En Vogue

What else to say about this group. With great songs and the vocals to match, this is simply a great compilation of hits!

Hey, if you are feenin' for the sounds of your favorite Divas without having to buy all their albums, this is definitely for you. If you are looking for a great quality production, you may want to look elsewhere. This CD kind of sounds like an audio tape, so if you've been spoiled by the latest technology and cannot stand old stuff, it's probably better to buy the original CD's.

If I hear one more person say that somebody like TLC is the best girl group ever, I will hurl. They may have been the best-selling convection of recent time, but let's be real the quality of their music leaves alot to be desired. I like several of their songs, but EnVoge paved the way for TLC, DESTINY'S CHILD, SPICE GIRLS, SWV, and the PUSSYCAT DOLLS (YUCK!) The classiest funkiest group of ladies since the Labelles and Supremes! I like almost every song, but listen and let the CD just play. So it gets 5 stars. Its too bad EV didn't come out right now, they'd be the hottest thing in music industry. Sadly, the chemicals have to be 'just right' to continue torrid success in black music. The Industry is fical about who and what they decide to promote fairly in R & B. Toni Braxton was as big as Celine Dion, now she can't even get on VH1. If you like soulful fun-loving romantic sassy R & B, you will love this album. The songs they chose are choice for old fans and new ones unfamilar with the ladies of EnVogue. Unfortunately once Dawn left, the group was never the same. She needed her sisters and they definitely needed her. Their last big hit was right before she left. Like with many group dynamics money becomes an issue for one or all of them. Dawn said she had no money, split a small lottery fortune 4 ways+ production ect. you won't have any money. But that doesn't diminish their great accomplishments and great records, this is one of them. My favorites are "Whata Man, Lies, Part of Me, Giving him something he can feel, Never Gonna Git it) but theres too many to name. The only group I can even compare them to I guess is Destiny's Child, as far as quality of the time. EV was considered hip, sexy, and all had good voices. These record company execs need to take a look how to put together and promote quality artists.

No matter what these ladies do later on in their careers, they will always be the FUNKY DIVAS OF SOUL!! This second "Best Of" offering is a little more comprehensive as the first only scratched the surface of their work. Included here are two of the four hits from BORN TO SING ("Don't Go" & "You Don't Have To Worry") which were omitted from the first "Greatest Hits" LP. Although I would have preferred "Just Can't Stay Away", "Too Gone, Too Long" and "Damn, I Wanna Be Your Lover" over "so-so" tracks like "Waitin' On You", "Love Don't Love You" and the "Hold On" Remix, I was still quite pleased with this offering. Hopefully one day other fan favorites like "Riddle", "Sad But True" and "Love Won't Take Me Out" (from MASTERPIECE THEATRE) will make the cut on future compilations. At any rate, anything with the "En Vogue" name attached is always worth a listen.

LOVE, PEACE & SOUL FLOWER! PASS IT ON!!

First, of all I love this group. This was one of the best Black Female group of the 90's. These women could sing very well and they were beautiful I have the best of Envogue it is a great cd.
But, this cd has a lot more Envogue songs to offer. If you liked Envogue during the 90's then you would definitely love this cd. I wish the original members would get back together and do another album .

This product came really fast and I appreciated it. It was in good condition and I really enjoy it. Thank you

En Vogue's first album just exploded onto the scene in 1990. I thought that they made a wonderful first album that is full of strong singing from the California-based R&B quartet. I've since lost the cassette, but I'd definitely get the CD version of this album. There's more emphasis on R&B, but the shades of hip-hop beats are sprinkled within songs like Hold On (still a classic) and You Don't Have To Worry. I still love the ballad Don't Go and a surprise is the wonderful remake of Natalie Cole's Just Can't Stay Away. They helped inspire many R&B girl groups that came out in the 90s and they had class too in this album and their performances. Please get this album soon!

I enjoy the album still to this day. All the songs are good, but I listen a couple of songs more than others such as Hold On, You don't have to worry, Don't Go. This is a great album, which I don't planning on selling or trading anytime soon.

