Shalamar, “The Second Time Around” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 50^th  edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “The Second Time Around” by Shalamar.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 50^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “The Second Time Around”, performed by 🎙 Shalamar. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

🎵 “The Second Time Around” appears on the 1979 🎙 Shalamar album, 💿 Big Fun. Big Fun earned the disco/funk/soul collective a gold album.  Likewise, the song at hand, a top ten hit on the pop charts, is certified gold too.  The edition of Shalamar that appears on “The Second Time Around” and Big Fun is comprised of 🎙 Howard Hewett (lead vocals), 🎙 Jody Watley, and 🎙 Jeffrey Daniel. Throughout the course of this late 1970s classic, Howard Hewett serves up commanding, compelling lead vocals. He sounds nothing short of exuberant, energetic, and utterly sublime.

Of course, it’s not all about Howard, though he’s ‘kind of a big deal’ on “The Second Time Around!” The record is a feel-good, surefire vibe. It was written by 🎼 ✍ Leon Sylvers III and 🎼 ✍ William Shelby.  Sigh, I wish I’d written this bop! It’s set in a bright major key – D-flat to be precise 🤓. Musically, it’s the funky groove, robust bass line, keys, and the crisp, rhythmic guitar that truly stand out.  Beyond the instrumental backdrop, the lyrics are sweet, encouraging her that love can be found, even if it didn’t work out the first time. “But you can’t keep runnin’ away from love / ‘Cause the first one let you down, no, no, no,” Hewett sings, adding, “With me, true love can still be found / Love can still be found.” Awesome! Of course, the centerpiece of “The Second Time Around” is the catchy chorus, carried by the backing vocals (Watley and Daniel), and of course, marvelous ad-libs by Hewett.

“The second time around

Ooh, the second time is so much better, baby

The second time around

And I’ll make it better than the first time.”

Final Thoughts 💭

🎵 “The Second Time Around” is another epic R&B classic – there are so many of them, all told.  You look back on a song like this, and to some degree, it saddens you because R&B just isn’t as big as it was back then.  The 1970s were one of the best times to be in the soul business with so many talented musicians and bands all achieving success.  “The Second Time Around” was Shalamar’s big moment, and we’ll never forget it!

🎙 Shalamar • 💿 Big Fun • 🏷 Unidisc Music Inc. • 🗓 1979

Shalamar, “The Second Time Around”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 50 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype, Unidisc Music Inc.]