All-4-One: Delious, Tony Borowiak, Jamie Jones, Alfred Nevarez (vocals).
Producers: David Foster, Tim O'Brien, Gary St. Clair, DJ Gil, All-4-One.
"I Can Love You Like That" was nominated for 1996 Grammy Awards for Song Of The Year and Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. "I'm Your Man" was nominated for a 1996 Grammy for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.
Personnel: Jamie Jones, Delious, Tony Borowiak, Alfred Nevarez (vocals, background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Steve McDonald ; Ken Kessie; Mick Guzauski.
Arrangers: Rick Kellis; Carl Wurtz; Jerry Williams, Jr. ; David Foster.
Not only does the music speak, it blows bubbles. AND THE MUSIC SPEAKS is All-4-One's second winning collection of pop songs that mix four-part doo-wop with light electronic beats and melodies so sugary you could pour them on a pancake. Call it new-jack bubblegum.
Tony Borowiak's sweet tenor vocal on "Colors Of Love" is a pure homage to Smokey Robinson, and the rest of the group responds with--what else?--Miracles-like sha la las. The sha la las keep coming on "Could This Be Magic," a cover of a 1957 doo-wop hit by the Dubs; and if not for the electronic click track, All-4-One's take on the song could itself have been made in 1957--it's the Flamingos with a boombox. "I'm Sorry" wraps the melancholy warmth of a Beach Boys harmony around a skeletal rhythm whose minimal bass-drum hits are dropped like sweet science beneath the bed of voices.
The second half of AND THE MUSIC SPEAKS brings a bit more urban earthiness to bear on the ethereal pleasures of these harmonies. "Think You're The One For Me" features a jazzy quiet-storm groove and a bass-y declaration of pure devotion that reaches into Barry White territory, and "Here For You" sounds like late night in the city, with its simmering organ and low, squealing, distorted guitar (or is that sax?).
But All-4-One's hearts aren't into late nights on the city streets. They made a giant pop hit in 1994 out of a song--"I Swear"--that was also a country smash for John Michael Montgomery, and AND THE MUSIC SPEAKS includes another country-pop ballad by the same writers. In "These Arms," All-4-One once again find the sweet soul that resides within all pop schmaltz.
Professional Reviews
Entertainment Weekly (6/30-7/7/95, p.100) - "...If it's ear candy you crave, this packs more sweet, empty calories than a chocolate factory."
- Rating: B
Vibe (10/95, p.134) - "...a certain cool magnetism emerges....the album's last five songs find All-4-One in lean, contempo grooves that dig in and unwind with a Patrice Rushen-style flute here, a Philly-based electric guitar there....Their work here is good..."
