CHARLIE WILSON

Just Charlie

[Jive]

As long as there has been popular music, its focus has remained on love and all it entails—from yearning and desire to courtship, contentment and/or heartbreak. Former Gap Band singer Charlie Wilson doesn’t nudge those parameters on the aptly titled Just Charlie, but his smooth croon and penchant for bedroom ballads make them seem less constrictive. Capping a productive decade-long solo career, this offering sums up his talents with style. Unlike a lot of the competition among modern R&B singers, Wilson doesn’t rely on bravado to make his case. There’s no bitterness or barbs, merely gentle persuasion and sincere appreciation directed toward the object of his affections. On songs like “Once and Forever,” “Crying for You” and “Where Would I Be,” he sings with a wistful nuance that supports the sentiments rather than overwhelming them. Just Charlie is as conducive to romance as candlelight, champagne and a sweet caress. –Lee Zimmerman