I never noticed En Vogue much growing up. I guess I was more invovled with the hip-hop/soul quirkiness of TLC to really notice this sassy quartet. Sure I had heard of their mind blowing "Free Your Mind" and harmonizing funk of "Never Gonna Get My Love" from their highly acclaimed 1992 release "Funky Divas" but I never really delved into their music untill now. I brought "Born To Sing" at my local used music store and I was amazed at how fresh this album sounds even though this album is fifteen years old!
En Vogue has a style that is sexy, brash and classy, not to mention their stellar vocal stylings which all four women mesh well together and never sound boring or competing. The women of En Vogue (Dawn, Cindy, Terri and Maxine) take turns sharing the spotlight on their 1990 debut and they all can hold their own.
With a little help from Club Noveau (spell?-they brought you the remake of the Bill Withers classic "Lean On Me" and were once called the Timex Social Club which had a hit called "Rumors") members Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster, En Vogue captures the esscense of early 90's New Jack with their debut.
The hits were the street funky "Hold On" which features a nice little intro of the Jackson 5's "Who's Loving You" but seems out of place with the song itself. "Lies" was next with it's hip-hop New Jack piano and a female rapper named Debbie T. Then the harmonious "You Don't Have To Worry" and the drum machine drenched "Don't Go" summed up the biggest hits off the album and also the best songs off the album. The other tracks hold up well against the hits, such as the quirky and sharp "Strange" and the small interlude of the Andrews Sisters classic "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" which had a hip-hop flair to it and that I wished was longer. "Luv Lines" is another notable which features some great keyboard work and showcases some demanding singing from Dawn. And the bonus track "Waitin' On You" features some sultry vocals from Cindy and a wonderful sax by late great sax player Grover Washington Jr. and the glorious remake of "Just Can't Stay Away" holds well with the original. Still there are some duds like the eerie "Part Of Me" which isn't great at times and it can be sleep enducing but still En Vogue take turns at singing lead on this one and I give them props for that. Also "Time Goes On" is verry annoying after a couple of listens especially with the repetative "Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock" it practically drove me insane at first listen!
With some funny interludes ("Party" features the girls at a party being approached by some stupid guys, it's verry funny and it reminds me of some of the guys that approach me at parties-you do want to say "NOOO!"), harmonous vocals, toe-tapping music and a sense of style and class from these ladies you will fully enjoy "Born To Sing" if you buy it. I'm now planning on purchasing "Funky Divas" and more En Vogue albums (though sadly Dawn left and the group it was never the same). A very good solid debut that makes you want to stand up and applaud!

StarSprinkles Top 5
1. Lies
2. Don't Go
3. You Don' Have To Worry
4. Luv Lines
5. Waitin' On You (tie w/Hold On)

Cindy has the airy voice. Dawn, the soul. Terry, the power. Maxine, the sexiness. Combined, they were one of the most well-known girl goups known to man: En Vogue.

En Vogue was spawned by a couple of memebers from Culture Club, Denny Foster and Thomas McElroy. Who would've known what a group EV would turn out to be? En Vogue is the group that most artists then and now modeled themselves after and list as inspirations.

You can't go wrong with soulful voices that all fit the bill of being a true soloist. The voices blended together create harmony that is almost unheard of these days. Even in the faster songs you hear the harmony that we all loved. "Hold On" is the most recognized song that shot EV to super-stardom. It starts with a lovely and well-known acappella version of "Who's Lovin' You" from Jackson 5. Terry leads and the girls back her up well, and then Cindy throws down on the rest of the leads. Cindy also leads on the classic "You Don't Have To Worry", another hit for the girls. All of the girls share leads on the tight New Jack Swing song "Lies", which also has a cameo from a relatively unknown Debbie T (those of you with ears to the underground know her, mainstream America doesn't). The song flows effervescently. Also worth mentioning is the song "Luv Lines", in which Dawn belts out with the soul we all love.

If anything, a girl group must come hard with ballads or they will fall into obscurity; never the case with En Vogue. With such lovely-blended voices, how can you go wrong with ballads? Check out "Part of Me", my favorite song on the album. Each girls sings a lead and then harmonizes well, and the harmony soars throughout the song. This song isn't really a ballad as much as it is a socially themed song, but the girls reall shine on it. Definitely check out the song "Don't Go", in which Terry really shows off her vocal versatility. The girls throw down with this old-school type song. Speaking of old school, "Just Can't Stay Away" is one of the best remakes I have heard in a while. The girls' voices soar over Terry's leads, and this song is just a masterpiece!

We also are treated to a couple of interludes...one, a funny one in the beginning of the album, "Party" is just too much for me! lol. Also, at the end of "Strange", you get a funny interlude with Terry and Cindy talking about people. Also, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" is an updated version of the classic Andrews Sister song...just listen to Terry say "uh uh, not that version" and you will laugh like crazy. En Vogue is definitely known for their crazy interludes.

The one song I didn't care for on here was "Time Goes On". I just couldn't get into it, because it really grated on my nerves after trying to like it.

En Vogue epitomizes harmony in every sense of the word. When you think of En Vogue, you think, "man, them girls can sing!". What a perfect title for this album. A definite R&B collector's item!!

Funky Divas by En Vogue was a childhood favorite of mine. These four gals could definitely sang!! Songs like Giving Him Something He Can Feel, Free Your Mind, and My Lovin' (Never Gonna Get It) are some of the classics here. This album makes me feel nostaglic and happy, buy it for the memories. Enjoy!

That IS a rhetorical question, by the way.

