Devox Featuring Angie B. Stone is a forgotten neo-soul classic album that has been very overshadowed and forgotten. The album had soulful hits such as You Can’t Hide Love, Seems You're Much Too Busy, and Tell Me. The album include the infectious love song You Can’t Hide Love which was a hit for them!
In 1996, neo-soul singer Angie B. Stone teamed up with Gerry DeVeaux (Lenny Kravitz's cousin) and Charlie Mole to form the group Devox. Gerry DeVeaux asked Angie B. Stone to be a featured vocalist on his project. They recorded one album which was titled Devox Featuring Angie B. Stone. However the album was not distributed across the world internationally. The album was only released in Japan by Toshiba EMI in 1996. Devox’s album was well received in Japan.
The album was a limited release. This album is long out of print and extremely hard to find. Undoubtedly the only place you will find this album is on eBay.
However this did not last very long as her time with Devox was short lived. Angie would split from the trio and it wasn't long after that that she signed with Arista Records. This caused a rift in the trio which would lead them to split up within a year. The trio disbanded in 1996.
Some people tend to believe the Devox album was her first solo album due to her name being included on the front cover. However that is not the case. She was asked to be a vocalist and not a member of Devox.
The Devox album is not an Angie B. Stone solo album but is rather a group effort by a one-time trio Devox. This was because Gerry Deveaux took Angie under his musical wing as part of his 'Devox' project. Angie B. Stone was building her reputation as a singer and writer when she was working with Devox.
Several of the song from the Devox album made their way onto a compilation called ‘Soul Degrees-The Songs And Music Of Gerry Devaux’ which was released by UK-based soul label Expansion.
Here are the reasons why Devox split after one album. There are three reasons of what led to their demise. Read them below.
Reason #1. Angie B. Stone deciding to sign with Arista Records for a solo career.
Angie already had plans for a solo career. She wasn't interested in being in another group with Devox because she already had a strong foundation of her own with groups Vertical Hold and The Sequence. Her working with Vertical Hold is what established a strong foundation for herself in the music business. The group Vertical Hold had 3 singles which were already moderately successful hits in the United States. It wasn't long after that that she signed with Arista Records.
This caused a caused a split between Devox and her. Of course Gerry Deveaux was offended by this. So he decided to disband the trio after finding out the shocking truth.
Reason #2. Angie was never really a “member”.
She was hired as a featured vocalist and not as a group member. She was only asked to be a vocalist and not a member. Despite her name being on the front cover, this was not her first solo album contrary to popular belief.
Reason #3. Money.
Angie revealed in an interview with Soul magazine that that she was only paid a couple hundred dollars ($200 dollars) to do singing as a featured vocalist. She did not get paid much. She was not yet an established songwriter who had connections in the music business. Angie B. Stone was building her reputation as a singer and songwriter when she was working with Devox.
Seems You're Much Too Busy is a cover of Vertical Hold - Seems You're Much Too Busy. This version is identically similar to the original. This version follows the same upbeat tempo as the original. However the beats used on this cover are much thicker as opposed to the original. Seems You're Much Too Busy has a soulful touch.
The song is about a person who is much too busy to give attention and spend time with the one they love. That person is much too busy these days.
The ironic part about this song is that Angie had recently departed the group Vertical Hold. Yes, the one and only group called Vertical Hold. That is why you can hear her craft all over this song.
Angie sings with angelic vocals on Tell Me thus giving the song a breathtaking sound. Tell Me samples the children’s nursery rhyme the children's nursery rhyme 'London Bridge Is Falling Down and Mary Had A Little Lamb which gives away a playful mood.
Tell Me is a sweet love song. The move love you got, the more that you want. It’s a part of loving someone. It’s not enough to hold on to the one you can depend on. Every day and night. Angie will give you whatever you want. She will give you what your heart desires. She has the time and energy.
You Can’t Hide Love was a hit in Japan for the trio. The song charted at #42 on Tokio HOT 100 on the week of September 29, 1996. This was referenced in a copy of Billboard Magazine dating back to Oct 19, 1996. You Can’t Hide Love is an infectious love song. Garry and Angie sing the breathtaking chorus.
Love is like a drug that will surely trick you to your surprise. Love gives us a natural high leaving you dazed and confused. Angie makes a comparison of love being similar to sweet candy. You can get love anytime you want or need.
You can try to fight love but love will eventually gets you. Everybody fights love at some point in their lives. That is a fact.
Let It Go is a song which uses an infectious percussion ensemble. The song uses a touch of dance music backed by keyboard synths. The song serves as a farewell song to all those issues in your life. Sometimes you’ve got let issues go and let it go.
Angie is on her way to somewhere. She doesn’t know or care. So hats off to her for expressing her self. She has decided to let it go. Life is so crazy.
Taking Care Of Business has a more jazz oriented sound hence the jazzy sound. The brass horn ensemble fives that away. The song has a theme of independence. Taking Care Of Business is about doing what’s best for you when you are taking care of business. This means taking things day by day. Self-preservation is the only way to grow.
The time has come for Angie to do everything that she has set out to do. She won’t be pressured by demands of everyday life. She is going to get things right. Angie does what’s best for her. Taking things day by day doesn’t bother her as she is a woman of conviction. Self-preservation is the only way to grow.
I rate this album 4/5****!
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