Ricky White (New Album Alert!)

Daddy B. Nice's #54 ranked Southern Soul Artist



Portrait of Ricky White (New Album Alert!)  by Daddy B. Nice
 


"I'll Still Love You"

Ricky White (New Album Alert!)

Composed by Ricky White




March 1, 2020:

New Album Alert!


Buy Ricky White's new SOUTHERN SOUL NATION album at Apple.

SOUTHERN SOUL NATION TRACK LIST:


1
Southern Soul Nation

2
Facebook

3
Brown Horse

4
Try Me

5
Give Me That Nasty

6
Life's Too Short

7
Work It Girl

8
Take Care of Your Woman

9
Casino Blues

10
Grown & Sexy

11
Girl of My Dreams

12
Make Love All Night Long

Daddy B. Nice notes:

Ricky White is a trip and a half. On the one hand, he's the slickest and most superficial and most ill-placed artist on the southern soul circuit due to his almost complete antipathy for traditional southern soul. Most of his catalog betrays his pronounced musical inclinations for Roger Troutman/Bootsy Collins-style funk, with healthy dollops of fast-tempo, urban R&B and hiphop. He seems to listen to little if any southern soul music. He's recorded so few true southern soul songs (i.e. "I'll Still Love You") that it's a wonder he's considered a southern soul artist at all.

On the other hand, Ricky is a capable, even inspirational, southern soul singer and a genius at writing and arranging. Above all, Ricky, like so many genre-straddling artists (Bigg Robb, Jonathan Burton, Black Zack, Simeo) considers himself a southern soul artist, and southern soul music is nothing if not inclusive, embracing anyone who loves it.

Nothing illustrates these artistic contradictions and paradoxes better than Ricky White's newest release, Southern Soul Nation. The very title is enough to thrill a southern soul fan, because it is everything he or she dreams of: one nation devoted and dancing to southern soul music. The title tune's rhythm track is monstrously infectious, as are the lyrics:

"In the dirty South
We love that southern soul music.
Can't get enough
Of that funky music.

When the weekend comes
You feel it everywhere.
Make your body move,
Make you act the fool.

Southern Soul nation
We love to party..."

And then, at some point, you realize where that dynamic rhythm track and vocally-enhanced chorus comes from: none other than Dr. Dre's/2Pac's California Love," "only one of the greatest songs of the last two decades (315 million YouTube views and counting). So then the southern soul fan has to make a mental adjustment. Is he or she still enamored of the song? Does it further the southern soul cause?

I won't presume to make that call, because I'm still confused myself about whether I like or dislike what Ricky is doing. And Ricky is nothing if not shameless. He follows up "Southern Soul Nation" with a song called "Brown Horse," which cannibalize's the European New Wave group Laid Back's big eighties club hit and hard-drug anthem, "White Horse".

The album combines these outre' genre leaps with renditions of old Ricky White songs ("Grown And Sexy," "Casino Blues," etc.) and one commendable new tune, ."Facebook," a Daddy B. Nice Top 10 Single (February 2020) which almost single-handedly redeems the brazenness of the artistic felonies above. Through it all, Ricky White sings well and comports himself with unblinking confidence.

--Daddy B. Nice.

Listen to all the tracks from Ricky White's SOUTHERN SOUL NATION on YouTube.

Listen to Ricky White's new SOUTHERN SOUL NATION album on Spotify.

Buy Ricky White's bargain-priced SOUTHERN SOUL NATION CD at Target.

--Daddy B. Nice

SouthernSoulRnB.com - Chitlin' Circuit Southern Soul Music Guide

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For the latest updates on Ricky White, including Daddy B. Nice's frequent CD reviews of Ricky's work, scroll down to the "Tidbits" section.

To automatically link to Ricky White's charted singles, awards, CD's and other citations on the website, go to "White, Ricky" in Daddy B. Nice's Comprehensive Index.
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Daddy B. Nice's Original Profile


Ricky White's "I'll Still Love You," an old-fashioned love song, is as memorable as any number of great love anthems.

He's still never done better. Listen to Ricky White singing "I Still Love You" on YouTube.

In some of his media material Ricky White refers to "I'll Still Love You" as the "wedding song." The description isn't far-fetched. One can readily imagine the ballad accompanying the walk down the aisle.