These ladies are so much fun to listen to! "You're Never Gonna Get It" brings me back to my childhood. The rhythms, the inserted rap (before profanity and the "N" word were requirements), the harmonies, the attitude. It makes you happy! Not their best album, but an excellent listen!

En Vogue's sophomore set definitely pushed their popularity into the stratosphere! After achieving great success in the r&b world with their debut, one song from this album FREE YOUR MIND, garnered heightened attention from the MTV crowd and exposed them to new audiences.

En Vogue definitely debuted at a time when there were no girl groups of note in r&b and their stunning 4 part harmonies upped the ante in the game and caused other record labels to scramble to try to find the right combination of young women to rival this group. This is a solid follow-up to their promising debut album and I'd highly recommend it.

Their covers of YESTERDAY, GIVIN HIM SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL & HOOKED ON YOUR LOVE are georgeous solely due to their ability to harmonize so well. My other favorites are the tracks that helped push this album into multi-platinum status:

MY LOVIN - YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET IT - timeless classic that sounded like nothing on the radio at that time

GIVE IT UP, TURN IT LOOSE - another well constructed mid-tempo track

LOVE DON'T LOVE YOU

FREE YOUR MIND

THIS IS YOUR LIFE

This item came really fast and I appreciated it. It was in good condition. Thank you

So I was inspired to buy this the other day because lately, I've just been craving some good ol' 90's R&B music, you know? I really wasn't expecting to like it as much as I do. Some songs go on a little too long and there were one or two songs I just didn't care for, like "Hip Hop Lover." But the rest is great and I really enjoyed it. These are some talented women and they can truly harmonize! Unlike another reviewer, I actually enjoyed the spoken word sections and I think they add a lot of personality to the disc. I especially love the little dictionary bit at the end of "What Is Love." I highly recommend this.

Great tunes as fresh and fun now as they were back in the day. If these girls don't put a smile on your face and warm your heart, there is no hope for you. Every song's a winner on this great collection. Whether you're on the road, entertaining friends, or just want to unwind at the end of a stressful day, this disc will have you smiling, so pick it up and get moving.

Cannot give this CD a good review because it was so scatched it repeated the same song. The seller did refund my money, which I did not request but did get an email about "you got your order, what else can I do for your?" Thanks, Mary A. Mooney

I suppose if you must, this is the best of your available choices in terms of hard-to-find material. There's four songs not available on any proper EV album; it contains soundtrack single No Fool No More, the radio version of Love Don't Love You (with a much better beat), plus two hidden bonus tracks: the radio remix of Let It Flow (previously unreleased in the US), and a completely new extended remix of Hold On (which is NOT the same as the remix on the Very Best of En Vogue--it's updated, more house-like).
Everything else can be found on their albums, and unfortunately the single versions were often preferrable--EVERY song here once had a different radio mix. There has NEVER been an En Vogue compilation with all the single versions, and it's irritating. I keep hoping they'll release one eventually.
So you could buy this and get mostly album tracks that aren't necessarily what you remember off the radio; or you could buy their full-length albums and explore their other good "filler" tracks, like Yesterday, Hooked On Your Love, The Right Direction, and Fallin' In Love.
This set also lacks You Don't Have To Worry (one of the surprisingly few top 40 pop hits they had, I don't know why it's not here), Don't Go (a fairly major R&B-only hit), and Riddle (from the subsequent Masterpiece Theater album).

The ONLY advantage "The Very Best Of..." has over this is that the Very Best Of has liner notes with a fairly thorough group bio, chart positions, promo photos, and album references. This comp has pretty much nothing of interest in the liner notes. I don't honestly know who reads these besides me, though.

So, yeah. The Best of En Vogue is adequate, but not great, and the other compilations honestly aren't any better.

For the record, the single versions were as follows:
1) My Lovin': less one chorus and half the annoying "you bet!" bridge, although the heavily sampled Hyperadio remix was also popular
2) Hold On: additional instrumental bridge, different fade, sometimes without the a capella intro (for better or for worse)
3) Whatta Man: snappier remix, additional/CLEARER adlibs by En Vogue, earlier fade
4) Free Your Mind: chopped two choruses, and it honestly needs the edit. There were various R&B-oriented radio remixes, too.
5) Don't Let Go: shorter intro and fade, chopped some adlibs
6) No Fool No More: slightly more poppy remix
7) Whatever: minimal edit to intro
8) Giving Him Something He Can Feel: edits to the intro and spoken bridge
9) Lies: completely overhauled music, more danceable beat
10) Give It Up Turn It Loose: they got rid of that ANNOYING spoken intro
11) Runaway Love: earlier fade
12) Too Gone Too Long: earlier fade
If they could just put out a comp with the radio versions of 1-5, and 8-10, it'd be so much more worthwhile.

In my eye, this CD is NOT complete because the theme to 'Roc'...'Live Your Life Today' is not on here, or anywhere. Actually, watching reruns of Roc reminded me that their 2nd theme song is beautiful, and they should have promoted that song. Sad...

