Pronounced Jah-Nay

• Artist: Zhané
• Rating:
• Release Date: February 15, 1994
• Total Time: 56:34
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

In late 1993, the R&B vocal duo Zhané scored a Top Ten pop hit with the '70s Philly soul meets disco meets '90s hip-hop R&B smash "Hey Mr. DJ," a sleek slice of earthy, sophisticated soul that stands as one of the best R&B/pop hits of the '90s. Several months later the duo issued its highly anticipated debut, Pronounced Jah-Nay, on Motown, and the album yielded hit single after hit single for the better part of a year. Melding classic soul with honey-sweet vocals, hip-hop beats, jazz, disco, and pop, the duo stood out from the onslaught of manufactured R&B acts that dominated the airwaves and pop charts in the early to mid- '90s. The duo scored a Top 20 pop hit with its follow-up single, "Groove Thang," which, although still smooth and infectious, sounds like "Hey Mr. DJ" part two. Other singles included the glorious, elegant, and sleek "Sending My Love," which also managed to crack the pop Top 40, the funky R&B hit "Vibe," and the ballad "You're Sorry Now." The duo seems to shine brightest when tackling jazz ballads, such as the Sade-ish "La, La, La" and "Off My Mind," two songs that were never hits but easily rank as the album's overlooked treasures. Pronounced Jah-Nay is definitely one of the better R&B albums of the '90s -- unfortunately, this album's success was never repeated, and that was most likely due to lousy marketing and single choices for the duo's sophomore outing, Saturday Night. ~ Jose F. Promis, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Hey Mr. DJ	Kaygee Gist, Renee Neufville, Martyn Ware, Zane Grey	Zhané	(4:11)
Intro (Interlude)	Kay Gee	Zhané	(:35)
Vibe	Naughty by Nature, Renee Neufville, Rod Temperton	Zhané	(3:30)
Sending My Love	Naughty by Nature, Renee Neufville	Zhané	(3:41)
Sweet Taste of Love	Renee Neufville	Zhané	(3:50)
Changes	Renee Neufville	Zhané	(4:44)
You're Sorry Now	Naughty by Nature, Renee Neufville	Zhané	(4:41)
Love Me Today	Renee Neufville	Zhané	(5:25)
Off My Mind	Renee Neufville	Zhané	(4:24)
La, La, La	Renee Neufville, Jean Norris	Zhané	(5:29)
Groove Thang	Naughty by Nature, Patrice Rushen, Sheree Brown, Renee Neufville, Charles Mims, Jr.	Zhané	(3:55)
For a Reason	Jean Norris	Zhané	(6:56)
Hey Mr. DJ [Remix]	Renee Neufville, Zane Grey, Kay Gee	Zhané	(5:13)

Credits

Zhané (Producer), Fred Kelly (Assistant Engineer), Craig King (Keyboards), Steve McKeever (Liner Notes), Shauna Woods (Design), Jean Norris (Keyboards), Rob Polhemus (Assistant Engineer), David Bellochio (Engineer), Steve Williams (Drums), Frank Fagnano (Engineer), Les ? (Vocals (Background)), John Buttigieg (Assistant Engineer), Craig King (?), David Bellochio (Keyboards), Naughty by Nature (Producer), Angela Piva (Engineer), Kay Gee (Programming), Paul Levante (Guitar), Scott Blockland (Assistant Engineer), Ed Miller (Assistant Engineer), Alan Goldsher (Bass), Mufi (Assistant Engineer), Jean Norris (Piano), Kay Gee (Vocals), Zhané (Executive Producer), David Bellochio (Piano), Babyface (Vocals), David Bellochio (Producer), John VanNes (Mixing), Kevin Batchelor (Trumpet), Jonathan Clark (Art Direction), Renee Neufville (Producer), Renee Neufville (Strings), Steve McKeever (Executive Producer), Kay Gee (Drum Programming), Jean Norris (Producer), Craig King (Producer), Wendell & Face (Vocals), Kay Gee (Executive Producer), Voe Hitmen (Keyboards), Hitmen (?), Frank Gravis (Bass), Suga Pop (Keyboards), Scott Canto (Assistant Engineer), James Minchin (Photography), Angela Piva (Mixing), Hitmen (Keyboards)