Despite its larger reputation for being a pop-centric genre, Russ Taff, Jessy Dixon and Howard McCrary dared to bring an R&B edge to the CCM market once upon a time.
In recent months, I've been digging up my cassette mixes from the 1980s and have been amazed at how close to secular music in quality some of these artists were, such as Russ Taff and Amy Grant. They made some really good stuff. As for r&b, I'd heard of Jessy Dixon, and I think I heard his music back in the '80s but it didn't do anything for me. I've never heard of Howard McCrary.
The big r&b crossover for me was Tramaine Hawkins. To this day, I love listening to her 12" singles from the 1986 album The Search Is Over. "In The Morning" is the hottest-sounding mix, and the song is incredibly energizing. You can't find sound quality this good today (at least not easily). Even the album's sound quality was top notch. I also love the 12" singles "Fall Down" and "Child Of The King." I don't like gospel music, but these 12" singles were r&b/dance music that stayed enough away from a gospel sound that I could relate to them. Well, "In The Morning" gets gospel-y at the end, but the way it builds up to that point, I don't even care by the time I get there -- those "Hallelujahs" are incredible!
Her subsequent album Freedom (1987) was also r&b and was good, but it was a step down from the energy and sound quality of The Search Is Over. I have 12" singles from the Freedom album also.
I am loving hearing from Russ Taff and Jessy Dixon--the latter is new to me. I am so moved when a singer gets inside the Gospel stories.
Jessy's work was so incredible. So many differently flavors across his body of work. I'm glad you're enjoying him!!!
In recent months, I've been digging up my cassette mixes from the 1980s and have been amazed at how close to secular music in quality some of these artists were, such as Russ Taff and Amy Grant. They made some really good stuff. As for r&b, I'd heard of Jessy Dixon, and I think I heard his music back in the '80s but it didn't do anything for me. I've never heard of Howard McCrary.
The big r&b crossover for me was Tramaine Hawkins. To this day, I love listening to her 12" singles from the 1986 album The Search Is Over. "In The Morning" is the hottest-sounding mix, and the song is incredibly energizing. You can't find sound quality this good today (at least not easily). Even the album's sound quality was top notch. I also love the 12" singles "Fall Down" and "Child Of The King." I don't like gospel music, but these 12" singles were r&b/dance music that stayed enough away from a gospel sound that I could relate to them. Well, "In The Morning" gets gospel-y at the end, but the way it builds up to that point, I don't even care by the time I get there -- those "Hallelujahs" are incredible!
Her subsequent album Freedom (1987) was also r&b and was good, but it was a step down from the energy and sound quality of The Search Is Over. I have 12" singles from the Freedom album also.