Tony Toni Tone - REVIVAL (LP) M

Personnel: Tony! Toni! Ton?! (vocals); Vanessa Williams (vocals, vibraphone); Keith Crouch (bass synthesizer); L.A. Jae (turntables).
Audio Mixers: Gerry Brown ; Ken Kessie.
Recording information: Can-Am Studio, Tarzana, CA; Eve-Jims Studio, Los Angeles, CA; J-Jam Studio, Oakland, CA; Live Oak Studio, Berkeley, CA; The Plant, San Francisco, CA; Westlake Studio, Los Angeles, CA.
Photographer: Bonnie Lewis.
Unknown Contributor Roles: D'Wayne Wiggins; Tim Christian; Elijah Baker; Antron Haile; Raphael Wiggins; Tony! Toni! Ton?!; Carl Wheeler.
Arrangers: Denzil Foster; Thomas McElroy ; Tony! Toni! Ton?!.
The aptly titled THE REVIVAL was the album that established Tony Toni Tone as one of the leading practitioners of New Jack Swing in the early '90s. Where traditional R&B and gospel inform the trio's debut, THE REVIVAL expands the group's esthetic, as hip-hop, blues, and a more overtly sexual tone are brought into the mix.
The change in the group is apparent from the opening strains of the randy "Feels Good," complete with attendant bedroom-generated sound effects. "Oakland Stroke," which features guest vocalist Vanessa Williams, includes the trio's first forays into straight rap, though the song tastefully blends well-executed R&B licks into the mix. Despite the less-than-festive message conveyed by the lyrics of "The Blues," the song's instrumental structure makes it seem more like a party anthem. "Whatever You Want" is about as smooth as R&B gets--one can almost envision a montage of sliding pink silk sheets, heart-shaped whirlpools, and champagne bottles issuing sudsy discharge.

• Format: CD
• Genre: R&B