by Vonnie “Honey” Woods

“These songs came from memories, and these songs helped shape who I am – and they’re still shaping who I am,” says Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds about his beautifully emotional new album, Playlist. “They shaped my past and now they’re shaping my future.”

Indeed, eight of Playlist’s ten songs loom large in the memory of just about anyone who has loved popular music for the past three decades. The titles and the original performers alone constitute a pop-radio dream team: “Wonderful Tonight” (Eric Clapton); “Shower the People” and “Fire and Rain” (James Taylor); “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (Bob Dylan); “Please Come To Boston” (Dave Loggins); “Longer” (Dan Fogelberg); “Time in a Bottle” (Jim Croce), and “Diary” (Bread).

Much loved as they are, however, these songs are not necessarily the first ones that fans would associate with Edmonds, as he himself admits. “Coming from ‘Whip Appeal’ to these songs, it seems like a stretch,” he says with a chuckle. “But it doesn’t feel like that to me. It feels pretty natural.” Indeed, while being characteristically respectful of the original versions, Edmonds layers in rhythmic emphases that make the songs move sensually on the bottom as the melodies float delicately on top. The result is immediately accessible acoustic soul music; old, cherished memories made new again.

In conclusion, Edmonds says that Playlist “is one of my favorite records that I’ve done. What’s cool is that it’s familiar, but it’s fresh. I want people to hear something they know as if they’re hearing it for the first time. And I hope a lot of people really care for it, because I would love to do more – and pull out more of my favorite memories.”

In this conversation Babyface talks about making hit songs, tells us how he got his nickname and why his new album is so personal. We’ll also hear music from his new album Playlist.

[Buy "Babyface - Playlist" from Amazon]
[Buy "Babyface - Playlist" from iTunes]

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