But, I love those funky divas!

This was a dynamic girl group these women posessed beauty, class, style, and grace and they all could sing every last four of these woman sing well they all can sing unlike other groups where you have one good singer these women are educated, beautiful, talented they all have beautiful voices, they all posess class they all can sing and dance and they all posess style by the way that they dress so therefore what else can you say about these women but I wish that they would have stuck together because they were good so therefore whenever I need a taste of Envogue I listen to this cd and the other cds that I have by them but this is one of my favorite Envogue cds it contains some of my favorites: Don't let go love, Hold on, Lies, Free Your Mind, Give it up turn it loose, and many others I love this album these women should reunite and get back together and do some more good music together I really do enjoy this cd and reccommend anyone who likes Envogue to purchase this cd!!!!

En Vogue set the standard for themselves with the 1992's "Funky Divas." The record was a mixture of various musical styles, executed with a demure & mature sense of soulfulness. One wonders if they can ever really match its success and innovation?

2000's "Masterpiece Theatre" is a yes & no to that question. This record finds the three ladies of En Vogue pushing on without Dawn Robinson, their former pseudo-leader. But Terry, Maxine, & Cindy seemed to have fused well as a three-piece, making their own unique charisma minus Robinson. With longtime producers Foster & McElroy at the production helms, "Masterpiece Theatre" is another assured, mature, sensual, and stylish R&B record.

What makes this record unique (and where the title makes sense) is that Foster & McElroy fuse popular classical music sounds into their already airtight R&B formulas. In most cases, this works with stunning results. Again, En Vogue's trademark harmonies work well over cuts such as "Love You Crazay" which utilizes The Nutcracker's "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" melody winningly. "Those Dogs" also utilizes a loop from the popular musical theater production "Carmen Jones", which is where En Vogue again show off those lush harmonies.

Other highlights include lead-single "Riddle" which drops in an interpolated nod to the vintage sass of "My Lovin' (Never Gonna Get It), the melancholic emotion of "Whatever Will Be, Will Be", & the coy dance number "Beat of Love", is a winner as well.

The record comes close in its artistic scope to reaching the level of "Funky Divas." The "En Vogue Love Suite" which is the center of the record scores them points for creative leaps & bounds. Though it feels a little too "well-mannered" & "polished" in spots. One wishes for Terry, Cindy, & Maxine to raise the attitude levels more. But, again the record is based in its slinkiness & positive appeal as demonstrated on "No, No, No (Can't Come Back)" & finds En Vogue keeping it cool & collected on this slightly over-polished, but appealing record. Highly recommended.

You know, it's such a shame when the American music market sleeps on the work of real musical talents such as En Vogue. This is, in my opinion, their best piece of work.

The standouts:

No, No No (Can't Come Back)
Sad But True
and Number One Man

The gem of Masterpiece Theatre

Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be)

Excellent job, ladies.

I bought this used two days ago and I'm pretty glad I didn't pay full price. Mind you, Masterpiece Theater is not as bad everyone is saying, but by no means is it good. It's definitely below average. The production is just alright. At times, it is quite mediocre, cheesy and basic. The vocals are not very good. As mentioned by another reviewer, the ad-libs are bad and there is definitely some off-key singing on here. The songs are so, so repetitive and the nice harmonies cannot save them. The songs are poorly written, the lyrics are not great. Some may call the sampling of classical masterpieces as ingenious, but I see it more as a scheme to make their songs instantly familiar without having to pay the big check. (After 50 years of a composer's death, the samples can be used free of charge and without credit.) Also, the no-name rappers are terrible. There are one or two alright songs on here, unfortunately, I can't really remember which ones.

So everyone gave Dawn Robinson a really nasty time for "leaving" (read getting kicked out of) this vocal supergroup. Nearly everybody claimed how much better 'EV3' was because she wasn't a part of it - idiotically overlooking the fact that her vocals were still on the whole album!

When it came time for the curtain to go up on 'Masterpiece Theatre', everyone expected En Vogue to continue leaps and bounds because after all, success had been achieved on the last album, right? WRONG.

This time around, Dawn's vocals were nowhere near this set and it's just as well. This album is a stinker from start to finish; I vaguely recall maybe one half-decent song, but not a title - it was that forgettable. This set falls into the 'listened to in horror once, never to be played again' file.

There were throwbacks to their first album here; with the dog track and the opera-vocals. The problem is that didn't sound good then, and it sure as heck doesn't now!

It's no wonder the group were forced to come up with a fourth member for the next set (which I didn't even hear about it until over a year later, it made so little waves). When that didn't work as it was so obviously not going to, and Dawn's career wasn't exactly triumphant (used and abused again by yet another group - Lucy Pearl, then less than great solo album sales); it's hardly any surprise that the quartet joined forces again.

