After scoring massive success with his first two albums, and , 's third album, , signaled something of a creative and commercial slump for the pioneer, which continued through 1994's . However, is not a bad album by any means. In fact, the set is classic , filled to the brim with the pleading that made this Harlem crooner so popular. began to utilize female background vocals, courtesy of , to full effect on this album, especially on the hit title track (one of the album's shining moments), a trend that he perfected on his huge 1996 self-titled comeback album. So finds in a stage of transition, leaving the formula that began to grow stale on and beginning to feature female backing vocals at center stage, somewhat similar to what had done before him. churned out two other singles, the up-tempo yet slightly unimaginative (which, as the set's lead single, didn't really work to catapult the album to massive early sales) and the big which is pure . Other standouts include featuring the late , and For fans of classic , and mid-tempo grooves, this album will do, although it doesn't rank as one of the more essential pieces in this artist's enduring catalog. ~ Jose F. Promis