Jody Watley

Jody Watley, who was one of the biggest American music stars at the end of the 1980s, saw her streak come to an abrupt end with the release of her fourth solo album, Intimacy, which, years later, still manages to sound fresh and undated. She toned down the rhythms (a little bit) which had made her so famous, and instead recorded an album ripe with mid-tempo, jazz-influenced grooves, which shine on the set's first single, "Your Love Keeps Working On Me"," which peaked at an embarrassing number 100 on the American pop charts. Intimacy, which is quite a varied album, begins with the harmonica-enhanced summer jam "Workin' on a Groove." The album's second track is the set's second single, "When a Man Loves a Woman," which is a seductive, meandering, spoken word, early-1990s anthem which, among other things, warns of the dangers of AIDS. A couple of over-long and unremarkable ballads weigh Intimacy down towards the end, but, other than that, the album is a definite treat. Other highlights include the house track "Ecstasy," the funky, riff-laden "Are You the One?," the slow burning R&B jam "To Be With You," and the gorgeous, soaring ballad "Too Shy to Say." Who is to say why this album, and Watley's fabled career, floundered so badly -- perhaps this style of music didn't vibe with the grunge and hip-hop that ruled American pop music in the early 1990s, or perhaps it was due to lousy marketing. In any case, Intimacy is a fine, well-rounded album that has managed to stand the test of time. ~ Jose F. Promis, All Music Guide