Social historians curious about the origins of the echo boom need look no further than the smooth soul being pumped out during the late '70s. For several years, soul veterans ranging from Barry White to Curtis Mayfield to Earth, Wind & Fire recorded dozens of soft and sultry love anthems even while disco and, later, Muzaky quiet storm stole some of their thunder. Though his birth pre-dated any possible lovemaking session prompted by any of these songs, ?uestlove from the Roots displays a great affinity while compiling Babies Makin' Babies, a lengthy collection of stone grooves by some of the most sensual soul artists of the late '70s: Minnie Riperton, Bill Withers, Smokey Robinson, Deniece Williams, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Patrice Rushen, the Isley Brothers, Roy Ayers, and more. Listeners who haven't heard this much soul this smooth may be surprised at the gorgeous, genuinely inventive production sense behind these tracks. Beginning with Smokey Robinson's "Quiet Storm," one of the most luscious songs of the era, ?uestlove shows a fine sense for putting a mixtape together, dropping hot tracks like Minnie Riperton's "Inside My Love" and Bill Withers' "Can We Pretend" and even the occasional surprise ("The Wheels of Life" by Gino Vannelli works very well in context). During an era rife with hardcore rappers, Babies Makin' Babies is an expressive reminder of what soulful music should be. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
