Cherrelle Album: “Fragile”

This album has been remastered very nicely. All of the juicy 80's goodness is preserved very well. Some songs do not hold up well over such a long time but I do appreciate the ability to listen to them as I was too young when this album was put out. Fragile and I didn't mean to turn you on are truly the boss tracks on this album.

The second album High priority was clearly a more consistent album

musicaly if not in subject matter. This debut album is all over the

place and definitley fits with the other stuff Jam and Lewis was doing at the time. The Liner notes were very informative and revealing considering the admissions that the Mistakes that Jam and Lewis made on the first three Cherrelle albums Janet Jackson profitted from with each of her following albums. (you can hear it when you hear these tracks next to Janet's from her first two albums with Jam and Lewis) Tabu really needs to release Cherrelle's Affair album (remastered) some time soon with more Liner notes. A great buy

This was Cherelle's first album, defining her standing as one of the funkier artists of the 80's. "Fragile" was the first single, very upbeat, funky and danceable. What most listeners will recognize is "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On". This was a big R&B hit, and later the song became recognizeable to mass audiences as Robert Palmer covered it with his own version.

The beautiful 25 year old woman from Detroit explodes onto the music scene with her amazing, yet underated debut lp with some Minneapolis flavor and a lil' LA soul. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had made a name for themselves after producing their first #1 hit for Cheryl Lynn in early 1984 ("Encore") as well as producing some wonders works for bands like Dynasty, Klymaxx, and SOS Band. Now they needed a first lady of Flyte Tyme with plenty of swagger and they came across Cherrelle. She scored with the funky anthem, "I Did'nt Mean To Turn You On" in the summer of 1984 (#2 on the R&B charts) and spinned many heads on the hard edged title cut. She gets scandalous and sassy on the mellowed down "When You Look In My Eyes" and "Like I Will." On the latter song mentioned, she solidifies her sassiness with the words "Put some soy sauce on It" of blends well with the Japanese theme stringed groove that Jam and Lewis threw in with the 808s! Thats why the Minneapolis Sound are a genius machine of fine worksmanship! My favorite track is the emotional "Who's It Gonna Be" of which musically sounds simular to Prince's "The Beautiful Ones" of which also came out in 1984 (from Purple Rain soundtrack). "Stay With Me" is the only Dunlap/Suthers penned standout track on the album (they write and produce three songs on Fragile lp for some smooth "LA flavor"). Its very smooth and it shows that Cherrelle can calm her sassiness down without sounding at all very sappy. I found nothing against "I Will Wait For You," and "Need You Now" but when you place those softer songs up against Jam and Lewis' own work, there is just no competition. This 28 year old has all the songs on this cd and I urge all fans of Cherrelle and 80s pop/R&B music to get Fragile and also stop by to pick up her amazing sophmore effort, High Priority.

Cherrelle is one of my favorite artists and her debut album is amazing. Here are my favorite songs from the album:

1.) Fragile....Handle With Care: It's a cool, upbeat dance song that's great to listen to. I like the part at the end where the glass breaks.

2.) I Didn't Mean To Turn You On: One of my favorite Cherrelle songs that I love to listen to.

3.) When You Look Into My Eyes: A cool uptempo ballad with a good melody that's nice to listen to.

4.) Who's It Gonna Be: Nice, soulful ballad that's relaxing to listen to.

5.) Stay With Me: Another one of my favorite Cherrelle songs that's nice and soothing to listen to.

6.) I Will Wait For You: Another soothing, nice ballad that's good to listen to.

If you're a fan of Cherrelle, you'll love this album.

A classic and a very good one.

For those who love Jam & Lewis productions