For Real Tho'

Last updated
For Real Tho'
Levert - For Real Tho album cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 16, 1993 (1993-03-16) [1]
Genre R&B
Length56:32
Label Atlantic
Producer
LeVert chronology
Rope a Dope Style
(1990)
For Real Tho'
(1993)
The Whole Scenario
(1997)
Singles from For Real Tho'
  1. "Good Ol' Days"
    Released: February 25, 1993
  2. "ABC-123"
    Released: May 13, 1993
  3. "Do the Thangs"
    Released: August 12, 1993
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Entertainment Weekly B [4]

For Real Tho' is the sixth studio album by the American contemporary R&B group LeVert, released in 1993 via Atlantic Records. [5] It peaked at #35 on the Billboard 200 and #5 on the Billboard R&B chart. [6]

Contents

Three singles were released from the album: "Good Ol' Days", "ABC-123" and "Do the Thangs". "ABC-123" was the most successful single from the album, peaking at #46 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993. [6]

The album was certified gold by the RIAA on June 9, 1993. [7]

Production

The album was produced by Gerald Levert and Marc Gordon. Gordon began working on For Real Tho' while Gerald was promoting his 1991 solo album. [8]

Critical reception

The Baltimore Sun wrote that "Gerald Levert's lead vocals don't just underscore the music's emotional content; they also reinforce the rhythm." [9] The Washington Post thought that "Gerald is singing better than ever, which is one of the reasons why the trio's latest album ... ranks among its best." [10] USA Today wrote that "Gerald's rugged baritone is sounding more like his dad's every day." [11]

Track listing

[1]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Me 'N' You" ( [upper-alpha 1] )Marc Gordon
4:26
2."Clap Your Hands" ( [upper-alpha 2] )
  • Gerald Levert
  • Marc Gordon
  • Gerald Levert
  • Marc Gordon
3:29
3."Tribute Song" ( [upper-alpha 3] )Marc Gordon
2:34
4."Good Ol' Days"
  • Gerald Levert
  • Marc Gordon
  • Gerald Levert
  • Marc Gordon
5:00
5."She's All That (I've Been Looking For)"
  • Gerald Levert
  • Marc Gordon
  • Edwin Nicholas
  • Gerald Levert
  • Marc Gordon
4:59
6."For Real Tho'" ( [upper-alpha 4] )
  • Gerald Levert
  • Marc Gordon
  • Gerald Levert
  • Marc Gordon
4:03
7."Quiet Storm"
  • Gerald Levert
  • Marc Gordon
Marc Gordon7:12
8."Do the Thangs"Marc GordonMarc Gordon5:55
9."My Place (Your Place)"
  • Gerald Levert
  • Marc Gordon
  • Gerald Levert
  • Marc Gordon
6:04
10."Say You Will"Marc GordonMarc Gordon6:50
11."ABC-123"
  • Gerald Levert
  • Edwin Nicholas
  • Terry Scott
  • Gerald Levert
  • Edwin Nicholas
5:54
Total length:56:32

Chart positions

Chart (1993) [6] Peak
position
US Billboard 200 35
US R&B Albums (Billboard)5

Samples

  1. "Me 'N' You" contains a sample of "Dazz" as performed by Brick.
  2. "Clap Your Hands" contains a sample of "Funky President (People It's Bad)" as performed by James Brown.
  3. "Tribute Song" contains a sample of "King Heroin" as performed by James Brown.
  4. "For Real Tho'" contains a sample of "Sing a Simple Song" as performed by Sly and the Family Stone.

Related Research Articles

LeVert was an American R&B vocal group from Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Formed in 1983, LeVert was composed of Sean and Gerald Levert and Marc Gordon.

Gerald Levert American R&B singer

Gerald Edward Levert was an American singer-songwriter, producer and actor. Levert was best known for singing with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon of the vocal group LeVert. Levert was also a member of LSG, a supergroup comprising Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and himself. Levert is the son of Eddie Levert, who is the lead singer of the R&B/soul vocal group the O'Jays. He had released nine solo albums, six with LeVert, two with his father Eddie Levert, two with LSG, as well as discovering the R&B groups the Rude Boys, Men at Large and 1 of the Girls. Levert was also part of the R&B group Black Men United.

Eddie Levert American singer (born 1942)

Edward Willis Levert is an American singer, best known as the lead vocalist of The O'Jays. He is the father of Gerald Levert (1966–2006) and Sean Levert (1968–2008)

Miki Howard American singer-songwriter

Alicia Michelle "Miki" Howard is an American singer and actress who had a string of top 10 hit songs in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, including "Baby, Be Mine" (1987), "Come Share My Love" (1986) and "Love Under New Management" (1990). "Ain't Nobody Like You" (1992) and "Ain't Nuthin' in the World" (1989) both peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B Singles chart.

