Born Again (VP, 1996)

This begins with the potential of being an excellent album. The first four songs -- in particular, "Fire in Your Eyes" and the title track -- sparkle under Spice's deep, heartfelt voice, the quality production, and catchy melodies. From there, however, it's all downhill, starting with the fifth song, a mediocre version of Earth Wind and Fire's "Let's Groove."  Still, this cover stands up well in comparison to the remaining songs, which deteriorate into a generic hodgepodge of lovers rock and Luciano-at-his-worst-styled religious songs with a lover's rhythm. Spice's voice itself begins to lose its unique appeal under the weight of such average material and decays into something resembling a bad Barry White wannabe, especially when he talks, as in "One Last Memory." And the Love Doctor he ain't.