{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Cool Relax | type = Studio | artist = Jon B | cover = Cool Relax.jpeg | alt = | released = September 16, 1997 | recorded = 1996–97 | venue = | studio = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|Various}}|{{plainlist| *DARP Studios<br/>(Atlanta, Georgia) *J.B.'s Spot, Toad Hall<br/>(Pasadena, California) *The Record Plant, Music Grinder<br/>(Hollywood, California) *Can Am Studios *Enterprise Studios *Encore Studios<br/>(Burbank, California) *Chartmaker Studios<br/>(Malibu, California) *Brandon's Way Recording *The Tracken Place *Larrabee Studios *Westlake Audio *Skip Saylor Recording<br/>(West Hollywood, California) *Glowworm Studios<br/>(Orange, New Jersey) *Sony Studios<br/>(New York City, New York) }}}} | genre = | length = 69:25 | label = *Yab Yum *550 *Epic | producer = *Keith Andes *Jon B. *David Foster *Johnny "J" *Jon-John *Tim & Bob *The Ummah | prev_title = Bonafide | prev_year = 1995 | next_title = Pleasures U Like | next_year = 2001 | misc = {{Singles | name = Cool Relax | type = Studio album | single1 = Don't Say | single1date = August 12, 1997<ref name="amazon">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Say-Shine-Jon-B/dp/B000002DAM|title=Amazon.com: Don't Say / Shine: Music|work=Amazon.com|accessdate=June 14, 2014|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305061921/http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Say-Shine-Jon-B/dp/B000002DAM|url-status=live}}</ref> | single2 = Are U Still Down | single2date = January 13, 1998 | single3 = They Don't Know | single3date = March 17, 1998 | single4 = I Do (Whatcha Say Boo) | single4date = September 15, 1998 | single5 = Cool Relax | single5date = 1998 }} }} '''''Cool Relax''''' is the second studio album by American singer Jon B. It was released by Tracey Edmonds' label Yab Yum Records and distributed by Epic Records subsidiary 550 Music on September 16, 1997.
==Background and recording== ''Cool Relax'' was the follow-up to his 1995 debut ''Bonafide''. Jon assumed the role of having more creative control on his second album. On his debut, he was given leeway to write and produce, but Edmonds and her then-husband Babyface were heavily involved in the making of ''Bonafide''.<ref name="Soul Culture">{{cite web|last1=Williams|first1=Chris|title=Jon B. reflects on his 1997 album, Cool Relax {{!}} Return To The Classics|url=http://soulculture.com/features/interviews/jon-b-reflects-on-his-1997-album-cool-relax-return-to-the-classics/|website=soulculture.com|publisher=Soul Culture|accessdate=2014-07-18}}</ref> Jon was confident in the material for his new album, but fought with Edmonds and Babyface over certain songs to keep on the project.<ref name="Soul Culture"/>
Aside from his work, Jon sought outside production from Tim & Bob, Johnny J, David Foster and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, among others. The song that became the first single "Don't Say", was written by former Boyz II Men and Az Yet member Marc Nelson. Jon overheard Nelson playing the song in the record company's parking lot and asked to record it for his album.<ref name="Soul Culture"/> The music video for the single featured a then-unknown Sanaa Lathan as the female love interest.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sanaa Lathan: other works|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005125/otherworks|website=imdb.com|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2014-07-18|archive-date=2016-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402233118/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005125/otherworks|url-status=live}}</ref>
"They Don't Know" was released as the next single, with a music video directed by Christopher Erskin.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Erskin|first1=Christopher|title=Jon B. - They Don't Know|url=http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=14813|website=mvdbase.com|publisher=MVDBase|accessdate=2015-08-17|archive-date=2015-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222080140/http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=14813|url-status=dead}}</ref> The song's B-side "Are U Still Down" was also issued despite objections from the record company, as it featured vocals from the then-deceased Tupac Shakur who died when Jon started recording the album.<ref name="Soul Culture"/> Jon received assistance from Shakur's mother Afeni Shakur, who gave Jon permission to clear his vocals for the song.<ref name="Soul Culture"/> He would record a sequel to "Are U Still Down" called "Part 2" with a posthumous appearance by Shakur on his 2004 album ''Stronger Everyday''.