"I'm so blessed
To have someone like you.
So sweet,
So warm,
Your love so true.

I never thought
I'd have a woman
Like you in my life.

I thank God every day
For a woman like you."

The lyrics have the ardor of nuptial vows. White has a distinctive tenor, and he presents the verses with a simple, unschooled sincerity reminiscent of Stan Mosley's superb slow jam, "Rock Me."

The arrangement features programmed horn charts over a tinkling, xylophone-like keyboard line. Synthetic strings wash over each verse like mild waves lapping a moonlit beach.

White slips between one and two-part harmonies through the body of the lines, giving the words a lush, comforting sound, switching back to a single voice or a fillip of singing voice-over for emphasis here and there.

Ricky White has a unique vocal timbre, an unvarnished, guy-next-door quality similar to Theodis Ealey and--at this point in time--maybe even a little stronger. As direct as the best country-western music, many of his phrases finish with a swirling, whiplash-sharp upturn that locks them into the memory banks of his listeners.

At this point in his career (the initial stage), White's unvarnished talent dominates his still-developing technique, lending not only "I'll Still Love You" but "Independent Woman" and "Come Back Home"--his three best slow jams--an across-the-board energy and power that over-the-hill artists relying on technique can't come close to matching.

On fast jams like his "Pop It, Then Drop It," "So Good To Me" and Pop That Thing," the listener hears the same bountiful excess of enthusiastic talent straining at the margins of each phrase. "Pop It, Then Drop It," is White's finest fast tune, utilizing a percussion track straight out of 80's disco house music and a creative brass accompaniment.

White's stage performances have already gained a reputation on the chitlin' circuit for razzle and dazzle, including unerring recreations of Michael Jackson's dance moves.

Listen to Ricky White, and watch his vaunted onstage dancing, while performing "So Good To Me" in a Lousiana roadhouse Live on YouTube.

Ricky's approach to material is still uneven and often derivative, by no means an uncommon trait of developing stars. For example, "Come Back Home," his duet with red-hot and iron-tough soul singer Betty Padgett, borrows its musical hook from Johnnie Taylor's "Running Out Of Lies," and the mid-tempo "Candy Man" steals its melody from Frank Lucas's "Good Thing Man."

On these lesser songs White's style comes off as a little too facile and formulaic. But on Sir Charles Jones-like ballads such as "I'll Still Love You" (from the Fully Loaded CD) and "Independent Woman" (from the out-of-print Mr. Juke Joint CD), White succeeds in burying his off-the-charts vocal dexterity into songs of admirable depth and authority, creating Southern Soul music that will endure.

--Daddy B. Nice


About Ricky White (New Album Alert!)

Ricky White was born September 4, 1963 and raised in Greenville, Mississippi. As a teen in the 70's he performed onstage with the White Family Band, a family aggregration that played local venues in the Delta towns in and around Greenville.

Mr. Juke Joint, White's debut album, appeared on Brimstone Records in 2006, with the singles "Candy Man," "Independent Woman" and "Make A Choice" registering chitlin' circuit airplay.

Fully Loaded (Brimstone, 2009) arguably White's most representative album, spawned the Southern Soul hit single, "I'll Still Love You" in addition to the singles "Come Back Home," "Ride My Pony" and "So Good To Me."

Reloaded , White's third CD, was released on Brimstone in 2011, featuring the fast jam, "Pop It, Then Drop It."

Combination, a Ricky White compilation album featuring other artists (in addition to White), came out in 2013 (CDS).

Majic, a full-length CD of all new Ricky White material, appeared later in 2013 (CDS). Scroll down to Tidbits #3 to read Daddy B. Nice's New CD Review.

Ricky White Presents Combination 2, another sampler album featuring other artists (in addition to White), came out in 2014.

At His Best: Vol. 1, a retrospective disc featuring Ricky White's most popular songs, was released in early 2015.

Ricky White's new LOVE ZONE CD was released by CDS/Music Access in August of 2015.

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SouthernSoulRnB.com - Chitlin' Circuit Southern Soul Music Guide

Scroll down to the TIDBITS section for more recent updates on Ricky White.