Let's hope they do stay together this time, because with Dawn out there is ABSOLUTELY no edge left in this group. As previously mentioned, she was the sassy one. It's the (good music) equivalent of Gerri Halliwell leaving the Spice Girls - once the driving force was gone, there was nothing to keep the groups in motion. Thank the Heavens however that En Vogue, for the moment, have resolved their issues and reunited. Let's just hope they stay that way if they want to sell another record.

What a pity that this album wasn't recognized as the work of art that it is. Granted the highlight of 'Masterpiece Theatre' is the aptly titled "Love Suite", however the rest of the album does not fail to deliver high quality, intricate vocals and funky beats. This album is a classic and possibly one of the best albums in music history. A bold statement? Absolutely. True? Without a doubt. 'Masterpiece Theatre' was the first of it's kind, an album that tells a love story while fusing R&B with classical compositions. One can easily look around and see either how this album had been used as a catalyst for other artists to go the same route; mixing the two genres or using the concept of telling a story through their album. These other artists would later go on to sell millions in part because of the help from their record label. This is album is possibly the one that showcases En Vogue's vocal abilities the best and reaffirms what set's En Vogue apart from other girl groups - past and present. This album is a magnum opus! Producers Foster/McElroy did a genius job of conveying the emotion of each song by using specific instruments and vocal arrangements, and directing them in a way that pulls the listener in and has them experience the emotional intensity of that song. The album has humor, variety and harmony. It's bold and very unique. Had it had better backing from the record label, `Masterpiece Theatre' could have easily sailed into a snug place between platinum and multi-platinum status. Due to the records label lack of marketing and promotion for this album, many who would have appreciated it overlooked it. `Masterpiece Theatre' is daring, challenging, innovative, and intricate while remaining accessible to the masses. R&B beats with Classical sonatas is hot! It works, and it works well. This album needs to be re-released on a new record label that is willing to put the marketing and promotion resources behind this jewel. `Masterpiece Theatre' (specifically the "Love Suite") is a gem waiting to be discovered and should have the chance to be heard by a much larger and global audience. It is still relevant, excitable and scorching even today - six years after it's release. This is a must-have album! Masterpiece indeed.

This album title got a double meaning, it stands for their third album but also the group getting reduced to a trio after the departure of Dawn Robinson. After the magnificient Funky Divas that featured the unmistakable hit singles "Free Your Mind" and "My Lovin (You're Never Gonna Get It)" the band took a 5 year hiatus and alot of things happened in the music industry during that time, their brilliant fusion between R&b, Dance, Hip Hop and Rock was no longer that trendy and 5 years is long enough for any group to lose it's popularity, but the three remaining members do the best of the situation and together with trademark producers Foster/mcElroy they're still able to satisfy most listeners. What differs is that they only produce half of the songs here and the rest is giving to in-demand producers/writers like David Foster, Dianne Warren, Organized Noice and Babyface. "Don't Let Go (Love)" ended up being one of their alltime biggest hits, reaching #2 on the charts and still to this day a very enjoyable power-ballad. Babyface's slick contribution "Whatever" is one the other hand one of his alltime weakest and lack a great hook or melody that his songs normally have. "Damn I Wanna Be Your Lover" sounds almost exactly like "Don't Let Go (Love)" and not too surprsingly it comes from the same producers. Dianne Warren's power-ballad "Too Gone, Too Long" on the other hand is a standout and one of her better songs, eventually becoming a top 40 hit. "Let It Flow" with a guest rap and "What A diffrence a Day Made" is perhaps the closest you get to the sound of their past. Other then that most of this album is adult contemporary ballads and from time to time even a edgy power-ballad. However, there are many good numbers, and En Vogue without Dawn Robinson still manages to make a good album.

I remember this album when I was 10. I love this album. With this album, they have forged new musical terrain both as vocalists and songwriters. EV3 is En Vogue as we have never heard before(in 1997). This album showcases their trademark dynamic, soul-searing lead vocals and warm,ultra-tight backing harmonies. Dawn left for a solo career after doing two songs on this album. This album has been certified Platinum. This was the most forgettable album of 1997. Remember,this was 1997.

This album get's 3 and a half stars. En Vogue's first attempt at working with new producers is a great idea. The only problem is that they may have chosen the wrong producers to work with (with the exception of Organized Noize.) EV3's standout tracks are "Whatever" produced by Babyface, "Don't Let Go (Love)" by Organized Noize, "Too Gone, Too Long" by David Foster and "Damn I Wanna Be Your Lover" by Ivan Matias. While a good idea to branch out and try working with new producers, some of the producers were unable to capture what En Vogue is capable of and result in producing less than outstanding tracks for the group. Long time producers Foster/McElroy didn't produce as well as they're capable of either.