The next single was the song "I Do (Whatcha Say Boo)". The song originally appeared on his demo tape prior to recording ''Bonafide''- as did the album track "Can We Get Down".<ref name="Soul Culture"/> The final single was the title track, which had a remix that featured Guru from the hip hop group Gang Starr. The song was produced by Ali Shaheed Muhammad, who Jon sought out due to being a longtime fan of A Tribe Called Quest.<ref name="Soul Culture"/> "Pride & Joy" was originally recorded by Toni Braxton for her sophomore album ''Secrets'', but the song never made the final track listing.<ref name="Soul Culture"/> Jon later recorded the song for himself, while giving her the song "In the Late of Night" for her album.
The last song on ''Cool Relax''- "Tu Amor"- was penned by songwriter Diane Warren.<ref name="Soul Culture"/> Jon felt the song didn't fit in with the rest of the album and was done at the request of Epic Records in seeing the potential of the song becoming a huge hit.<ref name="Soul Culture"/> Almost a decade later, the song would be covered by Mexican pop group RBD for their English language album ''Rebels''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jon B. - Tu Amor|url=http://www.whosampled.com/Jon-B/Tu-Amor/|website=whosampled.com|publisher=WhoSampled|accessdate=2014-07-19|archive-date=2014-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810002533/http://www.whosampled.com/Jon-B/Tu-Amor/|url-status=live}}</ref>
One song that didn't make the track list was "Paradise in U".<ref name="Soul Culture"/> A little over a decade later, he included the song on his 2008 album ''Helpless Romantic''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jon B.|title=Paradise In U|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/paradise-in-u-mt0018672620|website=allmusic.com|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2014-07-19|archive-date=2014-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112194318/http://www.allmusic.com/song/paradise-in-u-mt0018672620|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|first=Leo|last=Stanley|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r315599|pure_url=yes}}|title=(((Cool Relaxe > Overview)))|work=AllMusic|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref> }} AllMusic editor Leo Stanley wrote that while "there are a couple of mediocre songs scattered across the album, Jon B.'s second album, ''Cool Relax'', is a step forward for the urban soul singer. For much of the time, he's able to create a seductive, sexy fusion of classic soul and rhythmic, swinging '90s hip-hop. That alone makes ''Cool Relax'' enjoyable on a surface level, but the moments that really shine are when the music, production, tunes, and songwriting all converge and result in an alluring, romantic, and bracingly modern soul. It doesn't happen all that often, but when it does, it makes the weaker moments worthwhile."<ref name="AllMusic"/>
==Track listing== Credits adapted from liner notes<ref name="ReferenceA">Jon B. - Cool Relax. Yab Yum Records/550 Music. BK 67805</ref> and AllMusic.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jon B.|title=Cool Relax - studio album|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/cool-relax-mw0000027659|website=allmusic.com|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2014-07-19}}</ref> {{Track listing | headline = ''Cool Relax'' track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 69:25
| title_width = 30% | writing_width = 45% | extra_width = 25%
| title1 = Shine | writer1 = {{hlist|Jonathan Buck|Dave Elias}} | extra1 = Jon B. | length1 = 4:29
| title2 = Bad Girl | writer2 = {{hlist|Tim Kelley|Bob Robinson|Buck}} | extra2 = Tim & Bob | length2 = 4:19
| title3 = Don't Say | writer3 = {{hlist|Jonathan Robinson|Marc Nelson|Darrell Spencer}} | extra3 = {{hlist|Jon-John|Nelson}} | length3 = 4:48
| title4 = They Don't Know | writer4 = {{hlist|Kelley|Robinson|Buck}} | extra4 = Tim & Bob | length4 = 4:34
| title5 = Can't Help It | writer5 = {{hlist|Buck|David Kopp|Ngai McGee}} | extra5 = Jon B. | length5 = 4:47
| title6 = Cool Relax | writer6 = {{hlist|Buck|Dahoud Darien|Ali Shaheed Muhammad}} | extra6 = The Ummah | length6 = 4:26
| title7 = Are U Still Down | note7 = featuring 2Pac | writer7 = {{hlist|Buck|Tupac Shakur|Johnny Lee Jackson}} | extra7 = {{hlist|2Pac|Johnny J}} | length7 = 4:27
| title8 = Pride & Joy | writer8 = Babyface | extra8 = {{hlist|Keith Andes|Pluto}} | length8 = 3:37
| title9 = I Do (Whatcha Say Boo) | writer9 = Buck | extra9 = Jon B. | length9 = 4:46
| title10 = Let Me Know | writer10 = Buck | extra10 = Jon B. | length10 = 4:51
| title11 = I Ain't Going Out | writer11 = Buck | extra11 = Jon B. | length11 = 4:29
| title12 = Let's Go (Interlude) | writer12 = Buck | extra12 = Jon B. | length12 = 1:29