Song's Transcendent Moment

"If we live for
For a hundred years,
I'll give you
The kind of love
You can feel.

I'll make all of
Your dreams come true.

You're my friend.
You're my lover.
Girl, you're everything I need.
I thank God every day.

I love you.
Honey, I love you."


Tidbits

1.

More Ricky White on YouTube:


Listen to Ricky White singing "Shake" on YouTube.

Listen to Ricky White singing "Strong Woman" on YouTube.

Listen to Ricky White singing "Taste Your Love (I Want To Go Down)" on YouTube.

2.

February 18, 2012:


(From Daddy B. Nice's Best Southern Soul Songs of 2008)

Daddy B. Nice's Top 25 Southern Soul Singles of 2008....

22. "I'll Always Love You"-----------------------Ricky White

What a ballad--easily a contender for "best of" any year. Ricky White has matured since his debut album of a few years ago. Southern Soul deejays gathered up this slow-weeper and held it close with an enthusiasm reserved for--say--J. Blackfoot or Sir Charles Jones at their finest. "I'll Always Love You" becomes Ricky White's "signature" song.


3.

May 18, 2014:

RICKY WHITE: Majic (CDS) Four Stars **** Distinguished Effort. Should Please Old Fans And Gain New.


Shot into orbit around Planet Southern Soul by his 2013 signature smash single "Sexy"...

See Daddy B. Nice's Top 10 "BREAKING" Southern Soul Singles Review For DECEMBER 2013: #3-ranked;

...Ricky White's new Majic CD consolidates the distinctive tenor's claim to wider recognition on the ever-expanding chitlin' circuit. With lyrics like...

"Turn that thing around.
Drop it to the ground."

And...

"Make it nasty.
Work that sexy."

...White leaves little doubt that he's delving into an unabashed celebration of sexual love. And in the unlikely event there remains a sliver of uncertainty on that point, White's video with T.K. Soul and two twerking dancers practically pasting the two stars to the studio walls with their posteriors effectively eliminates any confusion.

See the Ricky White video of "Sexy" with T.K. Soul on YouTube.

Mixing his natural (and--in the past--occasionally superficial) flamboyance with a hard-earned and well-calculated musicality, Majic finds Ricky White returning with his most finely-honed, mid-tempo Southern Soul sound to date.

While there is nothing on the collection to match the emotive romanticism of White's 2009 masterpiece, "I'll Still Love You," sometimes referred to as "The Wedding Song"...

Listen to Ricky White singing "I'll Still Love You" on YouTube.

...the set more than makes up for it in its seamless quality and sound.

In addition to the slinky, mid-tempo charisma of "Sexy," the Greenville, Mississippi-born native turned successful Arkansas restaurateur and southern soul singer/songwriter shines on the mid-tempo "Jook Joint" (complete with artist shout-outs) and the engrossing ballad "Let Me Ride," with the very able female background of Tonya Youngblood.

Listen to Ricky White singing "Shake" on YouTube.

The dance jams "Shake" and the "Ricky White Shuffle" segue from the slower tracks with a consistency of sound (chirpy synthetic horns, Otis-like vocal tics and well-fleshed-out rhythm sections) that encourages multiple plays.

Among the slow to mid-tempo stand-outs are the Tyrone Davis-influenced "If You Don't Want Me" (although White's vocal timbre couldn't be more different) and "Casino Blues,"....

"Sometimes you win,
Sometimes you lose."

...which has a romantic beauty far greater than its mundane, playing-the-slots theme.

"Freaky Lover" begins with an Isleys-style guitar solo but quickly resolves into the synthetic wash of keyboards and brass that permeates the album as a whole, while the percolating "Blues Is All Good" (once again with terrific back-up by Ms. Youngblood) gradually reveals itself as a reiteration of Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean."

In his 21st-century artist guide to White, your Daddy B. Nice wrote:

Ricky White has a unique vocal timbre, an unvarnished, guy-next-door quality similar to Theodis Ealey and--at this point in time--maybe even a little stronger vocal power. As direct as the best country-western music, many of his phrases finish with a swirling, whiplash-sharp upturn that locks them into the memory banks of his listeners.

MAJIC fulfills those specifications and more. With all the music on the collection self-written and self-produced, the collection is highly-recommended.