EV3 - a must have for En Vogue fans. Should En Vogue work with other producers in the future, they should make sure to choose eminent producer's (Organized Noize, DarkChild, P. Diddy, Missy Elliot, David Foster, The Neptunes...)

I enjoyed this disc and can't say that I noticed a severe drop off in vocal with the loss of Dawn. Although I do agree that her spunk & sassiness balanced the maturity of the other three women. The tracks are a bit different that on their previous albums because Tommy & Denzil only produced/arranged 5 of the 12 tracks & because of their unique understanding of the ladies' voices, the other tracks suffer a bit because they do not sound like the EnVogue sound that I liked but I tried not to compare this disc to their previous ones.

That being said, I still enjoyed 7 out of the 12 tracks which counts as a successful purchase to me. The funkiest cut of them all is "Let It Flow" which gets me up dancing everytime I play it. Other standouts are: Whatever, Don't Let Go, Damn I Wanna Be Your Lover, Too Gone, Too Long, Sittin By Heaven's Door, What a Difference a Day Makes & Does Anybody Hear Me.

EV3 came in a time R&B tunes didn't gave to much space for funkyness, the deaprture of Dawn Robinson to a supposed solo career didn't hurt the group in the vocal aspect, perhaps, what went wrong in EV3 wasn't the lack of another girl to make the quartet, in fact was the quality production that the group lack of. "Whatever" the outstanding track of this album, was a slow funky R&B tune that somehow aimed for better airplay that it ultimate received, and of course was the only saveable track. The hole album is influence in that slow R&B beat, not the funky jams of En Vogue that fans were acostume to. Even the highly anticipated ballad produced by no other than David Foster "Too Gone, Too Long" felt in the space of being pure pop, and pretty close too be another flop, but the voices of each En Vogue member shine, specially Maxine's in the bridge part of the song, something that it's caracteristic of EV3 is that was really crowed by filler cuts and really bad ones. In the name of music the only other joint that can be saved from being lost in creativityless, are "Eyes Of A Child" poppy friendly song. Despite the singles releases, and the later mention this album was such a dissapointment for many fans that expected a little more from the "Funky Divas" because after this they should be call "The Amazing Boring Divas".

The funky divas themselves, En Vogue, comprised an EP of six songs and remixes that's good enough it needed to be packaged Runaway Love. Sadly there are two versions of the title track with only slight variations and not really remixed to be placed on there twice. "Whatta Man" featuring En Vogue on this Salt-N-Pepa all woman hip hop tune that added to this EP's strength. The remix that fit the title theme and subject of the song, "Hip Hop Lover (Hip Hop Remix)" featuring Kam is a definite good mix. The highlight of this EP is "Desire (Dancehall Remix)" as it was definitely was fine tuned from its original version to be a standout. This song alone is worth its purchase as you can feel yourself beginning to whine and grind as the genre of dancehall does. Runaway Love put the in in En Vogue.

and it's really short, but "Runaway Love" definitely contains some must-haves. The remix of "Hip Hop Lover" in particular is even better than the original, but you've just gotta have this CD for "Whatta Man". The title track rocks too!

Most of the songs here are remixes of cuts from Funky Divas. But there is stuff here that you really can't get anywhere else. I can't get enought of "Whatta Man", but I didn't want to have to buy the Salt-N-Pepa CD to listen to it. NOW I can. There's a new song as well. There are two versions-a longer and a shorter one. It's called "Runaway Love" and it's classic En Vogue; summer lyrics, cooing chorus, and soul shouts. A nice trinket for En Vogue followers.

Only half of the original vocal quartet converted into a a trio with a new vocalist,yet for whatever reason this release failed to capture that commercial audience(,ofcourse this would'nt be the first time a good record failed to attract immediate attention) The songwriting on this album reflects a mature and poetic quality seldon heard in todays music factory conditions. The Ladies as usual are vocally in top/superior form,the addition of a male background vocalist on several of the tracks showcase their ability to share the mike for the sake of generating good music. oddly enough I found this disc in a pile at the local Tower Records in Richmond,Va when they were going out of business. They were being sold for a buck! I immediately bought a few and passed them out as Christmas gifts..everyone loved the music,especially the ladies.

Pounding bass, seductive lyrics, fluid melodies meant for the grown and sexy (man and woman). If you're not shy, you can rock it while you're driving down the highway (roof back, windows down). Rhythms good for working out, be it roller skating, step aerobics, or pole dancing. Be aware, profanity in two songs.

Only two members of the original quartet--Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron--remain on this lackluster release by the Oakland hip-hop vocal group En Vogue. The group is now a trio, with the surviving original members joined by Rhonda Bennett. While their first releases, in the 90s, were joyous and sassy, "Soul Flower" lacks the immediacy and power of that early work. It would perhaps be unfair to catagorize this record as flat-out bad (truly, it's not), but it is the first En Vogue album that I find somewhat forgettable. New fans should begin instead with the girls' stronger efforts, such as Funky Divas, which is still their all-time classic. Also highly recommended are Born to Sing, and Masterpiece Theatre, the latter setting hip-hop arrangements and lyrics to instantly-recognizable melodies from classical music. All of these albums are FUN--which is precisely what "Soul Flower" tries to be, but isn't.

