As a musicophile, I’m bound to have some oddities in my collection that no one understands but me and five other weirdos. Chief among them are my extensive Rush album collection and the single “Right Here” by SWV, released in 1992. Three school friends with lots of church choir experience, SWV found themselves under the wing of Teddy Riley in 1991. We have Riley to thank for all those so-called “New Jack swing” records of the early Clinton years–think Boyz II Men and Blackstreet (’No Diggity’ anyone?) and you’ve got a lock on New Jack.
This record in particular, while at times being lyrically less than stellar, is a masterpiece of dense R&B production; cymbals swell, fake reeds thrum and vocals fade into the outside channels in oceans of digital reverb. Best of all an as-yet undisgraced Michael Jackson graces the choruses with a sample taken from his mid-period Columbia hit “Human Nature”. I remember this song pouring out of almost every radio in ‘North Cakalaka’ for weeks in the summer of 1992, and as such it remains one of the ultimate summer jams in my mind. It’s also the classic first single from a 90’s R&B outfit, as Riley can be heard “announcing” the group’s arrival in the opening bars, and again reminding you what name to ask for in the record store as the song fades out. But somehow despite the temptation to make this a rote exercise in hit making 101 the song manages to take on this lovely and slightly melancholy air that lends credence to the simply lyric. Anyway, nestle this one in between your favorite “Guy” remix and anything by Stevie Wonder and you’ve got yourself a hell of a summertime, windows down, we’re going to a barbecue at the park mix.

*UPDATE”
Apparently, New Edition, BlackStreet, Bell Biv Devoe, and Johnny Gill mounted a “New Jack City” reunion tour last year. And I missed the chance to get my groove on. Damn.

SWV - “Right Here”