Perfect Love (2000)

About this title: Silky-voiced crooner Richie Stephens has shaped an impressive career around covering R&B hits and adding a reggae twist. Perfect Love continues this pattern; the disc holds six remakes out of the album's 16 tunes. Boasting a wonderful range and tangible warmth in his vocals, Stephens pulls off even unlikely selections such as Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual," to which he adds a peppy spin. Ballads such as Luther Vandross' "Nothing Better Than Love" and Tony Rich's "Nobody Knows" are given good interpretations, perked up by a little drum and bass but the standout is the much covered '70s classic ... read more

Tracks:

1. Stand up to Love [Stephenson]
2. Crushed
3. There's Nothing Better Than Love [Vandross/Anderson]
4. Kiss from a Rose [Seal]
5. Nobody Knows [Rich]
6. Magic Woman [Stephenson]
7. Gift of Life [Stephens]
8. It's Not Unusual [Reed]
9. Perfect Life [Stephanson]
10. What's Going On [Gaye/Cleveland/Bens]
11. Tell Me Your Secret [Stephanson]
12. Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You [Warren]
13. If Loving You Is Wrong [Banks/Jackson/Hampt]
14. Take Me Away [Stephens]
15. Girls [Stephanson]
16. Until [Stephanson]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.