Track Listing

1. True To Myself
2. I'll Be There
3. If You Want Me To Stay
4. Let's Stay Together
5. Just Friends
6. Femininity
7. While You Where Here
8. Spiritual Thang
9. Chains
10. All In The Game
11. More Than Just A Girlfriend
12. What If We Was Cool
13. Let's Stay Together (1)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #72112 in Music
• Released on: 1997-04-07
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Like Luther Vandross, Eric Benét (pronounced beh-NAY) is an old-fashioned, romantic soul singer in the vein of Stevie Wonder and Al Green; Benét even includes a sample of Green's "Love and Happiness" in his own song, "More Than Just a Girlfriend". Unlike Vandross, however, Benét has also absorbed the funk-rock moves of Sly Stone, George Clinton and Prince, a connection emphasised by his remake of Stone's, "If You Want Me To Stay". Many have tried, but few have combined these styles as effectively as he does on his debut solo album. Benét's tenor purrs with seductive soulfulness, but those vocals are surrounded by rocking wah-wah guitars, beeping synthesizers and funky, on-the-one drum patterns. --Geoffrey Himes

CD Description
When music history is written and the retro-soul movement of the '90s and its primary proponents (Erykah Badu, Maxwell,D'Angelo, Tony Rich) are mentioned, Eric Benet will be invariably and unfairly overlooked. A quick listen to his 1996 debut TRUE TO MYSELF makes this oversight all the more puzzling. Benet combines the sensuality and smoothness of '70s soul with the new-jack upfrontness of '90s R&B minus the lewdness.
Benet mixes sexual and sanctified vibes with the aid of a creamy croon that permeates everything from the upbeat funk of "Spiritual Thang" to the bouncing grooves of "More Than Just A Girlfriend". On slow burners such as "Just Friends", "I'll Be There" and the title track, Benet is the kind of balladeer whose voice ripples with the kind of frisson normally associated with Teddy Riley. On Sly Stone's "If You Want Me To Stay", the Milwaukee native flawlessly pulls off the author's funky falsetto (with the aid of producer/multi-instrumentalist Roger Troutman) with a little Al Green thrown in for good measure. Most impressive is the cautionary, anti-drug anthem "Chains", which serves as the perfect companionpiece to Living Colour's "Open Letter To A Landlord".

Customer Reviews

If you like Eric Benet a good album, but something's missing
A good album to relax to but a little bit safe. It hasn't made the same impact on me that "A Day In The Life" did. Even after continuous listening it is missing that song that sticks in your head that you would keep singing to your self all day like "Just My Way" or Georgy Porgy". The title track is a good opener but I found myself waiting for a song that would make we want to turn up the volume and hit the repeat button on the CD player. If you already like Eric Benet,a good album but if your trying to convert a non-fan not the first choice to play. Stangley enough I do like it but thats the trouble ...I like it....

A very good album by a great great artist
This is a great album by the brilliant Eric Benet. Obviously it's not good as the follow-up, 'A Day in the Life', but that's simply amazing so it's unfair to compare. My favourite tracks on 'True to myself' are the title track, and 'More than just a girlfriend', plus 'Just Friends'. Eric Benet is an amazing artist and this album reflects that...very soulful but also very funky...Definitely reccommended!

Pretty Sexy/ Solid if a bit Stevie in parts
Some sexy tracks on this album which i bought back when it came out. 'Femininity' and 'While You were here' (dedicated to his daughter's mother's passing) are beautiful and moving tracks but in very different ways. i can't say it's an album i still play all the time and is probably somewhat bettered by his second offering 'A Day in The Life'.