Peabo Bryson-Through The Fire (1994)
Peabo is back! As I promised near the end of my 80's music series last month, the famed soul legend returns for his second visit to "The Music Spectrum". In fact, the album request that reminded me that I wanted to go back and explore his earlier discography in the first place is 1994's "Through The Fire", which is quickly on the way to becoming a lost rarity in the world of popular music. On this CD is where you'll find the pair of majestic duets that Disney animated movie fans should know all too well: "A Whole New World", which was performed alongside Regina Belle for 1992's "Aladdin", and "Beauty And The Beast", which was performed alongside Celine Dion for the 1991 film by the same name. Those two soft rock radio staples, along with the Vanessa Williams rendition of "Colors Of The Wind" from 1995's "Pocahontas", are my all-time Disney favorites and are quite possibly the greatest contemporary Disney tunes ever recorded. Add these to the list of immortal songs as well? Regina Belle and Celine Dion: two strong female performers with magnificent soaring voices that make the perfect singing partners for Peabo....and he's had many throughout his illustrious career. As the album title suggests, there's another familiar classic contained here as well: "Through The Fire". Soul listeners and music lovers alike surely know the Chaka Khan's 1984 original by heart; just like "A Whole New World" and "Beauty And The Beast", it too receives endless airplay on the radio channels because of its magical, timeless sensation. What listeners may not have realized, however, is that Peabo recorded his own version as well. The updated r&b sound with the backing vocalists repeating the memorable lyrics 'to the fire, to the limit' near the song's end took me a minute to get used too, but the end result is still wonderful. "By The Time The Night Is Over" and my #1 favorite on this CD, "Don't Make Me Wait": I instantly fell in love with both because of the jazzy trumpet overture featured at the beginning and the sweet jazz sound that continues all the way through each one. Really, I could say I experienced instant adoration for every one of these songs. I may have made it through the fire, but I'm still feeling the heat burning inside:
1. Treat Her Like A Lady
2. A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)
3. Love Will Take Care Of You
4. Never Saw A Miracle
5. Why Goodbye?
6. Through The Fire
7. Spanish Eyes
8. By The Time This Night Is Over
9. Beauty And The Beast
10. You Can Have Me Anytime
11. Don't Make Me Wait
12. Same Old Love
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