| Serious | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | the O'Jays |
| Border: | yes |
| Released: | 1989 |
| Studio: | Sigma Sound, O'Henry Sound Studios, Kopperhead Studios |
| Genre: | R&B, soul |
| Label: | EMI |
| Producer: | Gerald Levert and Marc Gordon ("Out of My Mind" and "Rainbow"); Dennis Lambert ("Never Been Better"); Walter Williams, Eddie Levert Sr. and Terry Stubbs (all others) |
| Prev Title: | Let Me Touch You |
| Prev Year: | 1987 |
| Next Title: | Emotionally Yours |
| Next Year: | 1991 |
Serious is an album by the American musical group the O'Jays, released in 1989.[1] [2] It was the group's first album for EMI Records.[3] "Out of My Mind" and "Have You Had Your Love Today?" were released as singles.[4] The O'Jays supported the album by playing the Hampton Jazz Festival and touring with LeVert.[5] [6]
The album peaked at No. 114 on the Billboard 200.[7] Serious was regarded as a comeback album.[8]
Eddie Levert wanted to modernize the group's sound by heeding his sons' musical advice.[9] Gerald Levert coproduced four of the album's songs.[10] "Pot Can't Call the Kettle Black" is about parents criticizing the musical tastes of their children.[11] "Have You Had Your Love Today?" was influenced rhythmically by Eddie Kendrick's "Keep On Truckin'".
The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "a nice mix of dance cuts and romantic ballads." The Philadelphia Inquirer called it "a model example of how to update your style without selling out." LA Weekly opined that "Eddie with his gale-force vocals and Walter Williams with his cool baritone and measured tenor squalls are still the best vocal tandem in male-group soul."[12] The Buffalo News concluded that the group "may be one of the last remaining examples of the raw rhythmic emotion that gave birth to that particular niche of music called rhythm 'n' blues."[13]
AllMusic wrote that the group "opted for a more high-tech 'urban contemporary' approach with Serious... Obviously well aware of what younger R&B units like Guy, Levert ... and Today were up to, the veteran soulsters incorporated 'new jack swing' and hip-hop elements and made it clear they were intent on changing with the times." The Rolling Stone Album Guide noted that "the younger generation's skittery hip-hop beats don't mesh with the old man's rock-solid R&B foundation."