After the misunderstood "Masterpiece Theatre" failed to generate commercial buzz outside of their hardcore fanbase, two more line-up changes would take place before their fifth studio effort was released in 2004.

Those worried that with Cindy Herron & Terry Ellis being the only two left from the original nucleus need not worry. Rhona Bennet fills in for Maxine Jones on this set. And what a set...

On "Masterpiece Theatre", En Vogue came close to reaching the creative spark that helped put their second album "Funky Divas" on the map, here it becomes a realized dream.

"Soul Flower" is a consistent blend of neo-soul & (again) stylized R&B courtesy of longtime producers McElroy & Foster who manage to tailor their sound for the times. Though the neo-soul movement by 2004 had already long since cooled. Either way the results are winning.

Again, with vocalization at the fore, En Vogue injects familiar harmonies into the cuts, such as the midtempo opener "Losin' My Mind" which works over a smooth, horn sample quite well. Other highlights include the showstopper "I Do Love You (Piece of My Love)" & breezy, disco-fied urban numbers such as "Ooh Boy" & "Ooh La La". The latter two songs feel as though they could've been lifted from a mid-1970's era Supremes album.

Overall, "Soul Flower" is a record that sits alongside their best work "Funky Divas", even if it contrasts in what makes it special. If "Funky Divas" was reknowned for its soulful amalgam of sounds, "Soul Flower" strikes a chord in its smooth, mature, unified whole. Never trying harder than it should to lay down impeccable grooves, velvety vocal work, & empowered lyrics.

It is a shame this record didn't receive the push it deserved, because this was one of the better R&B products of 2004. Highly recommended.

Wow, how did only 50 percent of the original En Vogue pull this album off? Well, we must take into consideration that all four of the original members have powerhouse voices, and so they can still sound good even without some of its prime members. Maxine and Dawn are gone, but enter Rhonda. Rhonda was a really nice addition to the group. She can sing really well, a necessary tool for an En Vogue member.

"Soul Flower" is a quality album. It does include much sampling, but in this case, it's not a bad thing. My opinion of that is, they wanted to entail some songs that were already successful and add their touch to it because they were already at a disadvantage without Dawn and Max. It works! An example of this is "Everday". This song samples The Staples Singers hit "Lets Do It Again". Its one of my favorites on the album. They didn't sample the entire song, it really was just a "sample". "Heaven" is an alright track. Here, the ladies are saying that heaven hasn't been the same since their men came to earth. This is a four star album because some of the songs aren't as good as others, and some are just fillers. "Ez-A-Lee" is a prime example of that. The song seems rushed and I don't fancy it.

Overall, these ladies are my favorite group of all time. No one has ever touched their voices when they sing together. Keep doing your thing ladies! No matter how many of you it is...

Mikeisha's Top 5
1. New Day Callin'
2. Dissed Him
3. How Do I Get Over?
4. I Do Love You (Piece of My Mind)
5. Ooh La La

The best Christmas gift these ladies could ever give me is another album with their beautiful voices on it, singing in sweet harmony. With new member, Amanda Cole in tow, these talented women have won my heart once more with this holiday treasure. Christmas is a special time of the year for me and my family and this album will make it that much better.

My favorite tracks are:

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS (I simply love how they sampled the GIVING HIM SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL beat and melody and re-worked into this holiday classic)

SNOWY NIGHTS (The melody reminds me of Surface's "Happy"; very sentimental)

MY CHRISTMAS [MY KWANZAA] (Love the sample of Love Unlimited's "Walking In The Rain With The One I Love" {originally written and produced by Barry White, R.I.P.}; My favorite line from it is: "Difference is good and it's understood that there is more than Christinas in our house/That's what makes it cool being family/You find the common ground and work it out!". Words to live by!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY (Terry really tore it up on this one, good job Ms. E!)

OH HOLY NIGHT (I've heard many versions of this old standard over the years and Cindy's rendition of it is quite emotional and spiritual)

These women are truly a "gift" from GOD and I'm glad I'm a devoted fan. Simply beautiful.

I've been an EnVogue fan since born to sing and I must say the girls have once again out-done themselves."The Gift of Christmas" is one of those Christmas CD's you must have in your holiday collection. The CD has something for everyone age 3 thru 93. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas proves EV still has style and grace. Snowy Nights is smooth with a hip hop fizz that all young hiphoppers will enjoy. O Holy Night and Merry X-mas Baby shows the girls versitility and there's much more. EnVogue has lost a couple members, but new member Amanda Cole steps up to the plate to show the world she has what it takes to carry on the EnVogue torch. Don't sleep on this CD because two members left the group. EnVogue is still alive making wonderful music...THIS IS A BRILLIANT CD!!! Thanks EnVogue you've done it again!

