Coast 2 Coast Feat. The Fantastic Gems

Review by Victoria Scott & Staff

Coast 2 Coast’s “Only If You Want To” from The New Ole Skool album featuring The Fanatics Gems is a hip, R&B, and jazz tune that has a grand big band sound. The Fantastic Gems have a clean and groovy sound that will teleport you. to a fine place. Everything from the instrument arrangement to the vocals is on fire. Warren Jones’s on the drums kicks off the song with a nice triplet as the trumpet comes in. The keyboard, strings, and synthesizer add nice embellishments in the melody.

The vocalists, Morris “Rocky” Whitaker and Robert Finney, have such sultry voices. Morris has a deep sound allowing him to sound more alluring, and Robert with his tenor voice provides an old school crooner whale during the break. Throughout the song, you can hear influences of The Temptations in the four-part harmoniesThe production by Morris, Robert, and Tanya Finney is phenomenal. Together, they create an upbeat, sensuous, and magical sound.

“Only If You Want To” is a lovely depiction of someone trying to keep a relationship together. Sometimes it better to be apart, but it’s so much better to be together. As the song says, “Tell me, baby, what it is that we must do. I don't want to hear you say we are through. Take a look inside yourself, is there room for two. Let's stay together to me and you, only if you want to.”

“Only If You Want To” is a beautiful and captivating R&B and jazz love ballad. It is alluring, the perfect song to dance to with your sweetheart. The Fantastic Gems performance is bewitching and Morris “Rocky” Whitaker and Warren Jones will sweep you off our feet and steal your heart.

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About Coast 2 Coast Feat. The Fantastic Gems

Back in 1968, at Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, a music group called The Fantastic Gems was born. After graduation, the talented musicians went off to college, the military, and new careers. Years later, two of the original members reformed in Washington D.C. as "Coast 2 Coast" and began recording and performing from 1986 to 1990. 

In 2016, The Fantastic Gems got back together to fulfill a promise they made to each other when they were young students in New Jersey. The result of their reunion was the release of The New Old Skool. The project took three years from conception to completion and was released June 2019. 

The album is a tribute to their musical roots, and was made in recognition of the community who encouraged, supported and shaped their musical spirit. The New Old Skool features 11 great songs that fans of R&B, Gospel, Pop, and Jazz will love. 

Listen on Spotify

You can find "Only If YOu Want To" on Apple Music.

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This music review was brought to you by BWH Music Group.

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