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Album cover of Jody Watley titled 'Flower', featuring a close-up of Watley resting her chin on her hand against a green chair.

Happy Anniversary to Jody Watley ‘Flower‘Released on this day — March 31, 1998 (UK) via Atlantic Records — and later finally made available across digital platforms, Flower didn’t meet commercial exceptions for the album due to delayed worldwide release but remains a standout her ongoing discography.

A forward-thinking blend of R&B, soul, and dance, the album features production from an all-star lineup including D’Wayne Wiggins, Malik Pendleton, Jamey Jaz, Masters At Work, Andrea Martin, Bryce Wilson, along with Watley herself and Derrick Edmonson (Affection album collaborator).

✨ Highlights include:

• “Off The Hook” — #1 Billboard Dance, #23 R&B, Hot 100 entry (D-Dot Remix featuring Rakim.

• “If I’m Not In Love” — #2 Billboard Dance

• “Loving You So” — featuring Rahsaan Patterson, included on Dr. Doolittle Soundtrack starring Eddie Murphy.

“16,” written by Watley 1 of several of her compositions for the album, was later covered and reimagined as “Sweet 16” by Destiny’s Child on their multi-platinum album ‘The Writings On The Wall.

The album also includes “Just One More Time,” originally recorded as a group collaboration with members of Shalamar. The label ultimately opted for a different direction, leading to Watley re-recording the track as a solo version for the final album release.

A group of four individuals posing in a music studio, with a recording console in the foreground. — Producer Jamey Jaz, Jody Watley, Howard Hewett Jeffrey Daniel. 1997 Westlake Studio. Recording “Just One More Time for Jody Watley’s “Flower” album.

The label ultimately opted for a different direction, leading to Watley re-recording the track as a solo version for the final album release.

The album was supported by numerous music magazine covers geared to the R&B demographic including Blues & Soul, women’s magazine BE (Black Elegance), the UK’s Black Echoes.

There were many high profile television appearances including the top shows of the 90s including The Rosie O’Donnell Show, an hour special on BET’s Planet Groove bookended by an radio promotional tour to the urban market targeted for this album.

🌸 “Flower” is a true gem of late ‘90s contemporary R&B/Soul, dance and continued evolution for the singer, songwriter, producers independence, and commitment to artistry, not remaining stagnant or stuck in the past.

Revisit • Explore • Stream Flower at the digital platforms of your choice.

Check out the new video collage celebrating the anniversary release on Jody Watley YouTube: Here

#JodyWatley #FlowerAlbum #MusicAnniversary #90sRNB #DanceMusic #RnBClassic #WomenInMusic #AtlanticRecords #NowPlaying #MusicHistory

About The Artist:

Jody Watley is a GRAMMY® Award–winning Best New Artist and 3x nominee, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and style icon.

Renowned as one of the most defining female artists of the 80s and 90s with Top 10 hits including the iconic hits “Looking for a New Love,” “Don’t You Want Me,” “Friends” ft. Eric B. & Rakim, and the gold-certified “Real Love,” + more.

6 Top 10 Hot 100 Hits, 13 #1 Dance Hits, 15 top 40, 2 #1 R&B Singles & Albums, 3 #1 Dance / Electronic Albums.

Jody Watley has built a genre-spanning, critically acclaimed catalog across R&B, Pop, Dance, Jazz, Electronica — from the 1980s to today. Her latest release, Let’s Dance Vol. 1, reached #1 on iTunes Top Dance Albums in July 2025.

The Chicago native is also celebrated as a fashion and cultural trailblazer, Watley has been featured in GAP & SAKS 5th Avenue ad campaigns, VOGUE, Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, People Magazines Most Beautiful Issue and more.

A pioneer at the intersection of music and style, Jody Watley’s multi-decade, multi-generational career continues to evolve with a legacy of sound, fearless authenticity on her path; not chasing trends or charts just quality timeless music – with a style and spirit that endures.

Album cover of 'Larger Than Life' by Jody Watley featuring her in a vibrant yellow feathered garment, posed with one leg bent and wearing high black boots.

Celebrating a milestone 🎶✨

Released March 27, 1989 — the platinum-certified second solo album “Larger Than Life” from Jody Watley.

A defining project of the late ’80s, the album delivered three Billboard Top 10 hits, with Watley contributing once again to the song narratives co-writing 9 of the 10 songs produced by Andre Cymone:

“Real Love” (Gold-certified), also her second R&B #1, “Friends,” and “Everything.”

“Real Love” — directed by Oscar-winner David Fincher— became one of MTV’s most nominated videos, pushing visual storytelling and fashion-forward aesthetics while cementing Watley as a true music and style trailblazer.

The groundbreaking “Friends” featuring Eric B & Rakim helped pioneer the fusion of R&B, hip-hop, pop, and dance (Source: Okayplayer), becoming one of the first crossover collaborations to hit the Top 10 across multiple charts. The video also featured voguing, street dance, with a cast of true New York club kids and sub culture icons such as Connie Fleming. The album also showcased emotional depth with the timeless ballad “Everything.”

Album Cover: Steven Meisel

Art Direction & Design: Lynn Robb | Jody Watley

Recognized among the greatest visuals in music history, Larger Than Life is featured in 1000 Record Covers by Taschen.

Stream Larger Than Life and explore the ongoing music discography of Jody Watley across your favorite digital platforms.

About the Artist:

Jody Watley is a GRAMMY® Award–winning Best New Artist and 3x nominee, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and style icon.

Renowned as one of the most defining female artists of the 80s and 90s with Top 10 hits including the iconic “Looking for a New Love,” “Don’t You Want Me,” “Friends” ft. Eric B. & Rakim, and the gold-certified “Real Love,” she has built a genre-spanning, critically acclaimed catalog across R&B, Pop, Dance, Jazz, Electronica, 80s, 90s, 2000s-Present including 2025’s #1 iTunes Dance Electronic Album “Let’s Dance Vol.1”

To date she has 6 Hot 100 Top 10 Singles, 13 Number 1 Dance Singles, 2 Number 1 R&B Singles, 15 Top 40 Singles, 3 Number 1 Dance Electronic Albums in the 2000s, numerous UK Soul Chart Top 5 singles in her ongoing independently released music.

An award-winning songwriter (BMI Medal of Honor, Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame), Watley is ranked by Billboard among the Top 25 Dance Artists of All Time and Top 65 Hot 100 Female Artists of All Time. Her honors include Black Music Honors Crossover Icon and the 2022 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award + more. A former member of the group Shalamar (1977-1983), Jody Watley was a part of the Band Aid #1 UK charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas.

She was the first artist to brand herself and release a #1 Fitness Video to her music, in 1989, the first artist and black woman to appear on the cover of a Japanese fashion magazine, with the launch of SPUR that same year.

Cover of SPUR magazine featuring a woman with long, wet hair, looking upward with a serene expression. The magazine title is prominently displayed in large orange letters. — Jody Watley – SPUR Fashion Magazine Japan Launch November 1989.

Celebrated as a fashion and cultural trailblazer, Watley has features in GAP, VOGUE, Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, People Magazine (Most Beautiful Issue) and more.

A pioneer at the intersection of music and style. Her multi-decade, multi-generational career continues to evolve since her early Pop R&B era with MCA (1986-1994) through progressing into her independent label Avitone era 1995 into the present.