Album of the Day

These soul stars sang together as high school students in Atlanta, earning a record deal (and a band name) after an audition for Sean “Puffy” Combs at the city’s Club 112. The group’s eponymous debut leans more toward romantic balladry than the hip-hop for which Bad Boy Records was known but the 1996 set has a foot in each camp: a couple of the songs here had been earmarked for Boyz II Men’s second album while labelmates The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans and Mase rap on two tracks. The foursome harmonize beautifully on such highlights as “Now That We're Done,” “Only You” and “Cupid” – the latter two were Top 10 R&B hits. The double-Platinum 112 was an ideal launching pad for one of the most talented vocal groups of the 1990s.