An Essential R&B and Soul Album is Essence Men

In 1999, Essence released a compilation album of love songs called Essence Men: The Love Songs featuring Barry White, Dru Hill, Al Green, Joe and others.

Essence has been a household name for decades because of the Essence printed magazine and since the evolution of the internet, for its website. In 1999, Essence with Universal Records, Inc. released Essence Men: The Love Songs. This album featured fifteen love tunes that according to the album case total the "soundtrack to love".

The Songs of Essence Men: The Love Songs

Legendary musicians like LTD, Barry White and Al Green have songs on this album. Newer artists like Eric Bennet, Chico Debarge and Tommy Sims also share some inspiring love songs on this album.

• "Let Me Make Luv 2 U": The first track is sung by the Transitions and is a remake of the O'Jay's' "Let Me Make Love to You" which was written by Bunny Sigler and Allan Felder. One of the verses sings "I promise that I'll never hurt you, I'll do everything that a man in love is supposed to do". The Transitions were Charles "Gator" Moore, Balewa "Bilal" Mohammed and Rashawn Morten and according to Amazon.com, they released one album, Back in Da Days in 2001.

• "Love & Happiness": Performed by Al Green and written by Green and Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, "Love & Happiness" is a classic love track. Originally released in 1977, this song has powerful lyrics like "happiness is when you really feel good with somebody, nothing's wrong with being in love with someone". Green is also known for hits like "Let's Stay Together" and "I'm So Tired of Being Alone".

• "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)": Joe Thomas, formally known as the R&B artist Joe, sings this sultry song which was co-written by him, Michelle Williams and Joshua Thompson. He starts off "Tell me what kind of man would treat his woman so cold, treat you like you're nothing, when you worth more than gold". As he continues, the song promises a love-filled evening of romance and total enjoyment. "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)" came from Joe's All That I Am album which was released in 1997.

• "Lady": D'Angelo, born Michael Eugene Archer, had everyone singing along in 1995 with his hit, "Lady". Penned by this talented artist and an equally talented counterpart, Rafael Saadiq, "Lady" came from the Brown Sugar album. Sample lyrics are "you're the talk of the town, everybody wants to know what's going down" and "I know I love you and you love me."

• "Ms. Wonderful": "I can't believe inside what I am feeling baby, everytime I see you my heart starts beating crazy" are a short sample of the sexy lyrics of Chico DeBarge's "Ms. Wonderful". Chico DeBarge, the son of Al Debrage wrote "Ms. Wonderful" with Anthony Scott. Chico also arranged and produced this song which was first released on Long Time No See in 1997.

• "Kissing You": Written by Keith Washington, Marsha Jenkins and Rodney Shelton, Keith Washington performs "Kissing You" with intense emotion. Washington sings "Tell me it's not just a dream, cause if it is, my heart believes". "Kissing You" comes from Washington's Make Time for Love album released in 1991.

• "Femininity":  The sexy heart throb, Eric Benet, also an ex-husband of Halle Berry, has a voice that mirrors his appearance. "Femininity" comes from Benet's True to Myself released in 1996. Benet wrote "Femininity" with C. Warren and expressed lyrics such as "a childhood innocence is how you look at me, but it's the warming touch that makes it feel so right".

• "Love Ballad":  Anyone who enjoys old school soul music has a copy of LTD's "Love Ballad". Skip Scarborough is credited from these romantic lyrics. "I have never been so much in love before, what a difference true love's made in my life" are the lyrics that start this song. Although this song is from 1976, the expressions of love can transcend to the 22nd century.

• "5 Steps": "5  Steps" is the last song on Dru Hill's 1996 Dru Hill album. J. Green, Tory Ruffin and W. Miller wrote this song. "I don't know how much longer, you're gonna be here, so I say my prayers every night, one for my mother, one for my father and one for the love of my life; so if you decide to leave today, then leave tomorrow at the door" are the beginning lyrics.

• "I'll Make Love to You": The title of this Boyz II Men song clearly states what the intentions are - to "make love to you, like you want me to and I'll hold you tight, all through the night". "I'll Make Love to You" was written and produced by Babyface. Boyz II Men, Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman and Marc Nelson, released "I'll Make Love to You" on their 1994 album titled II.

• "The Only One For Me": Anyone who loves R&B and Soul will enjoy Brian McKnight's songs. "The Only One For Me" was written and produced by McKnight and came from his 1997 album Anytime. "Looking out on the rest of our lives, if we're gonna be together or apart, about the only way that I know how to come is right straight from my heart" are some of the lyrics.

• "For You": "For You" is song by two Kennys. It was written by Kenny Lerum and performed by Kenny Lattimore. Released on his 1996 self-titled Kenny Lattimore album, "For You" is a perfect wedding song. Lattimore sings "cause this life is no good alone, since we've become one, I've made a change, everything I do now makes sense".

• "True Love": Calvin Richardson sang "True Love", a song featuring, written by and produced by Chico DeBarge. Although, Richardson never really achieved a high level of stardom, "True Love" is a great song. He sings "true love is hard to find, someone to treat you kind, and if true love you need, then you will find it in me".

• "Ecstasy (When You Lay Down Next to Me)":  Barry White with his extra-ordinary and sexy voice sang "Ecstasy (When You Lay Down Next to Me)" which was written by Ekundayo Paris and Nelson Pigford and released in 1977. "Ecstasy (When You Lay Down Next to Me)" is the longest track on Essence Men: The Love Songs. Although White passed in 2003, lovers worldwide will continue to enjoy his music.

• "New Jam": Tommy Sims sang, wrote and produced "New Jam" which came from his 2000 Peace & Love album. Although Simms is not a household name and "New Jam" is not really a love song, the song has a nice instrumental and his voice is smooth.

Essence Men: The Love Songs is an exceptional compilation of love songs performed by some of the greatest R&B and Soul artists of all time. The music comes from the 1970s and the 1990s and is great for a romantic evening.