May 2012 looks to be a bit slow as far as new albums by established R&B and Soul artists is concerned. The two biggest names on this month's list are Tank, the bodybuilding singer-songwriter-producer who releases his fifth studio album, This is How I Feel this month; legendary O'Jays singer Eddie Levert, who's releasing his solo debut; retro-Soul crooner Ryan Shaw, who's dropping his sophomore album; and SWV member Coko, who's putting out a new solo Gospel-R&B album. For full details of the noteworthy R&B/Soul releases of May 2012, have a look below.
1. 'This is How I Feel,' Tank
Tank is due to drop his fifth album, which was initially titled Savior, on May 8 via Atlantic Records.
Tracklisting:
- Lonely (feat. Chris Brown)
- Your One
- Compliments (feat. T.I. and Kris Stephens)
- Don't Give Up
- Nowhere (feat. Busta Rhymes)
- Off Your Hands
- This is How I Feel
- Next Breath
- Better Than Me
- Lost It All
2. 'Real Love,' Ryan Shaw
Retro-Soul crooner Ryan Shaw, who released his debut album back in 2007, finally releases the follow-up May 15.
Tracklisting:
- Real Love
- Karina
- Can't Hear the Music
- You Don't Know Nothing About Love
- Evermore
- Gone Gone Gone
- That is Why
- Yesterday
- In Between
- Blackmail
- The Wrong Man
- Morning Noon and Night
3. 'Vol. 1,' The Big Ol' Nasty Getdown
This Funk/Soul/R&B ensemble consists of dozens of musicians who've worked with a host of vocalists over the years, most notably the legendary George Clinton. Their debut release as a group will be commercially available throughout the U.S. beginning May 22.
Tracklisting:
- The Big Ol' Nasty Getdown
- Include Me
- I Will Wait for You
- College Funk
- Wake Me Up
- Platinum
- Room 2012
- Away from the World
- The Beauty of Pretty
- It's So Hard to Go
- Amplify
4. 'I Still Have It,' Eddie Levert
The legendary Eddie Levert, best known as lead singer of the O'Jays and for an album of duets he made with his son, the late Gerald Levert, finally releases his first official solo album May 1.
Tracklisting:
- Last Man Standing
- Get Over It
- Lonely
- Blown Away
- I Like the Way You Move
- What If
- Don't Get Much Better
- All About Me and You
- I Don't Want to Be the One
- Don't Lie to Me
- Hate'n
- You're Always There
5. 'Always Coko,' Coko
SWV made a comeback last month be releasing their first album in 15 years. And now lead singer Coko, who's released a handful of solo albums over the past dozen years, returns with a new Gospel-R&B album. It's due out May 22.
Tracklisting:
- Endow Me (feat. Faith Evans, Fantasia and Lil Mo)
- I Get Joy
- The Winner in Me
- I Surrender
- May Be the Last Time
- Clap Your Hands
- Mighty God (feat. Lady Tibba)
- Look at Me
- The Reason
- This is Me
6. 'Ode to Old Flames,' Jon Bibbs
Indie R&B singer-songwriter Jon Bibbs' new album is all about some of his former girlfriends. He'll release it May 29 as the follow-up to his 2006 album, Unbreakable.
Tracklisting:
- Mistakes
- Follow My Heart
- Gone
- Spell on You
- Something to Talk About
- I'm Doing Fine (Without You)
- My Old Flame
- Red (Revisited)
7. 'What the World Needs Now,' The Sugarman 3
The Sugarman 3, a retro Funk band from New York that has industry ties to Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, releases its fourth album of instrumentals May 15 via Daptone Records.
Tracklisting:
- Rudy's Intervention
- Your Friendly Neighborhood Sugarman
- Got to Get Back to My Baby
- But It's Alright
- Witches Boogaloo
- Brother T
- What the World Needs Now
- Dirty Water
- Jealous Moon
- Mellow Meeting
- Love Went Away
8. 'Go Get It,' Mary Mary
Mary Mary, secular music's favorite spiritual duo, who now have their own reality show, are due to drop this album of new and previously released God-praising songs May 8.
Tracklisting:
- Go Get It
- God Bless
- Little Girl
- Dirt
- Can't Give Up Now
- I'm Running
- Good to Me
- Sunday Morning
- He Said
- And I
- Walking
- God in Me
- Shackles
9. 'The Essential Mariah Carey,' Mariah Carey
The latest in Mariah Carey's lengthy line of best-of and greatest hits albums is due in stores May 8.
Disc 1:
- Vision of Love
- Love Takes Time
- Vanishing
- I Don't Wanna Cry
- Emotions (club mix)
- Can't Let Go
- Make It Happen
- I'll Be There
- Dreamlover
- Hero
- Without You
- Anytime You Need a Friend (club version)
- Endless Love
- Fantasy
- One Sweet Day
- Always Be My Baby
- Underneath the Stars
- Honey
- Butterfly
- My All
- Close My Eyes
- The Roof (Mobb Deep extended version)
- When You Believe (from The Prince of Egypt)
- I Still Believe
- Heartbreaker
- Bliss
- Thank God I Found You
- Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)
Disc 2:
10. 'Icon,' Musiq Soulchild
This collection of Musiq Soulchild's best and most popular songs will be released May 1.
Tracklisting:
- Just Friends (Sunny)
- Forthenight
- Halfcrazy
- Love
- Girl Next Door
- Dontchange
- Mary Go Round
- Previouscats
- Newness
- Whoknows
- Dontstop