When I purchased Ricardo Campana on release day, I bought the only copy in the store and had to drive to the other side of town to get it. I do think that the album was a bit ahead of its time as indie labels weren’t jumping off yet in 2000. All three of the DeVoe tracks were single worthy and still scream a DeVoe solo album.ĭue to the manner it was released, Bell’s solo album largely went unnoticed. While Ronnie DeVoe adds raps to the songs “Sunday”, “Have Ya Cake” and “Still I See”. The production doesn’t really fit Gill and Bell’s vocals, the remix is a bit stronger though. Johnny Gill features on “Struggle” which is one of the weaker songs and I wasn’t too fond of it back in 2000. “It’s All About You” is a great ballad that may remind listeners of Bell’s New Edition work, while “Come Back” is a pseudo sequel to BBD’s When Will I See You Smile Again” ? Bell reunites with his former group mates on a few tracks. Up first is “Can’t Stay Away” a song that any of Bell’s contemporaries could sing, however at the age of thirty three, Bell never ventures into juvenile territory. Bell then transitions into three slow jams that I feel would’ve had a stronger impact as a first single. Bell opens the album with the lead single before finding his footing with “My Body”, a mid- tempo number that showcases Bell’s tenor. The production isn’t bad on “Spanish Fly” and I remember initially liking the song but with the Relisten it hasn’t aged well.īell’s solo album Ricardo Campana was released a few weeks later on 3rd Vision Records. After the ill-fated Home Again tour and nearly three years without a public appearance, Bell made an appearance on Soul Train in October 2000 where he performed his debut solo single “Spanish Fly”. However when Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis had the bright idea for Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe to start their own group, the industry began to take note of Bell’s voice.īell initially signed a solo deal with Silas Records (a subsidiary of MCA his long time NE & BBD label) in November of 1995, however due to the obligation of the New Edition reunion project, Bell put the album on album. Outside of the cover song “Hey There Lonely Girl”, “One More Day ” a co-lead on “I’m Still in Love with You”, Bell never had a chance to sing lead during his time with New Edition. Ricky Bell, known for his work in New Edition and its spin off group Bell Biv DeVoe, quietly released a solo album in 2000.

Bbd jimmy jam