Charlie, Last Name Wilson

by Charlie Wilson

Overview

Although the Gap Band enjoyed their greatest commercial and creative success in the late '70s and early '80s, Charlie Wilson's influence on R&B and hip-hop continued long after that. The onetime Gap Band singer was a major influence on Guy/Aaron Hall, Keith Sweat, Bell Biv DeVoe, and other new jack swing stars who emerged in the late '80s and early '90s, and it certainly isn't hard to hear Wilson's impact on the '90s and 2000s hits of R. Kelly. But veteran R&B artists who opened doors in the past don't always have doors opened for them as they grow older; most of the R&B stars who emerged in the '70s are lucky to be recording for small indie labels in the 21st century, let alone a major label like Jive. But recording for Jive is exactly what Wilson does on 2005's Charlie, Last Name Wilson, which finds him collaborating with none other than R. Kelly. In addition to serving as executive producer, Kelly wrote, produced, and arranged three songs: "Magic," the title track, and the Stevie Wonder-ish "No Words." Kelly didn't produce the entire album -- the Platinum Brothers, T. Pain, and several others also help out -- but whoever the producer or writer is on a particular track, the obvious goal was to make Wilson sound contemporary and modern by 2005 standards. And Wilson sounds perfectly natural alongside guest Snoop Dogg on the angry "You Got Nerve" and even Justin Timberlake (who has shed some of his more bubblegum tendencies of the past) on the infectious "Floatin'." Romantic slow jams are a high priority on this CD, and grooves like "Asking Questions," "What If I'm the One," and "Let's Chill" (a remake of Guy's hit) essentially take the Gap Band's classic "Yearning for Your Love"/"Outstanding" vibe and add a big dose of hip-hop. In other words, Wilson does exactly what Kelly, Teddy Riley, Sweat, and so many of his other admirers have been doing all these years. Charlie, Last Name Wilson isn't in a class with the singer's best recordings with the Gap Band, but it's a respectable and inspired demonstration of his ability to be relevant to the hip-hop-drenched urban contemporary scene of 2005. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	09/13/2005
Label:	Sony Bmg
UPC:	0888430774025

Tracks

1. Magic
2. Charlie, Last Name Wilson
3. So Hot
4. Let's Chill
5. No Words
6. Floatin'
7. Asking Questions
8. What If I'm the One
9. You Got Nerve
10. Thru It All
11. My Guarantee
12. Cry No More

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Charlie Wilson   Primary Artist,Vocals
Twista   Primary Artist,Rap,Guest Artist
Snoop Dogg   Primary Artist,Rap,Guest Artist
will.i.am   Primary Artist,Rap,Guest Artist,Bass,Vocals,Synthesizer
Justin Timberlake   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Drums,Vocals,Keyboards
Glenn Lewis   Vocals (Background)
Debi Nova   Keyboards
Eric D. Jackson   Guitar
Eritza Laues   Vocals
Donnie Lyle   Guitar
Anthony King   Vocals (Background)
Barry J. Eastmond   Piano
Rodney East   Keyboards
Clarence Allen   Keyboards
Pam Taylor   Vocals (Background)
Kendall D. Nesbitt   Keyboards
Durrell Babbs   Vocals (Background)
Noah   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

The Platinum Brothers   Audio Production
R. Kelly   Audio Production,Mixing,Arranger,Producer,Executive Producer
Duane Covert   Vocal Producer
Jun Ishizeki   Engineer
Mike Tsarfati   Assistant Engineer
Vincent Dilorenzo   Mixing,Engineer
Cam Wilson   Composer
Ethan Willoughby   Engineer
Rob Herrera   Engineer
Abel Garibaldi   Mixing
Dabling Harward   Editing,Engineer
Tom Coyne   Mastering
Herb Powers   Mastering
Terence "Tramp-Baby" Abney   Producer
Charles McCrorey   Engineer
A. Harris   Composer
"You Can Ask" Giz   Engineer
Keith Major   Photography
Daniel Hastings   Design,Art Direction
DJ Kay Gee   Producer
Cito Crandle   Producer
Sean Tallman   Engineer
Michael Paran   Management
A. Moshe Davenport   Composer
Mike Houge   Assistant Engineer
Kevin Winter   Photography
C.C. Mitchell   Composer
V. Davis   Composer
April Roomet   Stylist
Mark "Exit" Goodchild   Engineer
Waymon Starks   Assistant Engineer
Kenneth Hickson   Vocal Arrangement
A.J. Gibbs   Composer
Todd "Boogie" Muhammad   Vocal Producer
Cordell Walton   Engineer,Musician,Producer
Jaw Breakers   Producer
The Underdogs   Musician,Producer
Kevin KD Davis   Mixing
Tank   Musician,Producer
Andre Harris   Producer
Charlie Wilson   Musician,Producer,Vocal Producer,Vocal Arrangement
Larry Campbell   A&R,Producer
will.i.am   Engineer,Digital Editing
Dave Russell   Mixing,Editing,Engineer
Aaron Renner   Assistant Engineer
Pamela Watson   Stylist
Nathan Wheeler   Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Andy Gallas   Engineer,Programming
Rich Tapper   Engineer
Larry Gold   String Engineer,String Arrangements
Gregg Pagani   Producer,Programming,Digital Editing,Instrumentation
Vidal Davis   Producer
Steve Bearsley   Engineer,Program Assistant
Jason Mlodzinski   Engineer,Program Assistant
Ian Mereness   Engineer,Programming