Search - Stacye & Kimiko :: Paradise

Classic R&B!

RetroRhythms | USA | 02/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This LP (at the time, I didn't have a CD player!) was on my turntable non-stop at the time. And I made cassette dubs of it also to play in the car rides (which sometimes drove my mom crazy, as it wasn't so much her type of music!). I was so thrilled when I first saw the 45 of "Wait for Me" in the local record store, as I KNEW it had to be "the 2 girls from the Sugar Babes"!!



This album is late 80's/early 90's R&B and new-jack swing at its best, with a "pop feel/appeal" to it! Stacye Irvin and Kimiko Whitaker threw down with those ad-libs! They were the first "contemporary" R&B artists that I remember hearing who used the ad-libs as such an integral part of their delivery of the melody! They employ this approach in a variety of mediums, from the sassy swing of "Come and Get It" to the heavenly hush of "Lover's Paradise" and the yearning desire of "Every Word" (my personal favorite at the time).



The midtempo, Janet Jackson-esque "Wait for Me" was the first single - and it reached the top -40 of the Billboard R&B chart in the summer of 1990, aided by a colorful video (Yes, it was low-budget, but still charming!). Unfortunately, the follow-up, the funky "R.U. Available," totally bombed. The lyrics to it and the arrangement by Chuckii Booker were both unique and satiating, but it somehow didn't fit into the "in" R&B sound of the time. I really wish MCA had given at least one more song from the album a shot after that, but it wasn't to be. It's interesting to note that "Lover's Paradise" was co-written by a very successful R&B chanteuse of the time, Karyn "Superwoman" White!



I was very pleased to read in a 1992 Billboard article that Kimiko would be releasing a solo album on Tabu Records that year - but it never was released! I did, however, notice her name on the credits of "vocal co-production" on Salt-N-Pepa's single from that year, "Start Me Up"! But I've not seen mention of her or Stacye ever since! Would love to know what they're doing now! They surely brought a lot of joy into my youth. And I think, despite the fact that their names are not widely known, that they did influence a few other artists in the genre who came after them!



I highly recommend this CD!"

Love These Girls

RetroRhythms | 12/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These girls got me through my first heartbreak!! Their song, "It Just Aint Right" is still a good song to listen to after a bad breakup. It helped me bounce right back (LoL). I'm married now, so songs like "Lover's Paradise" and "I've Been Waiting" are more appropriate! Either way, this album is a gem! Every song has wonderful lyrics and their voices blend perfectly. The used to be called the "Sugarbabes" and they had a third member...they looked just like an 80's version of Destiny's Child..it's amazing!Enjoy this cd!"

EARLY 90'S R&B

Kent Browning | SPRINGFIELD, OHIO United States | 09/13/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"STACYE AND KIMIKO used to apart of girl group THE SUGAR BABES in the late 80's. They returned as a duo with the cd "PARADISE". the first single "WAIT FOR ME" easily rivals anything JANET JACKSON was putting out at that time. Ironically the girls work with CHUCKII BOOKER(who was touring with JACKSON) on this release. The groovy "R U AVAILABLE" and sexy "COME AND GET IT" find the girls more than reliable at holding their own. They dont have the strongest voices but they do have good range and could easily rival BRANDY or ASHANTI. Good 90's r&b from a duo who should have gotten more recognition."