--Daddy B. Nice

Read Daddy B. Nice's 21st-Century Southern Soul Artist Guide to Ricky White.

Sample/Buy Ricky White's MAJIC CD.

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4.



December 7, 2013: NEW ALBUM ALERT

Sample/Buy Ricky White's new MAJIC CD.

See Daddy B. Nice's #3 "Breaking" Southern Soul Single for December 2013 on Daddy B. Nice's Corner.

5.

May 19, 2014: NEW ALBUM ALERT!

Sample/Buy Ricky Whites new (2nd) compilation (with other artists) CD: RICKY WHITE PRESENTS: COMBINATION 2.

6.

May 19, 2014:

See Daddy B. Nice's analysis of Ricky White's MAJIC CD: New CD Reviews.

7.


May 25, 2014:

Go to Tidbits #3 to read Daddy B. Nice's new CD Review of Ricky White's SEXY.

See the Ricky White video of "Sexy" (with T.K. Soul) on YouTube.

8.


May 12, 2015: Daddy B. Nice reviews Ricky White's COMBINATION 2 SAMPLER: Re-posted from Daddy B. Nice's CD Reviews

VARIOUS ARTISTS: RICKY WHITE PRESENTS COMBINATION 2: Five Stars ***** Can't Miss. Pure Southern Soul Heaven.

(11/14/14) Ricky White's second sampler for CDS Records is more eclectic and musical than his first--Combination--and one of the most popular collections of the year. T.K. Soul's "Looking For A Lady" is the jewel in the necklace, but Nathaniel Kimble's "Bad Mama Jama," The Love Doctor's "Pop That Coochie" and Stephanie Pickett's "What Man Won't Do" sustain the momentum. Gwen White's "Ladies Got To Get That Money," with inbred references to Miz. B's "My Name Is $$$'s," is a delight, as is William Calhoun's enthusiastic run-up of the old "meeting-at-the-motel" subject, "Room 229" (DBN's #4 Single, June '14). And happily, there is very little drop-off to the second tier of artists like Betty Padgett, Tonya Youngblood, Henry Rhodes and Jerry L. Ricky White's only contribution this time around is a take-off on J. Blackfoot's "Just One Lifetime" ("Live My Life Again"). A special bonus is the first national release of the underground classic by Larry Milton, "Knockin' The Boots," a mutation of the old Sir Charles Jones/Love Doctor classic, "Slow Roll It." The only flaw in COMBINATION 2 is the low-budget, keyboard synthesizer fills on the Ricky White-produced tracks (most of them). The "tinny" sound was tolerable in early 00's southern soul music, when everything was new and hanging by a string financially, but not any more, and not with quite this frequency. Substituting a trio of background singers would add immeasurably to COMBINATION 3. DBN.

Sample/Buy the tracks from RICKY WHITE PRESENTS COMBINATION 2 at iTunes.

Sample/Buy the tracks from RICKY WHITE PRESENTS COMBINATION 2 at Amazon.

Listen to Gwen White singing "Ladies Got To Get That Money" on YouTube.

9.


September 15, 2015:

Daddy B. Nice On Ricky White's Latest

"LOVE ZONE bolts out of the gates as the deepest, compositionally-rich collection of ballads in Ricky White's career."

See New CD Reviews.


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September 7, 2015: NEW ALBUM ALERT!

Sample/Buy Ricky White's new LOVE ZONE CD at Blues Critic.

Listen to Ricky White featuring T.K. Soul singing "Redbone" (from the CD Love Zone) on YouTube.

10.


February 7, 2016: Re-Posted from Daddy B. Nice's NEW CD REVIEWS

September 12, 2015:

RICKY WHITE: Love Zone (CDS/Music Access) Four Stars **** Distinguished effort. Should please old fans and gain new.

Ricky White has made big strides since his first southern soul album, MR. JUKE JOINT, in 2006. The Greenville, Mississippi native has become one of the most prolific singer/songwriter/producers in the genre. Borrowing a little from Lenny Williams, a little from T.K. Soul and a little from Floyd Taylor and Robert "The Duke" Tillman (not to mention a lot from the master himself, the late Michael Jackson), White has fashioned a romantic yet sexy musical style, a unique and identifiable brand instantly recognizable to lovers of chitlin' circuit R&B.

