Once you hear Earl Jackson, Jr.'s (http://www.ejacksonjr.com) voice, you will no doubt be able to spot the influences right away: Luther Vandross. Teddy Pendergrass. Al Green. Jackson is a Soul Man, an increasingly dying breed in the rap-dominated R&B world. And he is certainly blessed with a voice that can melt women's hearts, which is the only reason you should be listening to music like this.
A collection of covers and original material written by Jackson himself, "Make You Love Me" is surprisingly consistent; Jackson's own songs have no problems standing alongside the prime cuts he has chosen to remake from artists such as the Isley Brothers, Brian McKnight, and Carole King. Some pretty heavy hitters, right? Shockingly the best track on here is from Jackson himself: "You Move Me." In "You Move Me," Jackson is hunting high and low for his spiritual kin; it's much deeper than the title suggests.
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Jackson's voice makes all the right moves, snuggling its way into a woman's arms into the slow burn of the title track and getting funky on "More and More." The quality of his vocal work never decreases; in fact, it seems to become more intense as the album goes on.
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man" is a gender-switched cover of a King classic made famous by Aretha Franklin, and Jackson nails it, his vocals brimming with passion and sensuality.
Bring this CD with you on your next date - or your honeymoon.
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