Guy Reunion Album: More Producers Than Inspiration

When Guy broke up in the early ‘90s, a lot of the R&B; trio’s fans were taken by surprise. Musically, this was a group that was in the forefront of all that was sexy, hip and urban back in the late ‘80s, thanks to such hits as “Teddy’s Jam” and “Groove Me.”

Now the group is back together after all these years, and this reunion album bears the imprint of several producers--so many, in fact, that the result isn’t very Guy-like at all. Only “Do It” displays the distinctive, roughneck allure of past Guy singles. The most notable cut is “Why You Wanna Keep Me From My Baby,” which is specifically addressed to men whose former wives or girlfriends have cut them out of their sons’ lives. The sentiments are heartfelt, although daughters who have also been shortchanged by the missing-dad factor may feel overlooked when they listen to it.

There are other glitches, not the least of which is the severe whiplash one experiences going from the profanity-packed “We’re Comin” to the God-evoking, spiritually oriented closing track, “Someday.” This album’s biggest problem is its lack of inspiration. A Guy reunion should have been an artistic event, not a poorly thought-out project like this.

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* Excerpts from Guy’s “Guy III” and other releases are available on the World Wide Web. Point your browser to: https://www.latimes.com/soundclips