<i>Jasons Lyric</i> (soundtrack) 1994 soundtrack album to Jasons Lyric by various artists

Jason's Lyric is the soundtrack to Doug McHenry's 1994 film Jason's Lyric. It was released on September 27, 1994 via Mercury Records. It spawned three singles: "If You Think You're Lonely Now", a cover of the Bobby Womack hit by Jodeci lead singer K-Ci, "Crazy Love" by Brian McKnight, and "U Will Know", a major collaboration from male R&B singers comprising Black Men United (BMU), written by future neo soul artist D'Angelo.

My Body (LSG song) 1997 single by LSG

"My Body" is a song by R&B group LSG released as the first single from their debut album Levert.Sweat.Gill.

<i>Groove On</i> 1994 studio album by Gerald Levert

Groove On is the second studio album by Gerald Levert. It was released by EastWest Records on September 6, 1994 in the United States. The follow-up to Levert's debut album, Private Line (1991), it reached number two on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 18 on the US Billboard 200. The first single from the album was the David Foster produced "I'd Give Anything", a cover of the 1993 song that was originally recorded by short lived country music group Boy Howdy. It was Levert's second top 40 crossover hit. The music video for the second single "How Many Times" was directed by actress Jada Pinkett. Two more singles included "Can't Help Myself" and "Answering Service".

Sean Levert American singer

Sean Edward Levert was an American singer-songwriter and actor. Levert is best known as a member of the R&B vocal group LeVert. Levert was the son of O'Jays lead singer Eddie Levert and younger brother of singer Gerald Levert.

<i>Heartbreaker</i> (The OJays album) 1993 studio album by The OJays

Heartbreaker is an album by the American R&B group the O'Jays. It was released in 1993 on EMI.

<i>Levert.Sweat.Gill</i> 1997 studio album by LSG

Levert.Sweat.Gill is the debut studio album by American supergroup LSG. It was released by East West Records on November 11, 1997 in the United States. The album includes contributions from guest producers, including Sean "Puffy" Combs and Jermaine Dupri. The Lox, Faith Evans, Coko, Missy Elliott, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, MC Lyte, and Jazze Pha make guest appearances on the album. LSG peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard 200 and number 2 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Crazy (Miki Howard song)

"Crazy" is a song by American R&B/soul singer Miki Howard. Released in 1988, as the third single from Love Confessions. "Crazy" peaked to #38 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart. The song was written and produced by Marc Gordon and Gerald Levert, of R&B group LeVert.

<i>Bloodline</i> (LeVert album) 1986 studio album by LeVert

Bloodline is the second album by the R&B group LeVert, released in 1986. It was their first album for Atlantic Records.

<i>The Big Throwdown</i> 1987 studio album by LeVert

The Big Throwdown is the third album by Cleveland, Ohio-based R&B group LeVert.

<i>Just Coolin</i> (album) 1988 studio album by LeVert

Just Coolin' is the fourth album by the R&B group LeVert, released in 1988.

"I'm Still" is a song performed by American contemporary R&B group LeVert. The song is the opening track from the group's debut album I Get Hot and was issued as the album's first single. The song was produced by lead singer Gerald Levert, and it peaked at #70 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1985.

<i>Rope a Dope Style</i> 1990 studio album by LeVert

Rope a Dope Style is the fifth studio album by American contemporary R&B group LeVert, released November 6, 1990, via Atlantic Records. The album was produced by group members Gerald Levert and Marc Gordon; and it peaked at #122 on the Billboard 200.

ABC-123

"ABC-123" is a song performed by American contemporary R&B group LeVert. The song is the closing track on their sixth studio album For Real Tho' and was issued as the album's second single. Co-written and co-produced by lead singer Gerald Levert, it was the last song from the group to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #46 in 1993.

<i>Stroke of Genius</i> 2003 studio album by Gerald Levert

Stroke of Genius is the seventh studio album by American R&B singer Gerald Levert. It was released by Elektra Records on October 21, 2003, in the United States.

<i>The Other Side</i> (Sean Levert album) 1995 studio album by Sean Levert

The Other Side is the only solo album by American R&B singer Sean Levert. It was released by Atlantic Records on June 20, 1995 in the United States. While Jermaine Dupri was recruited to work with the singer on the majority of the album, Levert also secured that his first album would showcase some "love-making music." Thus, he also worked with his LeVert bandmates, Marc Gordon and his brother Gerald Levert, as well as Edwin "Tony" Nicholas on several songs.

The Whole Scenario is the final studio album by the American R&B group LeVert, released in 1997.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lytle, Craig. "For Real Tho' - LeVert | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  2. May, Mitchell (20 May 1993). "Levert For Real Tho'". Chicago Tribune. Tempo. p. 7.
  3. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 194.
  4. "for real tho'". EW.com.
  5. "LeVert | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  6. 1 2 3 "LeVert | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  7. "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - August 07, 2015". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  8. "Levert finds a groove". Tampa Bay Times.
  9. Considine, J. D. "FOR REAL THO'". baltimoresun.com.
  10. Joyce, Mike (13 Aug 1993). "Levert's Finesse Is `For Real'". The Washington Post. p. N11.
  11. Jones IV, James T. (8 Apr 1993). "LeVert reaches back to the past". USA Today. p. 5D.