Paul Laurence
Paul Laurence is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and producer born Paul Lawrence Jones III on November 29, 1958, in Harlem, New York. He rose to prominence in the 1980s through collaborations with artists like Freddie Jackson, with whom he grew up attending White Rock Baptist Church and formed the early group Laurence Jones Ensemble.
Laurence learned piano from Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson during his church days in Harlem. By the 1970s and into the 1980s, he performed in New York clubs and worked under manager Beau Higgins at Hush Productions, writing hits like Melba Moore's "Love's Comin' at Ya."
He penned Freddie Jackson's chart-topping R&B singles "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)," "Jam Tonight," "Tasty Love," "Hey Lover," and "Do Me Again." Laurence also produced number-one R&B tracks such as Meli'sa Morgan's "Do Me Baby," Stephanie Mills' "(You're Puttin') A Rush on Me," and Lillo Thomas' "I'm in Love."
Laurence released his debut album Haven't You Heard in 1985 on Capitol Records, with the single "She's Not a Sleaze" (featuring Freddie Jackson and Lillo Thomas) peaking at #50 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. His 1989 follow-up Underexposed yielded singles like "Make My Baby Happy" (#77 R&B) and "I Ain't With It" (#83 R&B).
Year Album Label Key Singles (US R&B Peak)
1985 Haven't You Heard Capitol "She's Not a Sleaze" (#50)
1989 Underexposed Capitol "Make My Baby Happy" (#77), "I Ain't With It" (#83)
After a hiatus to raise his family, Laurence returned to music, founding Poplar Music Entertainment Group and working on new projects as of 2016. He contributed to the 1990 film Def by Temptation soundtrack and remains active as an independent music professional based in Charlotte.
Haven’t You Heard
Backing Vocals – Lillo Thomas, Paul Laurence
Guitar – Ed "Speedy" Walker, Mike Campbell (3)
Written-By, Arranged By, Instruments [All Other] – Paul Laurence 7:01
A2 She's Not A Sleaze
Arranged By, Programmed By [Synthesizer Programming], Instruments [All Other] – Paul Laurence
Guitar – Mike Campbell
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Freddie Jackson, Lillo Thomas, Paul Laurence
Vocals [With] – Freddie Jackson, Lillo Thomas
Written-By – A. Moore, F. Jackson, P. Laurence 4:54
A3 You Hooked Me
Bass – Russell Blake
Drums – Terry Silverlight
Guitar – Ira Siegel
Guitar [Solo] – Joe Marno
Written-By, Arranged By, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Paul Laurence 5:48
A4 Good & Plenty
Arranged By – Paul Laurence, Timmy Allen
Guitar [Solo] – Joe Marno
Synthesizer [All Other Synthesizers], Programmed By [Synthesizer Programmer] – Robert Aries
Synthesizer [Bass] – Paul Laurence
Written-By – P. Laurence, T. Allen 5:49
B1 Racism!!!
Backing Vocals – Freddie Jackson, Lillo Thomas, Ondrea Dawkins, Paul Laurence, Regi King
Written-By, Arranged By [All Instruments], Programmed By [All Programming], Instruments [All], Performer [All Arrangements, Programming and Instruments Performed By] – Paul Laurence 5:09
B2 Haven't You Heard
Bass – Timmy Allen
Guitar – Ira Siegel
Written-By, Instruments [All Other] – Paul Laurence 4:07
B3 There Ain't Nothin' (Like Your Lovin')
Arranged By [Additional Synthesizer Arrangements], Instruments [Additional] – Steve Goldman
Written-By, Arranged By [Synthesizer Arrangements], Performer [All Instruments Performed By], Instruments [All Instruments Performed By], Backing Vocals – Paul Laurence 4:45
B4 I'm Sensitive
Bass – Timmy Allen
Guitar – Ira Siegel
Written-By, Arranged By, Programmed By [Synthesizer Programming], Instruments [All Other] – Paul Laurence 4:12
Label: Capitol Records – ST-12407
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Eighties Soul
Paul Laurence's 1985 debut solo album, Haven't You Heard, is generally regarded by fans and critics as a strong collection of 80s funk and soul, though it achieved limited commercial success at the time of its release.
Critics and fans praise the album for its excellent musicianship, mastery of recording technology, and positive, socially conscious lyrics. The album is considered a "fan favorite" among those who followed the "Hush Productions" sound of artists like Freddie Jackson and Lillo Thomas, for whom Laurence produced many hits.
However, some contemporary reviews note that while the uptempo material is strong and works well on the dance floor, the ballad material can be weaker in comparison. Despite its critical appreciation among soul enthusiasts, the album barely charted, largely due to a lack of marketing and promotion from his label, which preferred keeping Laurence as a behind-the-scenes hitmaker for other artists.
The album is known for several standout tracks that have become enduring favorites among soul lovers:
"Strung Out (Freebase)": A moody, impactful track that serves as a warning about crack cocaine addiction. It is often cited as a stunning track and worth getting the album for alone.
"She's Not A Sleaze": An uptempo song featuring traded lead vocals with Freddie Jackson and Lillo Thomas, dealing with the theme of not judging a girl by her appearance.
"There Ain't Nothin' (Like Your Lovin')": A classic electro-soul track with a nice guitar accent that remains a strong "floorfiller" to this day.
"Good & Plenty": An uptempo track that describes a positive, fulfilling love.
"Racism (Sucks!!)": A track that tackles the issue of racism head-on with a cool instrumental backing.
"You Hooked Me": One of the album's few ballads, showcasing Laurence's mellow mood and vocal dexterity.
Haven't You Heard is a cherished record for connoisseurs of 1980s R&B/soul music, highlighted by strong uptempo material and thoughtful lyrics. It is well worth exploring for fans of the era's sound, and the expanded editions, available on platforms like Amazon, include valuable bonus mixes.