After achieving considerable success as a member of
Shalamar,
Jody Watley staged a spectacular debut as a solo artist with her self-titled album. This set not only scored five hit singles, but also a Grammy for Best New Artist. For a few years,
Jody Watley was almost as hot as Madonna, scoring major pop, R&B, and dance hits. Of all her albums, her debut was the most successful (and the most dance-oriented), and produced some of the most memorable dance hits of the decade. Included here is "Lookin' for a New Love," which spent four weeks perched at number two on the U.S. pop charts, as well as the Top Ten hits "Don't You Want Me" and "Some Kind of Lover." However, both those songs were remixed when released as singles -- hence, the versions on this album are inferior to the single mixes (but those versions can be found on her Greatest Hits). Also on this set is the stunning second single, "Still a Thrill," which wasn't a big pop hit, but featured Watley singing in her lower register, and ranks as one of the funkiest and oddest dance tunes of its time. This album also contains another minor pop/R&B hit, "Most of All," as well as a forgotten duet with George Michael (who was also at the top of his game at the time), "Learn to Say No." This album really doesn't possess any duds (or ballads), with other album tracks like "Love Injection" proving almost as infectious as the singles. This album clearly ranks among the artist's best, but if one desires the hit versions of most the singles, then one would be better off with Greatest Hits. ~ Jose F. Promis