En Vogue's Gift of Christmas is the 'tuxedo' or 'beaded gown' of holiday music. It's Classy! It's sexy! It's cool! This cd reminds us that there are entertainers out there that can actually SING! En Vogue does not need the trapping's (skimpy clothes,colorful hair weaves, overly choreographed videos) of today's so called 'super groups' to entertain an audience. They have pure,raw talent that can mesmerize and tantalize all at once! The Gift of Christmas takes you on a mystical and magical journey of Christmases past, present and future! I feel like I could be at the table of the Walton's or the home of the Huxtables feasting on the love of family and good friends, eating a scrumptious holiday meal and enjoying the true reason for the season, while listening to this cd.

"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", and "Jingle Bells" takes me back to a place in my childhood that I would loooove to revisit! "That's What Christmas Means to Me" , "Oh Holy Night" and "What Child Is This" warms me body, soul and spirit! "Snowy Nights", "Merry Chistmas Baby" and "With My Honey" is where I dream of being very soon with that special someone. I would recommend this cd very highly to anyone wishing to dress up in their holiday best or to just kick back with some apple cider in front of a roaring fire! Yes, the group looks different, but Miss Amanda Cole is bursting with tremendous talent, beauty and style as does all of the En Vogue family, past and present!

The 'Gift of Christmas' cd is the second greatest gift sent to us. En Vogue is truly blessed by God and is at their very, very best on this cd from start to finish. Cindy,Terry,Amanda and team-Thanks for such a wonderful gift! I may be enjoying it all year long or until the next studio album is released! Fans, join us at En VogueCraze at Yahoo for an true En Vogue lovefest!

Can't say that I'm a huge En Vogue fan...or a fan of most Christmas music in general, but I took a chance on this CD just to try a little addition to the Nat "King" Cole music I'll be listening to this Christmas. I must say, the CD is pretty darn good...the group sounds a lot fresher than they did on their last CD and the music on this CD is not all the standard fare. A little R&B, a little blues, some traditional stuff...even some Rock! I'm impressed.

Brilliant. Simply excellent. The line-up with new member, Amanda Cole, is excellent and fits in perfectly with the perfectly flowing style of En Vogue.

The old Xmas songs such as 'O Holy Night' and 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' are revamped and done perfectly. For the old fans of EV, you'll notice a brilliant suprise for 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus'. New songs like 'Merry Christmas Baby' and 'This Christmas' are pure genius and can only show a brilliant on going life for En Vogue.

Truly the Gift Of Christmas

Funky Divas by En Vogue was a childhood favorite of mine. These four gals could definitely sang!! Songs like Giving Him Something He Can Feel, Free Your Mind, and My Lovin' (Never Gonna Get It) are some of the classics here. This album makes me feel nostaglic and happy, buy it for the memories. Enjoy!

That IS a rhetorical question, by the way.

These ladies are so much fun to listen to! "You're Never Gonna Get It" brings me back to my childhood. The rhythms, the inserted rap (before profanity and the "N" word were requirements), the harmonies, the attitude. It makes you happy! Not their best album, but an excellent listen!

En Vogue's sophomore set definitely pushed their popularity into the stratosphere! After achieving great success in the r&b world with their debut, one song from this album FREE YOUR MIND, garnered heightened attention from the MTV crowd and exposed them to new audiences.

En Vogue definitely debuted at a time when there were no girl groups of note in r&b and their stunning 4 part harmonies upped the ante in the game and caused other record labels to scramble to try to find the right combination of young women to rival this group. This is a solid follow-up to their promising debut album and I'd highly recommend it.

Their covers of YESTERDAY, GIVIN HIM SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL & HOOKED ON YOUR LOVE are georgeous solely due to their ability to harmonize so well. My other favorites are the tracks that helped push this album into multi-platinum status:

MY LOVIN - YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET IT - timeless classic that sounded like nothing on the radio at that time

GIVE IT UP, TURN IT LOOSE - another well constructed mid-tempo track

LOVE DON'T LOVE YOU

FREE YOUR MIND

THIS IS YOUR LIFE

This item came really fast and I appreciated it. It was in good condition. Thank you

So I was inspired to buy this the other day because lately, I've just been craving some good ol' 90's R&B music, you know? I really wasn't expecting to like it as much as I do. Some songs go on a little too long and there were one or two songs I just didn't care for, like "Hip Hop Lover." But the rest is great and I really enjoyed it. These are some talented women and they can truly harmonize! Unlike another reviewer, I actually enjoyed the spoken word sections and I think they add a lot of personality to the disc. I especially love the little dictionary bit at the end of "What Is Love." I highly recommend this.