Love Zone, the refreshing new installment in the Ricky White saga, contains all the incidentals-—the little squeals and “oohs” and “ahhs” and "hey babes," the brassy but tinny, synthesizer arrangements, the old-school and gospel inflections--that define the Ricky White sound. The songs tend toward the contemplative, with ballads predominating, and at their best moments they weave perfect background music for lovers and loving.

"Freaky Lover" encapsulates all of what Ricky White does best, the husky yet upper-register-laced, conversational intimacy, while the steamy cerebral sex in "Taste Your Love" evokes a romantic aura so strong the carnality of the lyrics hardly registers. "Taste Your Love" has the edge to be a significant single.

There are plenty of celebrated guests and contributors. "We Cried Together" presents a duet with Jerry L. (Jerry L. Minnis out of Memphis, who really cuts loose).

The Frank-O Johnson-written "Redbone," the featured single from the album, showcases a duet with T.K. Soul, albeit T.K. tweaked into synthesized anonymity.

"Ride Your Body," another piece of aural seduction, has already been covered by southern soul icon Charles Wilson. (Listen on YouTube.) Note, however, that both "Freaky Lover" and "Ride Your Body" previously appeared on 2013's MAJIC, still arguably White's best overall.

I noted the single-worthiness of the sultry ballad "Taste Your Love" from the set (above), but any of the LOVE ZONE ballads would qualify. "Angel" (a B-side version of "I'll Still Love You"), "Making Love," "I'll Always Love You Forever," "Super Woman" and "Strong Woman" are all strong, verse-and-chorus ballads.

There is one drawback: the canned sound, the sameness. Even allowing for the tolerance the southern soul audience has for programmed instrumental tracks, LOVE ZONE pushes the limits. Today's southern soul stars--new and old--are dazzling fans with live instruments and lush productions, compared to which White's arrangements--most specifically the faux brass sections--come off as neolithic, sometimes annoying and on the whole less than generous.

But with that caveat, and as it is, Love Zone bolts out of the gates as the most compositionally-rich collection of ballads of Ricky White's career.

--Daddy B. Nice

Sample/Buy Ricky White's new LOVE ZONE CD at Blues Critic.

Sample/Buy Ricky White's new LOVE ZONE CD at iTunes.

Read Daddy B. Nice's Artist Guide to Ricky White.

Ricky White is the #54-ranked artist on Daddy B. Nice's Top 100 Southern Soul Songs: 21st Century Countdown (00's – 10's). See the chart.

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SouthernSoulRnB.com - Chitlin' Circuit Southern Soul Music Guide
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11.


May 30, 2016:

NEW ALBUM ALERT!



Sample/Buy Ricky White's Combination 3 (Various Artists) CD at iTunes.

Sample/Buy Ricky White's new Combination 3 (Various Artists) CD at Amazon.

Artists featured on the collection



Pop It Baby
by Donnie Ray

Baby You're Ready
by Ricky White

Body Roll
by Ricky White & Nathaniel Kimble

Sunshine Lady
by Vick Allen & Ricky White

My Main Squeeze
by Ghetto Cowboy

Listen to Ghetto Cowboy singing "My Main Squeeze" on YouTube.

Hit It Again
by Stevie J.

Sit on My Face
by Nathaniel Kimble

Listen to Nathaniel Kimble singing "Come Sit On My Face" on YouTube.

Let's Chill
by Jerry L.

Good Thang
by Adrena

Real Woman
by Ricky White

Listen to Ricky White singing "Real Woman" on YouTube.

Do Me
by Henry Rhoades

Let Me Love You
by Candi Man

Sneaking & Cheating
by Vickie Baker

Redbone
by Ricky White & T.K. Soul

Listen to Ricky White and T.K. Soul singing "Redbone" on YouTube.

Daddy B. Nice notes: Ricky White productions all, heavy on the synths and auto-tune for a slick, well-produced sound far from the old-school simplicity of the singer's original hit, "I'll Still Love You" (below).

SouthernSoulRnB.com - Chitlin' Circuit Southern Soul Music Guide

12.


