BABYFACE “Tender Lover.” Solar ***: Albums are rated on a scale of one(poor) to five(a classic) stars

The best track here, “Soon as I Get Home,” is an idealized “good man” answer to Karyn White’s “Superwoman,” the crossover smash that Babyface and his producing partner L.A. Reid wrote for her. Babyface comes off as the answer to every girl’s prayer: caring, generous to a fault, true blue and too good to be true. With his matinee-idol looks and suave way with cool tunes like “My Kinda Girl” and “Whip Appeal” (which is far tamer than the title implies), Babyface--who also records as the lead singer of the group the Deele--stands poised to make an impact as this year’s black music heartthrob. Some of the cuts on his debut LP are as chart-worthy as hits he and Reid have supplied for Bobby Brown, the Whispers and Pebbles--listen to the way he goes for broke and sings as if he’s got a point to prove on “Where Will You Go,” the closing track. Babyface doesn’t sound like someone content with being a mere group member or a producer of hits for other singers. Image intact and armed with a few good songs, he appears ready to go the solo distance.