When looking at the top R&B groups of the ‘90s, Boyz II Men were the hit-making darlings, but Jodeci were dubbed the Bad Boys of the genre. Given this title because of an edgy look, Jodeci had an ear-catching, raw sound and a musical attitude similar to the ‘80s New Jack Swing movement. Setting them apart from the crowd and making them a massive success, Jodeci would go on to sell more than 20 million records worldwide and attain three multi-platinum albums, starting with the 1991 debut Forever My Lady, continuing with the power 1993 follow-up Diary of a Mad Band, leading into 1995’s The Show, the After Party, the Hotel.
Factors that crown Jodeci one of the most influential R&B bands of the era, you could argue that their success was at its peak following the release of The Show, the After Party, the Hotel in July 1995, because the album reached number two on the US Billboard 200, and went platinum within mere months of its release. Also nominated for a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Group, Band or Duo in 1996, despite the fanfare, the group went on an indefinite pause.
An inquisitive turn of events: some believe this was due to internal conflicts in the group; others point to members wanting to focus on other projects. Whatever the case, Jodeci went on a nearly two-decade hiatus. A lot of time passing, in between, brothers K-Ci & JoJo (two of four Jodeci’s members) found stunning commercial success with their 1997 album Love Always (featuring the number 1 single “All My Life”), 1999’s It’s Real, as well as 2000’s X. Making them a big radio favorite in the early 2000s, at last in 2015 Jodeci were back with their long overdue fourth album The Past, The Present, The Future. An exciting return, Jodeci’s comeback debut at No. 23 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the R&B Albums chart. Clearly resonated with fans and fulfilled a desire for Jodeci music, many now look back with fond memories as The Show, the After Party, the Hotel celebrate their 30th anniversary.
A significant milestone, a few aspects of The Show, the After Party, the Hotel that stand out are that Jodeci’s third album was unique to what they had done prior. A release that was far more about creating a cohesive album with a mood rather than concentrating on singular radio hits, you could argue that it was Jodeci’s version of a concept album.
Yes, The Show, the After Party, the Hotel do not have a continuous narrative as a traditional concept record. Still, popping the album on, you are immediately taken in by the theme of moving from a show to the after-party, right into an intimate late-night at a hotel. This is brought to the front of your mind’s eye with the heavy hand of spoken word skits in between the songs, such as “Room 723,” “Room 577,” and “Room 454.”
Aspects that make The Show, the After Party, the Hotel feel more like a audio film, there are fantastic full-length R&B tracks sprinklered around such as “Fun 2 Nite,” “Pump It Back,” and singles like “Get On Up,” “Freek’n You,” and “Love U 4 Life.” Beyond this, there is simply no denying that the album is perhaps one of the most sensually erotic and arousing of its time in terms of lyrics context and the overall atmosphere. In fact, who can ignore “P.I.B. 4 Play,” which is dressed with highly explicit, suggestive sound effects.
Altogether, The Show, the After Party, the Hotel were a bold move from Jodeci, and that is why it is exciting to see the album’s 30th anniversary celebration include a brand new vinyl reissued edition. The first time the album is available on vinyl, the new 30th anniversary edition arrived on September 12, 2025, via uMe. Presented as a double LP, the entire original album comes together on four sides with crisp, thick sonic texture.
Including the original front and back art with a lovely gate-fold vinyl, it is a great way to celebrate Jodeci and their music. Furthermore, there is also a digital reissue deluxe edition of The Show, the After Party, the Hotel, also available, which includes a slew of remixes, plus an instrumental version of “Love U 4 Life.” Each option is worth the time to dig into. Moreover, it should also be noted that Jodeci will be back out on tour in 2026. Great for their fans, Cryptic Rock especially gives the 30th anniversary vinyl reissue of The Show, the After Party, the Hotel 4 out of 5 stars.
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