Real Men... Wear Black Explained

Real Men... Wear Black
Type:studio
Artist:Cameo
Border:yes
Released:June 11, 1990
Recorded:1989–1990
Length:40:35
Label:Atlanta Artists/Polygram Records
Producer:Larry Blackmon
Prev Title:Machismo
Prev Year:1988
Year:1990
Next Title:Emotional Violence
Next Year:1991

Real Men... Wear Black is a studio album by the funk group Cameo released in 1990 on Atlanta Artists/Mercury Records.[1] The album reached No. 18 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.[2]

Critical reception

Jon Pareles of the New York Times stated that "Larry Blackmon's cracked nasal voice keeps the band funny and unpretentious, especially when kicking up its well honed midtempo funk". Allmusic gave the album a three out of five star rating. Chris Heim of the Chicago Tribune noted that Real Men is another solid example of Cameo`s approach to the sound" of "black rock." Don Waller of the Los Angeles Times also proclaimed "using a krazee-quilt combination of synthetic/organic keyboards ‘n’ hipshot! percussion, greazy basslines and goofbawl vocals, (heavy on the minor sevenths), Cameo rolls back the rug for a wall-to-off-the-wall dance party".

Singles

I Want It Now reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.[3] Close Quarters also reached No. 38 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.[4]

Personnel

Photography By – David Vance

Charts

Chart (1990)Peak
position
US Billboard 20084
US Top R&B Albums (Billboard)18

Notes and References

  1. Cameo: Real Men... Wear Black. 1990. Atlanta Artists/Mercury Records.
  2. Web site: Cameo: Real Men... Wear Black (Top Soul Albums). Billboard. billboard.com.
  3. Web site: Cameo: I Want It Now (Hot R&B Songs). Billboard. billboard.com.
  4. Web site: Cameo: Close Quarters (Hot R&B Songs). Billboard. billboard.com.