| title13 = Can We Get Down? | writer13 = Buck | extra13 = Jon B. | length13 = 5:24
| title14 = Love Hurts | writer14 = Babyface | extra14 = Jon-John | length14 = 4:34
| title15 = Tu Amor | writer15 = Diane Warren | extra15 = David Foster | length15 = 6:03 }}
== Personnel == Credits adapted from liner notes<ref name="ReferenceA"/> and AllMusic.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jon B.|title=Cool Relax - Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/cool-relax-mw0000027659/credits|website=allmusic.com|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2014-07-19}}</ref> {{div col}} *Ali Almo – backing vocals *Keith Andes – keyboards, producer, vocal arrangement *Atlass – backing vocals *Jon B. – backing vocals, producer, Vocoder, vocal arrangement, mixing *Agnes Baddoo – stylist *Tom Bender – mixing assistant *Kyle Bess – mixing assistant *Paul Boutin – engineer, mixing assistant *Ian Boxill – engineer, mixing *Tim Carter – hair stylist *Greg Collins – assistant engineer, mixing assistant *Matthew Cross – engineer *Kevin Crouse – mixing assistant *Dahoud Darien – keyboards, producer *Desiree Diggs – make-up *Sheila E. – percussion *Nathan East – bass guitar *Kevon Edmonds – backing vocals *Melvin Edmonds – backing vocals *Tracey E. Edmonds – executive producer *Felipe Elgueta – engineer *Dave Elias – bass guitar *Toni Estes – backing vocals *David Foster – keyboards, producer *Simon Franglen – synthesizer, programming *Roy Galloway – backing vocals *Jon Gass – mixing *Jeff Griffin – mixing assistant *Reggie Griffin – bass guitar *Gene Grimaldi – mastering *Mick Guzauski – mixing *Stephanie Gylden – assistant engineer *Reggie Hamilton – guitar, bass guitar *Jack Hersca – mixing assistant *Zulma Iracheta – design *Mauricio Iragorri – mixing assistant *Eric Jackson – guitar *Bernard Jacobs – illustrations, stylist *Johnny J – producer *Jon-John – keyboards, producer *Melanie Jones – mixing assistant *Tim Kelley – keyboards, producer, engineer, vocal arrangement, drum programming, mixing *Khris Kellow – backing vocals *David Kopp – guitar *Paul Lani – engineer, mixing *Ricco Lumpkins – assistant engineer *Manny Marroquin – engineer, mixing *Tony Maserati – mixing *Michael McQuarn – executive producer *Ali Shaheed Muhammad – producer, engineer, mixing *Paul Naguna – assistant engineer *Natie – rap *Marc Nelson – backing vocals, producer *Bennett Novak – design *Dean Parks – acoustic guitar *Greg Phillinganes – keyboards *Lance Pierre – engineer *Pluto – co-producer *Bob Powers – engineer, mixing *Dave Reitzas – engineer *Michael Rich – assistant engineer, mixing assistant *Bob Robinson – keyboards, producer, vocal arrangement *Jason Rohrbach – assistant engineer *Thom Russo – engineer *Colin Sauers – engineer, assistant engineer, mixing assistant *Michael Schlesinger – engineer *Eddy Schreyer – mastering *Matt Silva – assistant engineer *Brian Smith – engineer, mixing assistant *Alvin Speights – mixing, mixing assistant *Jay Strauss – photography *Michael Thompson – guitar, electric guitar *2Pac – producer *The Ummah – producer *Steve Van Arden – engineer *Carlos Warlick – engineer {{div col end}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1997) ! scope="col"| Peak<br/> position |- {{album chart|Billboard200|33|artist=Jon B|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2023}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|4|artist=Jon B|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2023}} |} {{col-2}}
=== Year-end charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1998) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"|Canadian R&B Albums (SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web |title=RnB: Year-end Top 100|url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/RANDB_1998.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817201229/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/RANDB_1998.html|archive-date=August 17, 2000 |url-status=dead |publisher=Jam!|access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|78 |}
{{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Cool Relax''}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Jon B.|title=Cool Relax|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1997|certyear=1998|accessdate=June 24, 2022|refname="riaa"|salesamount=1,100,000|salesref=<ref name="billboard3">{{cite magazine|title=550 Music Has Fared Better With Pop And R&B|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nwgEAAAAMBAJ|date=September 4, 1999|access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref>}} {{end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Jon B}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1997 albums Category:550 Music albums Category:Jon B. albums Category:Albums produced by Tim & Bob Category:Albums produced by David Foster Category:Albums produced by Johnny "J"