mid paced number from independent artist J. J. Carn and produced by her brother Joseph (Adonis) Carn. Appearing like a promo with a hand-crafted paper back insert, I don't know how much of a wide release it got but it doesn't appear to exist anywhere else. Joseph later went on to produce for LaFace recording artist Pressha on "Don't Get It Twisted."

Radio Mix 4:16
ADONIS Mix 4:03
Phantom Power Mix 4:06
Philly Soul Mix 4:41
Wheeler Street Dub 5:37

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Marilynn: I Want You (Bomar Music, 1994)

From Chi-Town, more independent R&B and going all the way back to 1994. Nothing is known about the artist but the main producer of the work later went on to work on the underground rap scene. The style of music is a mixture of quiet-storm modern soul, New Jack Swing and electronic dance music with Caribbean and gospel influences. Thanks again to Stuaaart over @ beats4dastreets for the contribution. 

Say It Ain't So 4:56
I Want You 3:27
Slo-motion 4:00
Love Change 4:26
Sexual Healing 4:43 (A cover of Marvin Gaye's song of the same name)
Give Love A Try 4:42
Paradise 5:52
He's Got It 4:11
Higher 3:53
Just For Your Love 4:17
Why Do Me Wrong 3:50
Don't You Wanna Dance 4:22
No More Tears 4:17
Enjoy Today 4:02

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Chris Collier: Get Low [EP] (Downlow Records, 2004)

Another hidden gem out of the musical mecca of Illinois with Chris Collier, an artist whose sound parallels R. Kelly, Usher and many others from the early 2000s era. Sadly there is no information to be found about anywhere - the CD appears to be a private release on his own label - but at least one of the songs (the title track) may have been released to local-area radio. Many thanks once again to Nik from from rnb-you-never-knew.blogspot.com for the recommendation 😉.

Get Low 3:32
Goin' Down 4:18
It's Real 4:35
Don't Wanna Stop 3:41
Heaven 3:59
Get Low (Radio Version) 3:30

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1L: My Everything (CDM) (M.O.B. Records, 200x)

From the same label as Chicago stepping artist Col'Ta, further independent music from the Windy City that sadly ends here. While Col'Ta's album Naive was not released, she did make an appearance on DJ Casper's second comp The Slide Album Part II. The above guy - who has more of a smooth contemporary R&B sound - did not as far as I can tell and I don't think his own album ("War Of Love"as advertised on the back of this CD) was ever released either. No information about him anywhere and no exact date of release but the song features an interpolation of The Stylistics 1971 classic soul hit You Are My Everything.

My Everything [Radio] 3:51
My Everything [Acappella] 3:46
My Everything [Instrumental] 3:49

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Day: Feel Our Impact [Sampler EP] (MCA Records, 1998)

Unreleased 90s production by an unknown MCA Records neo soul act. It is unknown whether they were a group or duo but evidently they (along with a further acoustic hip hop act named S.H.A.D.O.W.) went no further than here. The style vocally and musically is somewhat reminiscent of Sade and includes spoken word male vocals.

(Melky Sedeck) Raw 3:38
(Regina Belle) Don't Let Go 3:15
(S.H.A.D.O.W.) Tonight's The Night 4:27
(Eboni Foster) Crazy For You 3:43
(Aaron Hall) None Like You 4:18
(Day) How Many Times 4:27
(Keith Washington) I Don't Mind 4:19

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Sugah J. Philips: Stay...(Jacob Records, 1997)

More obscure indie R&B from Ontario, Canada with Sugah J. Philips who originally started out in 1996 signed to a label with Canadian MC Phatt Al. Cast off The Voice because he was deemed “too soulful”, he is now known by his real name Shane Philips and has since turned his hand to a more traditional-sounding and conscious soul sound. His fifth album “Social Justice and Peace” was released in 2014. 

 

I Go Crazy    4:25    
You & I    5:01    
The Tears    4:55    
Casual    3:24    
Fungk Da Day    3:38    
Stay    5:23    
Keep It Casual (Remix)    3:20    
Don't Go Tellin    5:54    
Eye On The Prize    4:51    
Love Can Make You Cry    3:34   

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Unknown Artists: Jorge "G-Man" Corante Songs (EP) (199x)

Unreleased top level productions from Jorge "G-Man" Corante, probably best known for his remix of Janet Jackson's "Twenty Foreplay" and to a slightly lesser degree his work on Adina Howard's 1995 album "Do You Wanna Ride?" Approximate titles had to be given for the tracks but all appear to check out in the ASCAP repertoire as being correct. Of the four songs included, only one was ever released and was recorded by Ivan Matias for his album "Sweetest Hangover" in the late 90s. The writer of the track was Andrea Martin (listed here by her professional name Andrea Monica Martin), who had also penned hits for Monica, En Vogue and many more popular artists before releasing her own work "The Best Of Me" in 1998. Here she is singing the original demo along with a further track, the smooth "Hearts Don't Lie." (Her vocals on both are pitched slightly lower but it is definitely her singing.) The two final productions are sung by an unidentified male singer who I believe may be Nick Shay Dibenedetto. In the 90s, he wrote songs for Immature and Blackgirl, and did backing vox for Damion Hall.

Show Me Your Style 4:23
Hearts Don't Lie 5:06
Sexy Moves 4:55
Lover Like You 3:40

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Michael Jay R&B Songs (Promo EP) (Playfull/Playhard Music, 199x)

Further rare music from Michael Jay, a songwriter with an extensive resume during the 90s. He mainly wrote pop songs but included on the above demo tape are some of the more R&B-ish compositions that he wrote. I don't know if the singers featured are session singers but Evelyn ''Champagne'' King is singing on track 5 (which later went on to appear on her 1995 album "Leave A Light On.") Track 2 - another New Jack Swing banger - may also have been written with her in mind as well but there is another vocalist singing it. Altogether there are 5 different vocalists singing on these tracks with the bulk possibly performed by Jay himself although not 100% certain. Sadly a few (3 & 6) are bordering more on adult-contemporary pop. Once again, Jay's forte was obviously more pop music but there are a few hidden gems here.

Just To Be With You 3:59
This Is Your Love Life 4:19
I'm Still Here 4:56
Love Is Here To Stay 4:28
In It For Me 4:13
I've Got A Good Thing Going 4:41
All Of Me Wants All Of You 4:29

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