Casanova / Throwdown
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Album Summary
Released in 1987 on Atlantic Records, 'Casanova / Throwdown' was a pivotal single release from the Cleveland-bred trio LeVert, featuring the smooth vocal firepower of Gerald Levert alongside Sean Levert and Marc Gordon. The project arrived at a moment when New Jack Swing was reshaping the sonic landscape of contemporary R&B, and Atlantic positioned these two tracks to showcase the group's range — the silky, seductive groove of 'Casanova' balanced against the harder, more percussive energy of 'Throwdown.' Both tracks were presented in extended vocal mixes crafted for maximum floor and radio impact, reflecting the era's embrace of the 12-inch format as an art form in its own right.
Reception
- 'Casanova' became a breakout moment for LeVert, earning the group significant airplay and helping establish them as a major force in late-1980s R&B.
- The release reinforced Atlantic's investment in the New Jack Swing sound as a commercially viable direction for their R&B roster.
Significance
- LeVert's 'Casanova' stands as one of the defining recordings at the intersection of New Jack Swing and Contemporary R&B, capturing the genre's transition from classic soul toward a harder, drum-machine-driven aesthetic.
- As the sons and associates of O'Jays legend Eddie Levert, Gerald and Sean brought a deep soul lineage to a thoroughly modern sound, bridging generations of Black musical tradition on this release.
- The extended vocal mix format of both tracks reflects the critical role the 12-inch single played in 1980s R&B culture, designed equally for the intimacy of late-night radio and the energy of the dance floor.
Samples
- "Casanova" — sampled by numerous hip-hop and R&B artists, with one of the most notable uses being its interpolation and sample legacy in 1990s urban music, making it one of the more recognizable sonic touchstones from LeVert's catalog.
Tracklist
-
A Casanova (Vocal Extended Mix) —
7:56
-
B Throwdown (Vocal LP Mix) —
4:16
Artist Details
LeVert was an American R&B vocal group comprised of Gerald Levert, Sean Levert, and Marc Gordon, recording for the Atlantic label out of the United States during the 1980s and into the 1990s. The group rode the smooth yet rhythmically charged currents of Contemporary R&B and the emerging New Jack Swing movement, blending silky harmonies with the harder-edged, funk-driven production style that was reshaping soul music during that era. Gerald and Sean, the sons of legendary O'Jays frontman Eddie Levert, brought a deep musical pedigree to the group, giving LeVert a roots-grounded foundation even as they pushed the sound forward into a new generation.
