Alexander O’Neal – The Gentleman of Soul

Alexander O’Neal was one of the biggest soul crooners of the late 1980′s. He released “Hearsay” in 1987 that went gold and stayed in the UK charts for solid 2 years. Although his success lasted longer in Europe, especially in England, Alexander O’Neal became then a US trademark for finest R&B. His musical career started back in the late 1970′s in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A and this is how the story goes…

Flyte Tyme, Prince and Alex

It was still a very difficult time for black artists in the late 70′s in the U.S. when Alexander O’Neal (born in Natchez, Mississippi on November 15th, 1953) was looking for a breakthrough as a lead singer in Minneapolis. He joined a group called Flyte Tyme in late 1978. Musicians and heads of the group: Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. They soon became the backing band (then called The Time) for Prince, who opened the doors of the music industry to blacks in Minneapolis and around. It all seemed perfect, but things went sour, all of a sudden. In an exclusive interview of the Blues & Soul magazine (issue August 2008), Alexander O’Neal explained how hurt he was when he got kicked out and how nobody had told him until Terry Lewis had the guts to give him the bad news, in the end. Alexander O’Neal was replaced by Morris Day, then. Shortly after, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis got kicked out, too, and it was a sign to do their own thing. They teamed up with Alexander O’Neal, again and they made the first recordings in 1984 resulting in his first solo album “Alexander O’Neal” (1985) produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.

Alexander O’Neal “If You Were Here Tonight”, 1985

Some day in 1987

When I bought the album back then I didn’t know how successful it might become or not – I just cared for the music, and Alexander O’Neal was definitely hot, at that time if you were a club & dance freak like me. But there was one thing I already recognized back then, the producers! Like Quincy Jones was (and still is) a seal of quality in producing excellent albums since the late 70′s, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had just that status in the 80′s. Since they produced Janet Jackson‘s first solo album “Control” in 1986, I payed more attention on the production of an album and I sometimes bought an album without knowing one single song, just trusting the producers and I rarely got disappointed. Alexander O’Neal’s collaboration with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis was the bomb, no doubt. They became Flyte Tyme Productions and put their stamp of funky thriving songs on the SOS Band, Cherrelle, Janet Jackson and many others, at that time.

LP “Hearsay“

When I first dropped the needle on that album, I expected music, of course. Instead it’s Alexander O’Neal talking in a segue, welcoming his buddies to his party. Today, we’re used to intros, interludes or whatever talking in-between songs, but it was quite unusual, back then. It wasn’t just an intro, it was the setting for a party while listening to that album. After almost each song, some party-chatter comes up to connect to the next song. The theme and title of that album is “Hearsay” and those segues simply tell how gossip works, sometimes if not most of the times ;-)
“This is Alexander O’Neal’s party and when I say you got to party you got to party.” So, here we are, on Alex’ party, having a glass of champagne, checking out the girls and the boys as it gets quiet. Some keys are played, we listen and with full force a strong bass line and funky melody kicks in making you automatically wanna dance, from the start. As Alexander O’Neal’s voice comes in, you definitely know that the party has officially begun! “(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me” is also his opening plea for a girl to trust his love. The 12″ release comes in several mixes.

Alexander O’Neal “(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me, live 1990

The second segue gives us an insight of girl’s talk about who’s cheating on whom, and it cracks me up every time I listen to it and being a woman myself I’m allowed to ;-) This little talk brings us to the title song “Hearsay“, a groovy mid-tempo song and poor Alex explaining that it’s all just hearsay (what was said in the segue before).
This album produced six major hits in the US as well as in the UK charts, like “The Lovers” where Alexander O’Neal puts so much soul into that bass driven, funky melody.

Alexander O’Neal “The Lovers”, 1987

The following segue is a crack up, again. So, how about another glass of champagne before we get into a smash hit that makes you move out of your seat? Here comes a pretty pissed off statement on some girl’s attitude in “Fake“. Like on all other songs of that album, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis among Jellybean Johnson and others did the music. Lisa Keith and Cherelle did the backing vocals next to Randy Ran. It was a full set of musicians and “Fake” lets you feel it!

Alexander O’Neal “Fake”, official music video 1987

Well, back then the album had me already after the first song, but “Fake” was really something. Eager for the next song, another segue grabs our attention ’cause…, yeah you got it right, it makes you roll, again. And now you know why Alex comes up with a song called “Criticize“, another chart breaker in 1987.

Alexander O’Neal “Criticize”, Top of The Pops 1987 live

After listening to half of the album I rarely was so pleased with the purchase ’cause not one single song so far was boring and not many artists had that talent. When I turned the record and dropped the needle again I couldn’t wait for the next segue…and the next glass of champagne! Surprise, this time it’s just a musical intro, but I’m far from disappointment ’cause the next song is my personal favorite on this album. A duet with Cherelle with whom he already had a smash hit in 1985 (“Saturday Love” ). On this album it’s “Never Knew Love Like This” – they seemed to be the perfect couple on vinyl.

Alexander O’Neil with Cherrelle “Never Knew Love Like This”, live late 80′s

The segues vanished on the B side or Alex doesn’t want to listen to bull, anymore. Despite that he prefers to sing, anyway, which he proves deliciously with his next song “Sunshine“. What can I say? It’s simply a beautiful ballad sung by the Gentleman of Soul. I smiled when I played Jay-Z‘s “(Always Be My)Sunshine” in 1997, knowing instantly that I’ll love the song from that sample taken from Alex O’Neal’s “Sunshine”. Precisely, the credits go to Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis for writing this and most of Alexander O’Neal’s successful hits.

Alexander O’Neil “Sunshine”, 1987

Two more ballads conclude this album, “Crying Overtime” and “When The Party Is Over”. But you suspected it already, I guess. Yes, one last segue before the party is over as Alex says: “This is Alexander O’Neal’s house and when I say you gotta go, you gotta…..” Well, one girl is chosen to stay, and hell yeah I would have stayed if someone sings to me like this ;-) Or was it the champagne? No, Alexander O’Neal and his team of Flyte Tyme have created an all time classic soul & funk album that is always worth to have in your collection.

Unfortunately, Alexander O’Neal’s website isn’t really a hit like his music that he continues to make. Although it got very quiet around since the mid 90′s, he seems to be more actively involved in the music business, today. The British based Blues & Soul magazine printed an in-depth interview with Alexander O’Neal in 2008. When you get a chance to see him live, he’ll also deliver those big songs from the past, so keep his records playing!