New Man
JOE THOMAS
Tracklisting:
1.E.R. 2. By Any Means 3. Why Just Be Friends 4. We Need To
Roll 5. Man In Your Life 6. I Won’t Let Him Hurt You
7. New Man 8. Start Over Again 9. Approach 10. Sorry 11.
Heart Behind My Eyes 12. Chameleon 13. I Will Again 14.
Triple Black Room 15. Friends Don’t Let Friends 16.
Special Friends 17. Magic 18. Sex Girl 19. Wanna Be Your
Lover
It is a new day for premier soul man JOE Thomas. After ten
years signed to Jive Records, where he recorded the
platinum discs All That I Am (1997) and My Name is Joe
(2000), he has decided that now is the time to start taking
chances. “Nothing against being signed to a major
label, but most of the time it's about what they want you
to do as opposed to what the artist wants to do. I have
nothing against Jive, but I really just wanted to be me.
Seriously, I got tired of being held back.”
Teaming-up with his manager of 15 years, Kedar Massenburg,
who also serves as executive producer on the much
anticipated project, Joe has come back stronger than ever.
Indeed, from the first listen to his soulful emancipation
JOE Thomas,New Man (on 563 Music & Kedar Entertainment,
distributed by Fontana Distribution), it is obvious from
the looseness of his voice and the texture of his timbre
that he was feeling a little different. In addition, Joe
was also blessed with contributions from Nas, Game, Busta
Rhymes, Mario and Trey Songz, Snoop Dogg and P. Diddy which
will feature on the forthcoming remix album. “I only
like working with people who can take their art to the next
level. But, believe me, getting all the right folks for
this project was a blessing.”
With a voice that is sweet as chocolate and strong as
coffee, “Why Just Be Friends” is the perfect
summer record detailing the carnal blight of dudes, as Joe
explains, “gets caught in the friend zone too many
times.” Produced by the Stereotypes, a crew hailing
from Cleveland, Ohio, Joe says, “They passed along
some tracks, and I was really digging what these guys were
doing. I mixed the song myself in a home studio I have
owned for about eight years. I call it simply, Joe's Crib
Studio.” Admiring the genius and swagger of artists
like Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway, Joe's songs also share
the sacred/profane dilemma in his music that elevates
beyond the arena of his peers. From the sweet as cherry
Kool-Aide lyrics on “Man In Your Life” to
lonely teardrops of “Sorry” to the freaky deke
of “Triple Black Room,”
Joe continues to dig deep into his own psyche for the best
material. “The artists who are my heroes, be it
Marvin, Prince or Donny, were never too proud to reveal
there true selves. It is impossible to be a true artists if
your art isn't honest. Although it might hurt sometimes, I
have no problem baring the realness of my life in the
songs.” Coming across as a protector on the lush song
“I Won't Let Him Hurt You,” the track has
slight Asian touches in the music that is beautiful.
“I spend a lot of time overseas, and those sounds are
as much a part of my influence as soul or gospel. Once
nicknamed “the Casanova crooner” by Hip-Hop
Soul magazine, New Man proves that Joe has lost none of his
spunk or flavor. If anything, dude has simply gotten
better. Let's hear it for soul brother number one!
Our other new stuff! -->
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• Paul Carrack • The Family Stand • Stephen
Fearing • Warren G • The Golden Dogs • Hall
& Oates • Heaven 17 • Het Kaf • James
Kakande • Joel Kroeker • Jerry Lee Lewis •
Colin Linden • Mousse T • Jango • Manfred
Mann • Bruce Cockburn • Robert Palmer •
Runrig • Roachford • Blackie & TRK •
Marillion • Kenny Loggins • Chirs Pierce •
Ronnie Spector • Stephen Simmonds • Raphael
Saadiq • Truth Hurts • William Topley •
Amaryllis Temmerman • The Waterboys • Tom Wilson
• The Wrens • Tol & Tol • The Zombies
