Put It On Paper

For those who think there isn't any life left in old-school artists, immediately give a listen to Ann Nesby's Put It on Paper. Nearly six years after her noteworthy solo debut, I'm Here for You, the former Sounds of Blackness lead vocalist, who's sounding better than ever, returns with a new label to call home. Already, the inspired pairing of Nesby and fellow old-schooler the Rev. Al Green on the emotion-packed title track is reaping deserved chart and radio buzz. And that's just one of several standouts on this collection of feel-good R&B music. (The operative word being "music.") Aided and abetted by such contemporary producers as Herb Middleton, Gerald Isaac, Steve "Silk" Hurley, and longtime Nesby cohorts Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the songstress soars on gospel-influenced tracks "Advice" (featuring daughter Jamecia) and "Let Your Will Be Done," gets down and dirty on ballads like "She Can't Love You," and ratchets up the groove quotient via "Tonight's the Night" and a cover of the disco classic "Lovin' Is Really My Game," which topped the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 2000. Nesby is proof positive that quality never goes out of style; the same is true of Put It on Paper.—GM