Start Over

Released in 1987, Start Over represents Cheryl Lynn's brief tenure with Manhattan Records and a significant sonic departure from her disco-era warmth. Produced during the height of the digital revolution in R&B, the album is characterized by its heavy use of the Yamaha DX7, gated reverb, and aggressive drum programming. Notably, the album features a reunion with David Paich, the producer of her career-defining hit 'Got to Be Real,' though the results here are decidedly more electronic and dense. While the single 'If You Were Mine' achieved moderate success on the R&B charts, the album was met with mixed critical reception, with some critics arguing the 'gelatinous' production stifled Lynn's natural vibrancy. However, from a historical perspective, it stands as a quintessential example of late-80s urban pop production, showcasing the industry's shift toward a more mechanized, high-gloss aesthetic before the rise of New Jack Swing.