Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis or LA Reid and Babyface? That debate has been going on since the 80s? However, I’d like to take a different angle. How about Mo’ Money or Boomerang? Two motion picture soundtracks the legendary producers were at the helm of. Let’s chop it up.
Mo’ Money: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released June 23, 1992. Handled by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis’ Perspective Records, it was released during the height of the New Jack Swing. With that being said, it made sense for “Money Can’t Buy You Love,” an up-tempo jam by Ralph Tresvant, to hit the airwaves first.
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R&B royalty, Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson, came together to create the second single, “The Best Things in Life Are Free.” Though it was an unlikely duet based on the gap between the two artist’s vocal abilities, it worked! The single peaked at the number 10 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and it atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Perhaps one of the more seductive and slept on jams from the soundtrack was “I Adore You,” by Caron Wheeler, lead singer of Soul II Soul.
Mo’ Money: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack peaked at number 6 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number 2 on the R&B albums chart. It was certified platinum in September 1992.
Boomerang: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released a week later on LA Reid and Babyface’s LaFace Records. Like Jam & Lewis, LaFace head honchos came out the gate with an upbeat love song as their first single. “Give U My Heart,” performed by Babyface and Toni Braxton, reached the number 29 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on Hot R&B Singles.
Reid and Face kept the hits coming with “End of the Road” and “I’d Die Without You” by Boyz II Men and P.M. Dawn, respectively. However, conviction was at the center of attention when “Love Shoulda Brought You Home,” by Toni Braxton was released.
The album’s fifth single peaked at the number 33 spot on Billboard Hot 100 and 5 spot on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles.
Boomerang: The Motion Picture Soundtrack peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard 200 and reached the top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album was certified triple-platinum.
Again, we’ve been pinning Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and LA Reid & Babyface together since we were rockin’ S-Curls. But we have not pinned their soundtracks together…until now.
Which was the Better Soundtrack; ‘Mo’ Money’ or ‘Boomerang’?
[Polls Are Closed!]
‘Boomerang’ – 55%
‘Mo’ Money’ – 45%