July 18, 2016:

RICKY WHITE: Combination 3: Various Artists (CDS) Three Stars *** Solid. The artists' fans will enjoy.



The arrival of two new Ricky White-produced albums from CDS, Donnie Ray's TWO WAY LOVE AFFAIR and Ricky White’s COMBINATION 3: VARIOUS ARTISTS, follows a relative hiatus of a couple of years for the label and a short-lived affiliation with producer Jonathan Burton after the departure in 2011-12 for reasons of health of Carl Marshall.

CDS CEO Dylann DeAnna, who started out with grand intentions of utilizing all live instruments (in the manner of Jackson, Mississippi's Malaco Records in its heyday) soon fell victim to the financial realities. As the years have passed, he's also shown less relish to risk money on marginally-marketable recordings, which--to his credit--he often did in the early years, publishing an unknown Stephanie Pickett, a forgotten Cicero Blake and Stan Mosley, not to mention many artists (Captain Jack Watson, Jody Sticker, Mister Zay, Bobbye Johnson RIP) whose CDS recordings represented their last shots to date.

Headlining both Donnie Ray's new set--the first designated single, released a month ago--and kicking off the third in Ricky White's popular COMBINATION series, is "Pop It, Baby (or "Pop That Thang") It's brassy, it's slick, it's pumped-up on musical steroids, and it may be the biggest miscalculation of Donnie Ray's career.

Listen to Donnie Ray singing "Pop It, Baby" on YouTube.

Any vestiges of the "middle ground," the subtly-swinging, rocking-the-cradle sound of Donnie Ray's southern soul oeuvre throughout his Ecko years (including the classics "A Letter To My Baby" and "Who's Rockin' You?"), are blown away by the crater left by Ricky White's nuclear-bomb, throw-in-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink production of "Pop That Thing."

Why am I left unfazed by this, when a Bigg Robb "techno" track never fails to get me moving, and simultaneously still sounds like authentic southern soul? There's something empty or missing at the core of "Pop It Baby," in a way that it's not missing from a similarly dance-'till-you're-senseless tune like Lil' Jimmie's "She Was Twerkin'." Lil' Jimmie sounds authentic. You can visualize the woman he's singing about twerking. "Pop It Baby" is music about music, twice removed from reality. You don't experience reality. You don't see the gal.

Which brings us to Ricky White's COMBINATION 3: VARIOUS ARTISTS. Say what you will about White, he attracts the talent. T. K. Soul, Vick Allen (both far more sophisticated producers than he, but here they are), Nathaniel Kimble, Vickie Baker (remember her?), in addition to Ghetto Cowboy, Stevie J., Jerry L. (whose "Ooh Wee" with White arranging was a hit) and newcomers Candi Man and Henry Rhoades.

Many of the songs on this eclectic collection come from high-profile stints on chitlin' circuit streaming platforms and the Stations of the Deep South. "Redbone," featuring T.K. Soul doodling with a vocal enhancer while White's mingling vocal rises to a falsetto on the choruses, appeared in 2015.

Ghetto Cowboy's "Main Squeeze" had a modest run on southern soul radio as a "response" song to Big Pokey Bear's wildly popular (and much more authentically-arranged) "My Sidepiece," and "Hit It Again" by Stevie J. made some radio ripples earlier this year.

Vick Allen appears in a Ricky White arrangement for the first time in "Sunshine Lady," and the irony of composer/arrangers as sophisticated as T.K. Soul and Vick Allen submitting themselves to arrangements less sophisticated than they themselves would demand for their own solo albums is not lost on your Daddy B. Nice. "Sunshine Lady" comes off pretty well, but it's closer to a (White-produced) Jerry L. track than anything on Allen's own, far-superior SOUL MUSIC.

Jerry L., by the way, delivers a spectacular vocal on "Let's Chill".

The ascendant Adrena, who just released a break-through CD with all live instruments (see Daddy B. Nice's 5-star review on this page), appears in a Ricky White vehicle, "Good Thang," which in spite of the domestic lyrics sounds like a mellower version of Donnie Ray's "Pop It, Baby" (discussed above). Same song structure, same timing, same arranging motifs, i.e. programmed horns. It doesn't hold a candle to her work on the BETTER DAYS CD.

