Released: June 14, 1988
Genre: New jack swing
Label: Uptown
Producer: Gene Griffin ∙ Teddy Riley
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In the mid to late 1980s, New jack swing was becoming a popular form of music from the hottest artists at the time. New jack swing was a beautiful marriage of R&B, hip-hop, jazz dance and funk, and was lead by amazing producers like Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Bernard Belle & Teddy Riley.
By 1988, Teddy Riley was becoming one of the hottest producers at the time after working with artists like Kool Moe Dee, Keith Sweat & Doug E Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew. Teddy also was in a group called Kids at Work, where he met and worked with Timmy Gatling in the group.
In 1987, Riley, Gatling & Aaron Hall (who was a friend of Gatling’s) formed the group called Guy. The trio signed to Uptown Records (ran by the late & great Andre Harrell,) and released their eponymous debut album on June 14, 1988. With elements of new jack swing, hip hop, R&B and funk, the Guy album was one of the most influential releases of the late 80s. From start to finish, Guy is one of those albums where it has zero skips. I mean every single song had potential to be a hit if they weren’t. That is the kind of music that I miss!
Timmy Gatling was eventually forced out of the group by the group’s manager (Gene Griffin) due to him refusing to sign the management contract that gave him full control of their publishing and income. His face and work still appeared on the album because he was officially a member of the group and the parent company of Uptown Records (MCA Records) needed his permission to even release the album.
Gatling released his own record in 1989 titled Help, and went on to write songs for artists like Christopher Williams & Bell Biv DeVoe. Aaron’s brother Damion eventually replaced Gatling and the group went to release two more studio albums titled The Future (1990,) & Guy III (2000).
Guy peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 27 on the Billboard 200 charts respectively, and has sold over 2 million copies.
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you, “Guy.“
Groove Me
Written by Timmy Gatling ∙ Aaron Hall ∙ Teddy Riley
Guy opens with Groove Me, an upbeat record that uses the beauty and power of dance and music to be the reason the law of attraction happens between two people if you catch my drift. It is honestly one of my favorite songs of all time. Released as the second single from the album, song gave the band their first top 5 hit on the R&B charts, peaking at number 4.
Groove Me was sampled for:
- The Champ by The Mohawks
- Funky President (People It’s Bad) by James Brown
- My Thang by James Brown
Groove Me was sampled for:
- Wanna Rock by UTFO
- I Don’t Need to Love by Loose Ends
Teddy’s Jam
Written by Aaron Hall ∙ Teddy Riley ∙ Timmy Gatling ∙ Gene Griffin
Jam, oh jam.
Jammmmm!
Teddy, jam for me yeah!
Teddy Riley, Teddy’s Jam, 1988
Teddy’s Jam is a new jack swing instrumental record that is bound to get the party jumping. Released as the third single, the song peaked in the top 5 on the R&B charts.
Teddy’s Jam contains samples of:
- The Champ by The Mohawks
- Pump Me Up by Trouble Funk
Teddy’s Jam was sampled for:
- Fight the Power by Public Enemy
- 2 Lovin U by DJ Premier & Miguel
- Here Come the Lords by Lords of the Underground
Teddy’s Jam was interpolated for:
- Teddy’s Jam 2 by Guy
- Teddy’s Jam III by Guy
- Cummin’ at Cha by EPMD featuring Das EFX
- Nuttin Ass Nigga by E-40
- Mr. Flamboyant by The Click
Don’t Clap… Just Dance
Written by Timmy Gatling ∙ Aaron Hall ∙ Teddy Riley
Don’t Clap…Just Dance is another energetic record on the album that lyrically talks to how dancing is a joyful thing to do and how a girl who seems hesitant to do so, should just let loose and have fun on the dance floor.
You Can Call Me Crazy
Written by Timmy Gatling ∙ Aaron Hall ∙ Teddy Riley
You Can Call Me Crazy was originally supposed to be recorded for Al B. Sure’s debut album In Effect Mode, but was taken back by Gene Griffin. As a result, the song still had the singer’s vocals in it and was never credited. Lyrically, the song explores themes of infatuation and how it may be viewed as out of the ordinary because of the transition from casual affairs to being a one woman man.
Piece of My Love
Written by Timmy Gatling ∙ Aaron Hall ∙ Teddy Riley
Although it was not released as an official single, Piece of My Love is a true R&B classic cut okay! From a lyrical perspective, the song is complex and interesting to say the least. From what I get from it, the lyrics pretty much suggest that the man was not totally ready to fully commit to her unless he was getting some sex. Like chile.
& there’s always been this rumor that at the beginning of the song, Aaron had said “you dumb bitch,” LMFAOOOO Teddy Riley has also said that was what made people buy the album. It was stated that he said something completely different, I don’t know lol. Anyways it is truly one of the most beautifully produced R&B tracks of all time.
Piece of My Love was sampled for:
- Crybaby featuring Snoop Dogg
- Play No Games (featuring Chris Brown & Ty Dolla $ign) by Big Sean
- Run Tha Streets by 2Pac featuring Storm, Mutah & Michel’le.
I Like
Written by Aaron Hall ∙ Timmy Gatling ∙ Teddy Riley
I Like is another classic from the band that will never get old. It is truly one of those timeless records where you just have to get up and dance to. You’d be a fool not to! Released as the fourth single on the album, I Like peaked at number two on the R&B charts!
- I Like contains a sample of I Like It by DeBarge
‘Round and ‘Round (Merry Go ‘Round of Love)
Written by Teddy Riley ∙ Aaron Hall ∙ Gene Griffin
‘Round and ‘Round (Merry Go ‘Round of Love) was released as the group’s debut single in the spring of 88. Definitely one of those new jack swing records to get up and dance to.
‘Round and ‘Round (Merry Go ‘Round of Love) contains an interpolation of:
- Thriller by Michael Jackson
Spend the Night
Written by Aaron Hall ∙ Teddy Riley
Spend the Night is another classic record from the band, that is another new jack swing staple. The song peaked at 15 on the R&B charts!
Goodbye Love
Written by Timmy Gatling ∙ Aaron Hall ∙ Teddy Riley
Goodbye Love is a song that is lyrically about the pain and hurt you experience during a relationship that is not working out.
Goodbye Love was sampled for:
- Bye Baby by Nas
- Don’t Go by Mary J. Blige
- Don’t Leave Me by Blackstreet
My Business
Written by Timmy Gatling ∙ Aaron Hall ∙ Teddy Riley
The album closes with My Business, which is a song I think some people need to listen to a lot more. Lyrically, the song speaks to the longing for some privacy after a while. The message of respecting people’s privacy and their personal space stands out a lot.
Guy is one of those bands who really set the bar high for the new jack swing movement. I actually think this album stands the test of time 35 years later for being so influential. So innovative. Teddy Riley will always reign supreme for being one of the best producers to ever do it, and this album was only the beginning of what became an iconic career in the world of R&B music. -MW.
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