Anniversary (Smooth Soul Survivor)

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    "Anniversary"

    [Song written by Raphael Saadiq and Carl Wheeler]

    Sometimes a Smooth Soul Survivor can endure by virtue of inclusion on compilations alone.  This is not entirely the case with ‘Anniversary' by the band Tony Toni Tone but its pretty close to it as a plethora of compilation appearances is bolstered only, yet significantly, by the involvement of cross over saxophonist Gerald Albright.  In a career that has seen him work with soul artists of the pedigree of Patrice Rushen, Anita Baker, Will Downing and The Temptations, Albright has sometimes been slated by the critics for deserting what was perceived by some as an early penchant for straight ahead jazz yet, in his chosen field of smooth jazz, quiet storm and fusion, there is no one better.  Match up this talent with a stand out composition such as ‘Anniversary' and magic is sure to follow.

    "Anniversary"

    [Song written by Raphael Saadiq and Carl Wheeler]

    Sometimes a Smooth Soul Survivor can endure by virtue of inclusion on compilations alone.  This is not entirely the case with ‘Anniversary' by the band Tony Toni Tone but its pretty close to it as a plethora of compilation appearances is bolstered only, yet significantly, by the involvement of cross over saxophonist Gerald Albright.  In a career that has seen him work with soul artists of the pedigree of Patrice Rushen, Anita Baker, Will Downing and The Temptations, Albright has sometimes been slated by the critics for deserting what was perceived by some as an early penchant for straight ahead jazz yet, in his chosen field of smooth jazz, quiet storm and fusion, there is no one better.  Match up this talent with a stand out composition such as ‘Anniversary' and magic is sure to follow.

    Soul, funk and fusion band Tony Toni Tone's original version of ‘Anniversary' was recorded in 1993, a long way away from the fertile 60's and 70's that are the usual hunting grounds for our Smooth Soul Survivors.  However no apology is needed for stretching the definition to include what is a monster track in every sense of the word.

    Although the Albright version is a mere four minutes thirty-three seconds long, the original, from Tony Toni Tone's ‘Sons of Soul' album, weighs in at a massive nine minutes and twenty four seconds.  Shades of Isaac Hayes and no mistake!  This original length version can also be found on the 2000 compilation ‘Heart of Soul' although truncated forms abound.

    Tony Toni Tone, formed 1987 in Oakland, California, enjoyed a number of chart hits and good album sales for a considerable part of the nineties.  The line up was a family affair with brothers Dwayne and Raphael Wiggins teaming up with Cousin Timothy Christian.  â€˜Anniversary' was written by one of the Wiggins boys, Raphael, together with keyboard player Carl Wheeler.

    When they laid down the track for the ‘Sons of Soul' project they looked around for a sax soloist and found no other than Gerald Albright.  The end product was a sensation and gave Tony Toni Tone one of their very biggest career hits.

    It was only a year later that Albright went into the Aire LA studios to record his solo album ‘Smooth' for Atlantic.  This proved to be a phenomenal recording not least for the fact that it included Albright's own version of ‘Anniversary'.  Packed with a succession of great cuts the album also featured a galaxy of guest star performers.  Will Downing, Vesta Williams and Lalah Hathaway all appeared on vocals while Lee Ritenour, Stanley Clarke and Paul Jackson JR. played along with Gerald.  A further interesting feature, at least for aficionados of sleeve notes, is that the comments on ‘Smooth' were added by NBA superstar Magic Johnson.

    The Albright version of ‘Anniversary' can also be found on the highly acclaimed 1994 compilation ‘Jazz Fusions One'.

    ‘Smooth' was Albright's fifth solo album recording for Atlantic after first winning a contract with the label to make ‘Just Between Us' back in 1987.  The contract came as a direct result of Albright being heard by an Atlantic executive while playing with Anita Baker's touring band at the Westbury music festival in Long Island, New York.

    Although always dreaming of fronting and recording as a solo artist, Albright had gained early credibility for his work backing many top soul and R & B artists and this early stage of his career was perhaps best known for his eight bar tenor solo on the Patrice Rushen blockbuster ‘Forget Me Nots'.  It could be said that it was part of his education to tread this particular path.  The school he attended while growing up in south central Los Angeles, Locke High School, had also sent Daniel LeMelle of the Rick James Band, Gary Bias of Earth Wind and Fire and Patrice Rushen on their way in the world.

    The songs with which Albright has had the most consistent success have all been top-drawer covers of great soul ballads.  His dynamic take on the Luther Vandross hit ‘So Amazing' made it to #12 in the Billboard R & B chart.  Fans began anticipating similar covers on every album and Gerald delivered with great renditions of The Whispers' ‘In The Mood' and Johnny Gill's ‘My, My, My'.  However it is with ‘Anniversary' that Albright reached a pinnacle that, even if he records for another fifty years, he will find hard to surmount.

    Much the same can be said about Tony Toni Tone.  From a whirlwind start in 1988 when they enjoyed an R & B number one hit with ‘Little Walter', a song that generated some criticism from gospel audiences for its use of the melody from ‘Wade in the Water', they followed up with the hit albums ‘The Revival' in 1990, ‘Sons of Soul' in 1993 and ‘House of Music', in 1996.  They eventually sold six million albums but by the time of ‘House of Music' was released Raphael was long gone to pursue a solo career under the name of Raphael Saadiq.

    His introduction to solo status came by virtue of two singles for movie soundtracks, 1995's ‘Ask of You' from Higher Learning and ‘Me & You' from Boyz in the Hood.  He was part of sultry R & B super group Lucy Pearl in 2000 where he teamed up with En Vogue's Dawn Robinson and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest but this proved to be their only album together.

    Saadiq has also produced for of Macy Gray, TLC, the Roots, and in 2000 his song ‘Untitled' won a Grammy for D'Angelo.  When he again stepped in front of the microphone, inspired by what he termed as his new "gospeldelic" sound, the result was ‘Instant Vintage'.  It earned Saadiq five Grammy nominations in 2003.

    Although careers come and go it can be said that for Raphael Saadiq, Gerald Albright and Tony Toni Tone it was ‘Anniversary' that found them at the very top of their game and this true Smooth Soul Survivor can still be found in a variety of places.  For the "long version" go to the original ‘Sons Of Soul', the 2000 compilation ‘Heart Of Soul' or the 2002 ‘Smooth Grooves - Ladies Men' on Rhino.  If just over four minutes is enough for you check it out on Tony Toni Tone's ‘Greatest Hits' from 1997, the 2003 ‘Best Of Slow Jams', ‘Lets Get It On' from 2004 and ‘Wedding Songs' from the same year.  There is even a two minute thirty three second ‘compact' version to be found as part of a Tony Toni Tone mini set on the 2003 ‘The House Of Blues - Raphael Saadiq'.

    Denis Poole.  July 2005.

    See other Smooth Soul Survivors