Do Me Baby [Bonus Tracks]

When Meli'sa Morgan debuted with Do Me Baby in 1986, many R&B singers were so obsessed with crossing over to the pop charts that they bent over backwards to dilute their music -- but not Morgan. Greatly influenced by Chaka Khan but far from a clone, the big-voiced belter made it clear that she was very much an R&B singer on this highly promising CD. Sounding seasoned, confident and mature, Morgan tended to appeal to the type of adult audience that also favored Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson and Anita Baker. Morgan had major R&B hits in "Do You Still Love Me?" and a remake of Prince's "Do Me Baby," and equally impressive are songs ranging from "Fool's Paradise" (not to be confused with the 1975 Rufus/Chaka Khan song) to the insistent "I'll Give It When I Want It." If listeners own only one Morgan CD, Do Me Baby is definitely the best choice. ~ Alex Henderson