On the other hand, one of the high points of COMBINATION 3 is White's own "Baby, You're Ready," an impressively-sung ballad with a strong and original arrangement. I think I made it all the way through the song without hearing one single repetitive horn program. All the musical effects are novel--that is, unexpected, as they should be--and the whole song benefits. New sounds, convincing emotion. Suddenly Ricky White is singing with the authenticity of old. Originality is such a big part of being authentic.

Hidden in all this set's talent is the salacious "Come Sit On My Face," lyrically the equivalent of going to the movies and finding your boyfriend's penis in the popcorn bag. But it's Nathaniel Kimble, and its adds a ribald and gritty touch to an otherwise mild-mannered album.

Finally, it's nice to hear Vickie Baker--a true contemporary southern soul pioneer who hasn't lost her touch--whose relaxed vocal takes the edge off White's typically distracting arrangement. And Henry Rhoades delivers an out-of-left-field, funk-tinged number, "Do Me," that inspires an interesting (again, because different and unexpected) White arrangement, in stark contrast to "Let Me Love You," in which White pretty much ruins Candi Man's debut with that horn program he bafflingly loves so much.

Ultimately, COMBINATION 3 succeeds on variety. The far-ranging styles of the artists offset the occasional sameness of the arrangements, as has been the case in COMBINATIONS past. But Ricky White can't continue the try the patience of fans by recycling the same old programmed arrangements indefinitely. Basically, if a fan's not surprised and finally seduced by an arrangement, the song is not and never will be a hit.

The arrogance of producers like Ricky White is that they think the fans are already seduced by their arranging tics and toys. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ricky White could clean out his entire "bag" of arranging tools and be a better producer tomorrow. It's not his talent I question. It's his due diligence.

--Daddy B. Nice

Sample/Buy Ricky White’s COMBINATION 3: VARIOUS ARTISTS CD at Soul Blues Music.

Sample/Buy Ricky White’s COMBINATION 3: VARIOUS ARTISTS CD at iTunes.

SouthernSoulRnB.com - Chitlin' Circuit Southern Soul Music Guide

13.


July 3, 2017:

New Album Alert: GROWN AND SEXY

Sample/Buy Ricky White's new GROWN AND SEXY album at iTunes.

GROWN AND SEXY TRACK LIST



1
Bounce (Radio Version)

2
She Got It Like That

3
Chillin' with My Baby

4
Grown & Sexy

5
Cookie Thang

6
Body Callin'

7
Booty Clap

8
Baby You're Ready

9
Sexy (Remix)

10
Stay Out of My Business

11
Shake (Remix)

12
I'll Still Love You

13
Bounce (Full Club Version)

Daddy B. Nice notes:

Ricky White's new album reprises his signature song, "I'll Still Love You"--a very welcome gesture to his fans--and also reruns one of the best singles from his last album, "Baby, You're Ready." "Shake," "Sexy" and "Bounce" also make remix appearances.

Listen to Ricky White singing "I'll Still Love You" on YouTube.

Listen to Ricky White singing "Baby, You're Ready" on YouTube.

SouthernSoulRnB.com - Chitlin' Circuit Southern Soul Music Guide

14.


July 22, 2018:

New Album Alert!


Sample/Buy RICKY WHITE PRESENTS COMBINATION 4: VARIOUS ARTISTS at Amazon.

RICKY WHITE PRESENTS COMBINATION 4 Track List:

1. She Put That Thang on Me (Radio Version)
Ghetto Cowboy

2. Take Care of Your Woman (Radio Version)
Ricky White

3. This Time
Billy Soul Bonds

4. Tighten Up
William Calhoun

5. I'm Just a Fool
Magic One & Ricky White

6. She Got It Like That (Radio Version)
Ricky White

7. Grown Folks Spot
Donnie Ray

8. Back Door Lover
Stephanie Pickett

9. Let's Party (Alternate Version)
Ghetto Cowboy

10. I Want Me a Mirror (Radio Version)
William Calhoun

11. I Can Still Roll It
The Love Doctor

12. Bounce (Radio Version)
Ricky White

13. Redbone (feat. T.K. Soul)
Ricky White

Daddy B. Nice notes:

I had to look at the title of Ricky White's new sampler twice. Sure enough, it's #4, and yet White's duet with T.K. Soul, "Redbone," still anchors the last spot on the track list, as it did on #3. As with any Ricky White sampler, you have to accept cliched songwriting and the hiccuping of programmed horns. On the other hand, the tempos are brisk (not to mention almost mix-like in their similarity), the vocals are good and the variety impressive. Billy "Soul" Bonds appears with his first single in a couple of years, in a song produced by Ricky. Ghetto Cowboy makes two appearances; the remix of "Let's Party" is especially fine.

