Believe

Recording information: Full Circle Studio; Red Lotus Studio; Revolver Studios; Studio 99; Vertical Sound.
Photographer: John Shyloski.
Take 6's first album in four years was fostered in large part by industry veteran Ross Vannelli. The vice-president of the group's new label, Vannelli also had a hand in each song on Believe as a co-writer, arranger, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Vannelli was so involved with Believe that it could have been credited to Take 7, but it's a Take 6 album through and through, mixing mature R&B and jazz with a little gospel. Three cuts are strictly a cappella. The first two, "Reset" and "You Make Me Happy," are among the most joyous and dazzling songs in the group's catalog, while "When Angels Cry" -- a full backing band version of which also appears here -- is a solemn inspirational. The majority of the material is new and original. One exception is "On Your Side," a ballad that first appeared on Glenn Jones' It's Time, co-written by Jones and Vannelli. The Khristian Dentley-fronted "Statistic" is also something of a throwback with its rhythmic likeness to late-'90s Timbaland, yet no other group of that era sang so convincingly about working to keep a relationship alive. There are several soothing and romantic numbers, including "You Know You're in Love," which includes harmonica from old friend Stevie Wonder, as well as a handful of additional spiritual inclusions, such as "On Your Side" and "5 Minutes with God," the latter written by Diane Warren. ~ Andy Kellman