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In The Mix Soundtrack
Various Artists
J Records
Although Usher does not have a song on this soundtrack for the movie he stars in and executive produced, "In The Mix,"
he did produce the soundtrack. And he used the opportunity to showcase his new group on his own label, US Records. One Chance
is a five-man group out of Chicago with two cuts on the soundtrack - "That's My Word" and "Could This Be Love."
Usher's influence is certainly evident in One Chance - they offer smooth R&B with just enough heart throb to make them
popular among the ladies. Rico Love offers a couple tracks, too, such as the raucous "Settle Down" that is at once
playful and rough neck (again, some things the ladies tend to like!). The lovely singer/actress Christina Milian has a soft
spot on the soundtrack with "Be What It's Gonna Be," a slow but not sappy soliloquy that showcases her sweet crystalline
voice. J Records' new star, Chris Brown, makes his appearance on "Which One," which also features Noah. Again, Usher
was wise is choosing someone with young-end appeal. I don't see "Which One" as a single, though, because it's not
aggressive in nature enough for urban stations. Anthony Hamilton checks in on "Some Kind of Wonderful," but don't
expect the usual gutsy soul - it's lighter than his usual fare and perhaps inserted to attract the urban AC demo to the soundtrack.
The Youngbloodz takes on the uptempo "Murda," while "On the Grind" is another Rico Love track featuring
Juelz Santana and Pual Wall. Usher does make an appearance on the Rico Love track, "Sweat, but his appearance is not
enough to make it a good one.. Oddly enough, probably the best track on the 12-track CD is the slow ponderous "Against
The World" by songwriter Robin Thicke. It's simply lovely in a soulful Prince kind of way and probably the best track
on the set.
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Holiday Music
Various Artists
EMI
There are soooooooo many holiday albums to choose from and every year someone comes out with their own collection of favorites.
Some of my personal favorites are Donna Summer's Christmas CD, which features a totally inspiring version of "Oh Holy
Night," and Vanessa Williams' collection, which has a wonderfully bubbly version of "Baby It's Cold Outside"
with the incomparable Bobby Caldwell. But... you can cut down on the CD shuffle with a select few CDs that offer many, many
tracks. One is the "Ultimate Soul Christmas," a two-CD set that covers everyone from Luther Vandross ("This
Is Christmas") to Nat King Cole ("The Christmas Song"). It also includes classic cuts "This Christmas"
by Donny Hathaway and probably the most popular Christmas song on just about any station, "Silent Night" by the
Temptations. There's a lot more - "Carol of the Bells" with Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers," the
Whispers on "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and so many more. The dual set contains 30 tracks in all that definitely
has something for everyone. One more noteworthy set is "Slow Jams Christmas" in three different editions. Oh the
classics on Volume 3, such as "Santa Baby" by that sexy siren Eartha Kitt and "White Christmas" by the
O'Jays. Volume 2 features Al Green on holiday staple "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and Charles Brown on "Merry
Christmas Baby." Volume 1 has the classic "What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas" by the Emotions and "Have
Yourself A Merry Christmas" by the O'Jays. Whew! Why buy all those different CDs when you get all the best in a few select
collections.
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