Calvin Richardson | America’s Most Wanted

Calvin Richardson | America’s Most Wanted by Peggy Oliver

First and foremost, I must ask how can Calvin Richardson top himself after his stunning Bobby Womack tribute project from 2009? Being the so-called Soul Prince, the task should not be too difficult. And who would complain when one’s current back-up band turns out to be The Revelations coming oh-so-fresh off their 2009 contributions, Deep Soul and The Bleeding Edge, that was a meeting of blistering southern soul recalling Stax, Hi and Malaco Records and streetwise sensibility. Long before he found his solo platform, Richardson grew up with K-Ci & JoJo, the vocal powers behind Jodeci, whom he joined on the gospel circuit in his birth state of North Carolina. But that aside, he has served up that extra saucy soulful grit since he bowed on the music scene with appropriately titledCountry Boy over a decade ago. Despite the Womack cover “I Wish He Didn’t Trust Me So Much” on this 1999 release,the initial public expectations fell quite short as Uptown (the home label of Jodeci) never gave him a chance to shine a second time. In the meantime, Richardson was keeping his chops fresh in a duet with Angie Stone, “More Than A Woman” from her 2001 Mahogany Stone project.

Richardson released 2:35 in2003 with a new label – Hollywood Records, bigger sales and more assured vocal confidence. This time out, several singles were represented, including “Keep on Pushin’ and “Not Like This.” After hearing those riveting ballads, no one could really accuse Richardson of riding the coattails of the crop of R&B studs like Usher and Ne-Yo. This was because of his uncanny ability to bridge classic soul lines with tailor-made hip modern arrangements. Yet despite the positives that seemed to be in his favor, there was another long wait in store before Richardson headed back to the studio.

Five more years past and another switch of record companies presented the 2008 release: When Love Comes;another turning point for Richardson who continued to crank up his songwriting and vocal game, especially on the sensual track, “Fire In The Attic,” with nods to Dizzy (Gillespie) and Santana; and the doo-wop peppered, “Sang No More.” Though there were no singles culled from Richardson’s next disc: Facts of Life: The Soul of Bobby Womack, his laid back yet expressive voice naturally flowed with a southern soul charm and pulled most of the tracks off, including “Harry Hippie”and “Love Has Finally Come At Last” (a duet with Ann Nesby) without resorting to all-out mimicking the sixties and seventies soul legend,considering his tone has close similarities. Richardson received further props the following year for his composition co-penned with Babyface, Darryl Simmons and others, “There Goes My Baby,” a monster Charlie Wilson hit from his Uncle Charlie disc in 2009. Interestingly enough, Richardson’s version from 2004 that was never released on an album was remixed in a Lovers Rock style on Billion Riddim, a 2008 compilation which was the brainchild of reggae/hip-hop producers, The London Individuals.

One year removed from Facts of Life, Richardson returns with America’s Most Wanted, co-produced by The Revelations producer Robert Perry; this time leaning completely on original material. The title track some get the steppers bee-lining towards the dance floor. The catchy mid tempo grooves for the adult contemporary R&B fan base,”Feels Like We Sexin’, is sweetly layered with perculating percussion. Since Richardson thrives on taking it nice and slow on a regular basis, there are plenty of tracks to choose from. “Never Do You Wrong” is one example with its rich string orchestration, gentle guitar strums and juicy harmonies. The debut single and a justified pick, “You’re So Amazing,” finds Richardson at his lyrical genius: “I have been to the river, swam up a stream, Stood on the mountain top, I swear it leans, Like Martin Luther King said, girl, I had a dream, but I never stopped loving you.” But where his voice absolutely sours and reaches his prime emotional niche is on the other highly recommended cut, “Come Over.”

Granted Richardson is a breath of fresh air in a contemporary urban world where pure skills sometimes is few and auto tune perfection rules the roost. However, there are occasional issues on America’s Most Wanted,which can not be blamed on creative and business heads butting with each other as this disc is the third release on Richardson’s moniker, NuMo via Shanachie Entertainment. Two examples are “You Possess My Body,” where the monotony level between the rhythm and melody can get on one’s nerve and the connection with duet partner Nadia during “Reach Out” never fully registers. Even though America’s Most Wanted is a couple of steps down from Facts of Life, despite its killer backing band – The Revelations – it does not necessarily indicate Richardson has lost its southern soul touch.

Peggy Oliver
The Urban Music Scene