Listen to Ghetto Cowboy singing "Let's Party (Alternate Version)" on YouTube.

Unknown and seldom-recorded William Calhoun appears twice, fairly well-known debut artist Magic One once, and rarely-recorded Stephanie Pickett has a good turn in Back Door Lover.

Listen to all the tracks from VARIOUS ARTISTS: RICKY WHITE PRESENTS COMBINATION 4 on YouTube.

Buy RICKY WHITE PRESENTS COMBINATION 4: VARIOUS ARTISTS at CD Baby.

Buy RICKY WHITE PRESENTS COMBINATION 4: VARIOUS ARTISTS at iTunes.



If You Liked. . . You'll Love

If you liked J. Blackfoot's "I'm Just A Fool," you'll love Ricky White's "I'll Still Love You."





Honorary "B" Side

"Sexy"




5 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars 
Sample or Buy I'll Still Love You by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
I'll Still Love You


CD: Fully Loaded
Label: Brimstone

Sample or Buy
Fully Loaded


5 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars 
Sample or Buy Sexy by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Sexy


CD: Majic

Sample or Buy
Sexy


5 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars 
Sample or Buy I'll Still Love You (Remastered) by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
I'll Still Love You (Remastered)


CD: Combination
Label: CDS

Sample or Buy
Combination


5 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars 
Sample or Buy Independent Woman by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Independent Woman


CD: Mr. Juke Joint
Label: Brimstone

Sample or Buy
Mr. Juke Joint


4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars 
Sample or Buy Come Back Home (w/ Betty Padgett) by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Come Back Home (w/ Betty Padgett)


CD: Fully Loaded
Label: Brimstone

Sample or Buy
Fully Loaded


4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars 
Sample or Buy Pop It, Then Drop It by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Pop It, Then Drop It


CD: Reloaded
Label: Brimstone

Sample or Buy
Reloaded


4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars 
Sample or Buy Redbone feat. T.K. Soul by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Redbone feat. T.K. Soul


CD: Love Zone
Label: CDS/Music Access

Sample or Buy
Love Zone


3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars 
Sample or Buy Candy Man by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Candy Man


CD: Mr. Juke Joint
Label: Brimstone

Sample or Buy
Mr. Juke Joint


3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars 
Sample or Buy Casino Blues by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Casino Blues


CD: At His Best: Vol. 1
Label: CDS/Music Access

Sample or Buy
At His Best: Vol. 1


3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars 
Sample or Buy Live My Life Again by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Live My Life Again


CD: Ricky White Presents Combination 2
Label: CDS



3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars 
Sample or Buy Make A Choice by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Make A Choice


CD: Mr. Juke Joint
Label: Brimstone

Sample or Buy
Mr. Juke Joint


3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars 
Sample or Buy Pop That Thing by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Pop That Thing


CD: Reloaded
Label: Brimstone

Sample or Buy
Reloaded


3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars 
Sample or Buy Ride My Pony by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Ride My Pony


CD: Fully Loaded
Label: Brimstone

Sample or Buy
Fully Loaded


3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars 
Sample or Buy So Good To Me by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
So Good To Me


CD: Fully Loaded
Label: Brimstone

Sample or Buy
Fully Loaded


3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars 
Sample or Buy Stacked In Back by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Stacked In Back


CD: Reloaded
Label: Brimstone

Sample or Buy
Reloaded


2 Stars 2 Stars 
Sample or Buy Thin Line Between Love And Hate by Ricky White (New Album Alert!)
Thin Line Between Love And Hate


CD: Fully Loaded
Label: Brimstone

Sample or Buy
Fully Loaded





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