NEW YORK: If anyone questions being too old to try something new, look no further than iconic music producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
As you get older in life, we realized that theres less first times you get to actually experience things, said Jam. For us, all the first times are very exciting.
Despite nearly four decades in the business, five Grammys and widespread reverence across the recording industry, the producing-songwriting duo known as Jam & Lewis recently accomplished one major goal: they released their debut album.
Music has always still been a part of our lives, but we did take some time off to do some important things which was basically raise our kids, said Jam, a two-time chair of the Recording Academy. Now, were selfish again.
Jam & Lewis, Volume One, which landed at #49 on Billboard’s Independent albums chart, is a 10-song project featuring a whos who of R&B singers. Some are previous collaborators, like Mariah Carey, Usher, Mary J. Blige and Boyz II Men. Others are new partnerships such as Toni Braxton, Babyface and The Roots.
Theres a thing that we call hang factor, and I dont like working with people if I cant hang with them, explained Lewis. We hang, we try to find out what the vision is, and then we start trying to create that vision.
The hang factor helped birth records like Somewhat Loved with Carey, which currently sits at #10 on Billboard’s Adult R&B chart, a mid-tempo track featuring her emotionally lamenting about lost love. He Dont Know Nothin Bout It, which peaked at #4 on the same chart, mirrors past Babyface slow jams as he attempts to persuade a woman that she deserves better. Theres also a quintessential Toni Braxton sound on Happily Unhappy, a beautiful song about heartbreak thats so timeless, it couldve been released two decades ago, yet still feels perfect today.
Dubbing their sound new nostalgia, the album doesnt push boundaries or dabble into the trap beats, heavy Auto-Tune and sing-song vibe of much of todays R&B. They chose to stay within the traditional soul sounds which made these 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees uber-successful.
It wasnt like we had a bunch of songs and it was like, Lets do these songs. It was like lets make the perfect song for each artist, Jam said. We want the fans to fall back in love or remember why they fell in love with those artists. But we also want the artists to fall back in love with themselves.
Jam, 64, born James Harris III, and Lewis, 62, grew up in Minneapolis with its bustling 1970s local music scene. Jam attended middle school with Prince, and a post-high school reunion led them to start playing with Morris Day and the Time, with Prince doing most of the writing and producing. (Day is also featured on the album.)
After disagreeing on projects outside of The Time, Prince fired them, sparking Jam and Lewis’ producing career. Theres not a day we dont think about him and we dont think about as were making music. I think Prince would like this. I think hed approve of this. Hed like what were doing here, said Jam, smiling.
The duo helped craft hits for the S.O.S Band, Chaka Khan, George Michael, New Edition and more, including classics like the uplifting Optimistic by Sounds of Blackness, No More Drama by Mary J. Blige, Rhythm Nation by Janet Jackson,” Scream, a collaboration with her legendary brother Michael, and Open My Heart by gospel icon Yolanda Adams.
Theyre responsible for more than 50 Billboard No. 1 songs on the pop, R&B and dance charts all while donning their signature all-black suits. (All the decisions you have to make throughout a day, if you can take one decision out, that just leaves a hole for other thinking, explained Lewis.)
Jam & Lewis say they got away from their original album plans after helping propel Janet’s early, unremarkable music career into superstardom by handling the bulk of her hit 1986 Control album, establishing them as in-demand producers.
Now, theyve come full circle to finish what they started. But there is one glaring omission on Vol. 1: Miss Jackson.
Theres a lot of people, a lot of music, a lot of great artists were going to try to cover them all if we can get there, said Jam. But Janet would be absolutely wonderful. And theres a space reserved (on) Volume Two for her.
While the new nostalgia sound showcases artists who may be on the backend of their careers, Jam & Lewis still have their ears pointed to the future.
Weve already kind of collaborated with H.E.R. obviously on the song Damage, said Lewis of the hit song based off Herb Alperts Making Love in the Rain which they wrote and produced. It would be great to do something totally from scratch with H.E.R.
The music brothers say they werent concerned whether critics might think the moment had passed to drop an album. One of their remaining bucket list items includes playing instruments live as they perform for fans.
Its been 35 years since Control jumpstarted their producing careers but unintentionally delayed some of their personal ambitions. So, are there any regrets?
To me, it is Gods timing,” said Jam. It all happens the way its supposed to happen.
___ Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at twitter.com/GaryGHamilton
Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Assembly Elections Live Updates here.
Comments
0 comment