***1/2 Auspicious debut by this soulful singer (and songwriter) featured two strong singles: "Two Steps Behind" and "Backup Lover"; both midtempo charmers. Aaron Weddington co-wrote every track- five with Robert Smith and three with Buchana including a modern day "Back Door Man" in "Back Door Tipper", which was also covered by Louisiana bluesman Kenny Neal. At the core this is Memphis soul albeit with modern flourishes that marked O.B. as an artist to watch.

*** Following a similar blueprint as his previous album Buchana serves up another batch of Dance-oriented Southern Soul. The chuggin' "Let's Get Drunk" has a great synth hook and seems to portend a later hit in his career ("I Can't Stop Drinkin'"). "That's The Way" is a shaggin' on the beach cut and "Ring, Ring, Hello, Click" has a funky discofied groove. The slow soul "One Step Closer To The Blues" has the best melody and some fine backing vocals (uncredited). The midtempo "I Can't Choose" is a kissing cousin to Carl Sims' "Trapped" and features an impassioned vocal by O.B., showing he's a singer first and foremost. This was his only disc for the label and he next switched to Ecko.

**1/2 Only 6 months after his last hit-filled disc for Ecko, "Shake What You Got", we get a new one that includes his heartfelt ode to Tyrone Davis ("Stage In The Sky"). The song is a slow "Soul Heaven"-type ballad where O.B. talks about how the man's music affected his life. It's the best jam here on a project that seems put together for the sake of this tribute song. Unfortunately, the material just isn't in the same league as previous Ecko Records releases and especially his fabulous last album. "I Can't Stop Drinkin'" is a decent upbeat dancer where O.B. professes his love for booze and "Girl I Need Your Love" is an okay slow number, but the album is marked by some lame lyrics in "I'm Ready To Get Nude", an otherwise fun, funky groover, and "Lap Dance". The cover is also jivey, but Buchana's vocal prowess seems to overcome the obstacles.

*** One of the highlights of 2005 was O.B.'s earnest vocal on the smash 'Stage In the Sky" (a tribute to Tyrone Davis). The album "I Can't Stop Drinkin'" was an otherwise lackluster album anemic on quality songs. We're up to Ecko album 3 already and I was expecting O.B. would rebound big time on "I'm Gonna Sleep". Overall it's superior to it's predecessor but there's still something missing. Morris J's unimaginative sequencing, generic backing vocals and rhythm tracks (example: "Cake Daddy") are part of the problem. Or could it be this successful Ecko formula is running thin? Too soon to tell because cuts like "I Owe Everybody", "Just Be A Man About It" and "I Was There For You" still deliver. Actually six of the eleven songs here were produced by outsider Luther Lackey. Fresh input is a good idea even though The results are mixed. The Lackey/Buchana team score on the sentimental ode to O.B.'s hometown "Clarksdale, Mississippi" with O.B. sounding eerily like W.C. Clark on the chorus! The Lackey-penned "I'm Gonna Sleep With It In It" is another one of those catchy shuffle-bumpers with cheeky lyrics that have a long currency on the Chittlin' Circuit. As regards the provocative title let's just say O.B. is dead tired from work but he still needs to do his "homework" when he goes home to the wife. This one's probably the first single. Lackey also wrote "You Can Be A Fool And Don't Know It" and "Like A Woman" but the backing is plastic and small. The wildcard is Rick Lawson's "She's Having A Love Affair". It should have been a hit for Rick but maybe this time's the charm.

**** This is now the fourth new CD on O.B. Buchana in less than three years and in my book it's his best since his Ecko debut ("Shake What You Got!"). Why? A higher percentage of good hooks and better rhythm tracks. His last couple discs had but a few good cuts and featured too much of that "bucka bucka bucka" percussion sound Morris J was putting on everything he touched. But "Goin' Back Home" has the bass upfront like on the propulsive "Booty Mover" (2 versions), perhaps the label's best dancer since the irresistible "Booty Scoot". It's naturally very similar and has a celebratory shake-what-you-got feel that could be OB's biggest hit yet.

Other good'uns include the bumper "I'm About To Lose My Wife To My Woman", the beachy "Mississippi Swing" and Big John Cumming's "I'm Goin' Back Home". How can you not agree with these lyrics: "I made a trip up North to visit some of my friends/They said 'OB you oughta move up here 'cuz the good times never end...but I came to the conclusion this I just cannot do...there's just one thing wrong/Y'all don't have no Southern Soul music when I turn on my radio". Amen! But speaking of lyrics, the otherwise snappy "Come And Get It While He's Gone" includes the unctuous refrain "She said: 'come and get while he's gone/I'm soaking wet and I ain't wearing no drawers".  Puh- Lease. Ruins a decent booty mover. His inferior cover of Chuck Roberson's "Lollipop Man" is also a nuisance to me but the lovely "Everything Sweet Reminds Me Of You" hits the mark. As said before this one's got the goods overall. It'll be interesting to see if folks suffer from O.B. burnout though.