Deborah Cox- 1995
-her self titled debut album-
*This photograph is most likely promotional, and was taken around the time this album was first released to the public….i believe the sentimental single was released 9/21/95 *If this is wrong, email me, and I will correct this*, and the whole album was released sometime in october of that year.
*Incidentally that marks 4 years that ms. Cox has been singing on the Arista Records Label- congradulations & continued success*
Tracks on which Ms. Cox shares songwriting credit have been starred (*)
Track Listing
1. Sentimental- what cannot be said about this song- it’s catchy, dallas austin arranged a kicking beat, deborah penned some heartfelt, and memorable lyrics- about a situation many find themselves in, longing for a love they let pass them by. Although the lyrics are sad, this song usually puts me in an upbeat mood. As her first single, it is the one that first set the world on it’s ear…a perfect mix of R+B, and pop…..deborah even throws in a little bit of scat……
2. Who do you love?- Everyone I know loves this song. It features a great mid-tempo beat, potent lyrics, and a characteristic deborah cox soul shattering octave reach in the last vamp…..excellent……incredible song.
3. natural woman- this song is a favorite of mine. It could have clearly been released as a single, but with al the strong material on deborah’s album, any single could have been chosen. I particularly like her personal stamp on each word, and the depth of range of her vocals throughout the song. By the end of the chours when she chants "yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m your natural woman" you know she believes in what she’s singing.
4. The sound of my tears- another personal fave. I particualarly enjoy the acoustic guitars, which seem to be a cox favorite "check out couldn’t we from the one wish album", as well as her interpretation of this song, she sings it in her subtle, smooth vocals, holding back slightly, giving the song a sweet, innocent, feel.
5. Call me- is a song on which deborah shares songwriting credit. Initially, the song has a slow pace, but quickly develops into a nice mid tempo song. A fan favorite is the strength of her voice, as she hits a very high note near the end of the song, as well as her unique interpretation, at times soft, at times showcasing the strength of her vocal dynamics.
6. My radio- this is another of my personal faves. I fell in love with it the instant I heard it. It is the perfect mix of r+b, with a tinge of hip-hop. Dallas Austin creates a catchy beat, and hypnotic chords that serve as a glossy backing to Deborah’s smooth voice. The catchy chorus makes you want to sing along, this is a good song to play loudly in your car.
7. Never Gonna Break My Heart Again- Great power ballad. This too could have been released as a single, and it probably would have reached number one on the pop charts. It is the type of ballad that has the potential of flooding the airwaves, a beautiful melody, stunning vocals by Cox, once again, she utilizes the ultimate blend of R+B and pop.
8. It could’ve been you- Yet another jam to blast in your jeep. This song has a hypnotic beat, and is another particular fave of mine. Hip-Hop, Jazz flavored saxophone flourishes color this track, and another Coxish dynamic note is a fitting closure to the song, near the end of the final chorus. I particullarly love the way she rolls this note, it’s very soulful.
9. My First Night with you- A tender touching ballad. Deborah is an excellent interpreter of emotion. These lyrics comprise every womans dream of love, and what it should be. Cox delievers this ballad with the soft delicate vocals she is capable of in the beginning of this song, bringing it to a powerful climax around the bridge, as only her voice can do- it is breathaking to note her range), and she finishes the song on a gentle note.
10. Just be Good to me- Any fan of the original song by the SOS band (yes, I’m only 19, I know because of listening to my mother’s 45’s) will find this song a nice interpretation of what they did in 1984. As far as arrangement, and instrumentation, it sticks pretty close to the orignal tune, with a dash of 1990’s sound.
11. Who Do U Love (Morales Mix)- This remix is probably my favorite Deborah Cox remix (with the exception of September). If you love the orignal who do you love, you’ll like this twist on the song, it is a club favorite, and though the beat is very catchy, she doesn’t loose any of the original depth of expression in the remix interpretation. It is such a unique twist on the orignial song, that it’s like a completley new song.
12. Where do we go from here?- This is another personal favorite, it’s kind of a foreshadowing to the vocal dynamics that characterize her best seller so far "Nobody’s Supposed to be here" It has a very classic soul feeling, a slow swaying melody, peppered with flourishes of the piano. Deborah uses the strength, and power of her voice, coupled with her ability to sing subtly and tenderly to convey the message of her lyrics. It is such a treasure to listen to her use the full strenght of her range in the final chorus. Also, the arrangement of this song is beautiful, as it features many vocal layers, in which Deborah sings the chours, call and repsonse parts, as well as her normal lead vocals. It sounds like there are 12 Deborah’s singing instead of one, which makes the song even better.