Scribbler's Throwback of the Week: The Nutty Professor Quartet, Part 2

Continuing in my four-part "Throwback of the Week" installment as a tribute to Sherman Klump's kitchen singing scene in the The Nutty Professor (1996), we come to the second person in what I've dubbed "The Nutty Professor Quartet": Peabo Bryson.  During a successful run on Capitol Records between 1977 and 1982, the Greenville, South Carolina native gave us R&B lovers Quiet Storm classics like "Feel the Fire", "I'm So Into You" and the beautiful duet with Roberta Flack, "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love".  To think that those can be considered humble beginnings for a singer that has always known how to strike the balance between silky smooth and powerhouse vocals. 

That brings us to our featured song, "If Ever You're In My Arms Again".  (For the new school folks that might be scratching their heads, refer to Beenie Man's 2001 dancehall smash, "Toyfriend".  If you haven't heard that either, then there's no hope for you.  Just kidding...kinda.)  Taken from his eighth album and first for Elektra Records, Straight From the Heart (1984), this would be his first Top 10 crossover hit as he began a moderate pop/adult contemporary run that included "Beauty and the Beast" (with Celine Dion), "A Whole New World" (with Regina Belle) and "Before This Night Is Over" (with Kenny G).  However, let's not limit a discussion of a song like this to mere chart success; this is just a flippin' beautiful song.  If you know anything about songwriter/producer Michael Masser--one of the people largely responsible for helping to establish the late, great Whitney Houston as a pop icon and co-writer of "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" along with Gerry Goffin--then you understand why this song is so gorgeous.  Anyone who knows me and my musical tastes--whether as a pure listener or producer--knows that I'm a sucker for some lush string arrangements for the right amount of climactic, dramatic flair.  Top it off with Bryson's straight-to-the-point vocal execution of simple, but profound lyrics by Masser, Cynthia Weil and Tom Snow and you've got a recipe for one of his most memorable romantic ballads ever--and he had quite a few.  So if you've longed to get back with that special someone and need a borderline cheesy pop ballad to do it, look no further than arguably the most successful member of "The Nutty Professor Quartet" [in crossing over, that is] that is more than able and willing to sing on your behalf--especially if you sound like your throat got into a fight with an alley cat and lost.