Best Of Keith Sweat: Make You Sweat CD

Recorded between 1987 & 1997. Includes liner notes by Tracey Helen New.

Singer/songwriter Keith Sweat struck gold, platinum actually, right out of the gate with the multi-million-selling MAKE IT LAST FOREVER, an electric debut that spawned four top-10 R&B hits, one of which crossed over to the top-10 pop charts. That record was one of the earliest successes of producer Teddy Riley and his trademark hip-hop/soul hybrid, the new jack swing sound. However, his accomplishment owed as much to Sweat's smoothly sensual vocal style, exemplified on the huge breakout hit "I Want Her," a wonderfully funky song that featured Sweat's elastic voice alternating from a Teddy Pendergrass growl to a Freddie Jackson croon.

Over the following decade and a half, Sweat managed to remain remarkably durable, consistently scoring hits amidst a sea of R&B fly-by-nights, thanks to that powerful and agile voice, which never betrays even a hint of insincerity. MAKE YOU SWEAT captures snapshots of Sweat's career at different stages, from the sweet old-school soul of "Nobody" to the infectiously danceable "Make You Sweat" to the sly gangsta slow jam of "Come and Get with Me." The collection ends with a treat, a previously hard-to-find remix of tender ballad "Make It Last Forever, concisely summing up the career of a remarkably consistent R&B talent.

Compilation producer: Barry Benson.

Personnel: Keith Sweat, LSG, Jacci McGhee (vocals); Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J (rap vocals); Bobby Wooten, Fitzgerald Scott, Darryl Allamby (various instruments); Keith Robinson (guitar); Teddy Riley (keyboards, programming, background vocals); Alex Bugnon (vocodor); Gary Dow (bass); Poogie Bell (programming); Kut Klose (background vocals).

Producers include: Keith Sweat, Fitzgerald Scott, Bobby Wooten, Eric McCaine, Teddy Riley.