Weekend is the third album of R&B singer Kenny Lattimore and the first under new record label Arista Records, released in 2001.
Biography
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Weekend... [is] more conventional than its predecessor, playing it safe with Babyface-style ballads and "Girl, I can treat you better than him" lyrics... [it] lives up to its name--relaxing, romantic, sweet, and over far too soon.[1] |
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—Courtney Kemp, Amazon.com (EDITORIAL REVIEW)
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Weekend signified a new direction for Lattimore upon its release in 2001. Rather than progress further into the introspective soul territory of the critically-acclaimed previous release From the Soul of Man, Weekend embraced a trendier modern-R&B sound. One reviewer observes, "On Weekend, he delivers an 11-track collection that alternately percolates and simmers, showing the young singer is equally at home whether he's pumping out a party jam or serenading a lover with a passionate ballad."[2]
This new album for a new record label enlisted the help of newer producers like The Characters (Troy Taylor & Charles Farrar), Raphael Saadiq (of Tony! Toni! Tone! fame), and G-funk pioneer Battlecat. Overall, the acoustic guitars, jazz sensibilities, and old soul with which Lattimore was previously associated was replaced with mechanical, stuttering beats, synthesizers, and youthful lyrics.
In a sharp contrast to previous releases, Lattimore sharply scales back his contributions as a songwriter in favor of experimenting with younger talent. Former writing collaborators such as Keith Crouch, Diane Warren, and Barry Eastmond were traded for up-and-coming talent like future hitmaker Johnta Austin, songwriter behind a chart-ubiquitous 2005 pair of songs: Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" and Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You."
The album showcased its title track as an exuberant, uptempo first single. The bassline of "Weekend" interpolated Blondie's classic "Rapture." Though the single performed well at radio and was well-received across the Atlantic, overall album sales suffered from lack of promotion.
A sonically modern trend dominates the album, but a minority of songs stand in contrast to their counterparts. "Lately" and "Come To Me" are downtempo, bass-heavy, rhythmic tracks with 70's soul influenced arrangements and sensual lyrics. Both could have easily fit a thematic predecessor to From The Soul Of Man. Renowned for his lithe tenor voice, Lattimore slips into a Marvin Gaye-esque falsetto during the latter. Notably, the same timbre anchors Lattimore's cover of "Just to Keep You Satisfied," on the 1999 Marvin Gaye tribute Marvin Is 60. Also, Lattimore has also previously established a convention of closing each album with a gospel song. In this case, "Healing" produced by George Duke provides an organ-driven climactic coda to Weekend.
Track listing
- Weekend (4:38)
- Baby You're the One (4:10)
- Come to Me (4:42)
- Can You Feel Me (featuring Shanice) (4:57)
- If Love Is What You Want (4:26)
- Lately (4:22)
- Don't Deserve (3:52)
- Right Down to It (4:18)
- The Things I'll Do (3:58)
- Who (4:16)
- Healing (2:46)
- Goodbye Serenade (4:40) - JAPAN ONLY BONUS TRACK
Music videos
References
External links
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Kenny Lattimore & Chanté Moore |
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| Kenny Lattimore studio albums |
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| Kenny Lattimore singles |
"Never Too Busy" · "Just What It Takes · "For You" · "Days Like This" · "If I Lose My Woman" · "Heaven & Earth" · "Love Will Find A Way" · "Weekend" · "Don't Deserve" · "Loveable (From Your Head To Your Toes)" · "You Don't Have To Cry" · "Tonight (2 Step)" · "Figure It Out" · "Make Me Like The Moon" · "You Are My Starship"
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| Chanté Moore studio albums |
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| Chanté Moore singles |
"Love's Taken Over" · "It's Alright" · "Who Do I Turn To?" · "As If We Never Met" · "Old School Lovin'" · "This Time" · "I'm What You Need" · "Free/Sail On" · "Chante's Got A Man" · "I See You in a Different Light" · "Straight Up" · "Bitter" · "It Ain't Supposed To Be This Way"
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| Kenny Lattimore & Chanté Moore studio albums |
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| Kenny Lattimore & Chanté Moore singles |
"Loveable (From Your Head To Your Toes)" · "You Don't Have To Cry" · "Tonight (2 Step)" · "Figure It Out" · "Make Me Like The Moon"
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