One Size Fits All

Men At Large: David Tolliver, Jason Champion.
Additional personnel includes: Debra Killings, Kenyetta Harvey (vocals); Alton "Wokie" Stewart (various instruments, background vocals); Larry "Bingo" Marcus (guitar, bass, synthesizer); Emma Kummrow, Helen Kwalwasser (violin); Davis Barnett, Ruth Wright (viola); Larry Gold, Mark Ward (cello); Walter Pfeil (harp); Nick Smith (piano); Charles P. Smith, Edwin "Tony" Nicholas, Marc G. (keyboards, drums, programming); Robert Crawford (organ); John Howcott, Donald Parks (programming); Emanuel Officer, Traci Hale (background vocals).
Producers: Alton "Wokie" Stewart, Gerald Levert, Edwin "Tony" Nicholas, Keith Sweat, John Howcott.
Engineers: Matt Still, Sean "Shy Boy" Davis, Ron A. Shaffer, Mark DeMartini.
Personnel: Walter Pteil (harp); Barbara Sories, Bonnie Ayers, Larry Abramovitz, Patricia Brown, Jean Perrault, Helen Kwalwasser, Christine Reeves, Charles Parker , Emma Kummrow, Olga Konopelsky, Gregory Teperman (violin); Ruth Wright, Davis A. Barnett (viola); Nick Smith (piano); Robert Crawford (organ); Edwin Nicholas (keyboards, drums); Charles P. Smith (keyboards); Larry Marcus (synthesizer, voice box); Alton "Wokie" Stewart (programming, background vocals); John Howcott, Donald Parks, Marc G. (keyboard programming, drum programming); Robert Cunningham (drum programming); Bob Antoine, Andre Evans (scratches); Kenyetta Harvey, Debra Killings, Traci Hale, Emanuel Officer, Men at Work (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Tony Patterson .
Liner Note Authors: Jason Champion; Dave Tolliver.
Photographers: Thomas Bricker; Guy Aroch.
Arrangers: Edwin Nicholas; Dennis Wilson; Gerald Levert; John Howcott; Keith Sweat; Alton "Wokie" Stewart.
This second offering from Jason Champion and Dave Tolliver, known collectively as Men at Large, should have benefited from the momentum built by their self-titled debut CD, but without a significant hit to stimulate sales, it sold fewer units. This despite the inclusion of Keith Sweat and Gerald Levert's vocal contributions to "Don't Cry," a song co-written by Sweat. This is more mellow then the first album; the ballads are less dramatic, yet still powerfully executed. The guys seem more confident with their singing. "Holiday" is nice, and most will enjoy its family reunion message. The comedy skits that appeared on the first LP are gone, so this may not be as immediately engaging to some. Tolliver sings his lines with the precision of a diamond cutter, while Champion improvises and embellishes his lines with shamelessly soulful vocal runs. Harmony lovers will freak listening to "Don't Cry"; the assembly of voices takes the song to new levels. They sound better than Boyz II Men on the lush ballad, Levert, Sweat, Tolliver, and Champion should do a whole LP together -- they're bad! Traci Hale and Emanuel Officer contribute backing vocals to the floater. The duo remind you of their immense rapping skills on "Better by Myself," a hip-hop club number. The Cleveland natives (Dave Tolliver DJs on WZAK-FM) get low on "First Day," an infectious slinker about a sexual attraction. The 12 numbers are comparably even in appeal; there's not a skip-worthy track on the disc. ~ Andrew Hamilton