Things That Lovers Do

Things That Lovers Do
Studio album by
Kenny Lattimore & Chanté Moore
ReleasedFebruary 11, 2003
Length58:08
LabelArista
Producer
Kenny Lattimore chronology
Weekend
(2001) 		Things That Lovers Do
(2003) 		Uncovered/Covered
(2006)
Chanté Moore chronology
Exposed
(2000) 		Things That Lovers Do
(2003) 		Uncovered/Covered
(2006)
Singles from Things That Lovers Do
  1. "Loveable (From Your Head to Your Toes)"
    Released: 2002
  2. "You Don't Have to Cry"
    Released: 2003

Things That Lovers Do is the debut collaborative studio album by American singers and real-life couple Kenny Lattimore and Chanté Moore. It was released by Arista Records on February 11, 2003 in the United States. The album includes covers of classic 1970's and 1980's soul duets by singers Karyn White and Babyface, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and more. The then-couple worked with producers Jamey Jaz, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, James Poyser, and Daryl Simmons on much of the project.

The album received mixed reviews, with some praising its sensual R&B style and vocal chemistry, while others found the performances technically solid but emotionally lacking. Commercially, Things That Lovers Do became the highest-charting album for both singers, reaching number 31 on the US Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album spawned two singles, including original track "Loveable (From Your Head to Your Toes)" and the René & Angela cover "You Don't Have to Cry."

Background

Michael Mauldin conceived the idea of their pairing up on a duet albums.[1] According to executive producer Antonio Reid, the album release was timed to coincide with Valentine's Day.[2] The album artwork bears a "warning" on the back stating that the CD "may cause pregnancy," making reference to the fact that Chante became pregnant with the couple's first child during the recording of the album. Shortly after the release of the album and close of the stage play, she gave birth to a son named Kenneth Lattimore Jr. on April 10, 2003, the same date as his father's birthday.[3]

Promotion

Original track "Loveable (From Your Head to Your Toes)," produced by duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, was released as the lead single from Things That Lovers Do in 2002. Co-producer by The Avila Brothers, it reached number 19 on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.[4] "You Don't Have to Cry," a duet by René Moore and Angela Winbush from the duo's 1985 collaborative album Street Called Desire, was issued as the album's second single in 2003.[5] The song peaked at number 30 on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.[4]

Lattimore and Moore took an unorthodox route to promoting their album by mounting a full stage show also titled Things That Lovers Do.[6] The play toured through Richmond, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Pittsburgh, and Detroit from January 2003 through March 2003.[2] Also starring in the play were comedian/actress Kym Whitley and actor Clifton Powell who plays a less-than-deserving fiancé to Chante's character. The play was directed and staged by Tony Award-winner George Faison.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Entertainment WeeklyC−[9]

Michael Paoletta from Billboard called Things That Lovers Do one of the best "non-hip hop R&B album in eons" and described it as "fire and desire, from a couple in love."[10] AllMusic stated that the album "luckily lives up to its claims, delivering an old-school-inspired slice of sweet slow-jam music that sounds like it could inspire more action than Barry White's waterbed [...] A modern R&B classic in the making, Things That Lovers Do combines the best of old and new R&B to create what may very well be the ultimate make-out album."[8]

People wrote that Lattimore and Moore "make a perfect musical marriage on this candlelight collection of duets, including 10 classic-soul covers plus two new songs [...] Best is their radiant rendition of Billy Preston and Syreeta’s 1980 hit “With You I’m Born Again,” on which Lattimore and Moore seem born to sing together."[11] Craig Seymour from Entertainment Weekly found that "the results are exquisitely competent and utterly boring. Both singers have fine voices, especially the Minnie Riperton-like Moore. But their pairings consistently lack heat and seem to be more about politeness than passion."[9]

Commercial performance

Things That Lovers Do debuted and peaked at number thirty-one on the US Billboard 200 and number three on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart,[12] with first week sales of 47,000 units.[13] The album also peaked at number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[14] This marked the highest peak for both singers on both charts.[12][14] Billboard ranked Things That Lovers Do 74th on its 2003 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[15]

Track listing

Things That Lovers Do track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Things That Lovers Do"
4:34
2."You Don't Have to Cry"
Daryl Simmons4:45
3."With You I'm Born Again"
Simmons3:21
4."Love Saw It"
Simmons3:54
5."Loveable (From Your Head to Your Toes)"
  • Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
  • Avila Brothers[a]
5:19
6."You're All I Need to Get By"
Jamey Jaz4:16
7."When I Said I Do"Clint BlackSimmons4:54
8."Close the Door"
Simmons6:17
9."Here We Go"
4:35
10."Is It Still Good to You"
  • Ashford
  • Simpson
Simmons4:38
11."Make It Last Forever"
Simmons4:36
12."Still"Lionel RichieSimmons6:59
Total length:58:08

Notes

  • ^a denotes co-producer(s)

Charts

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, formats, label, and reference
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States February 11, 2003
  • CD
  • digital download
 Arista Records
Europe

References

  1. ^ "Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore: 'Lovers' On & Offstage". Billboard. January 15, 2003. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Sensual Couple Kenny Lattimore & Chanté Moore Set to Launch Romantic Set Things That Lovers Do". Business Week. January 15, 2003. Archived from the original on March 4, 2008 – via FindArticles.
  3. ^ "Chante Moore and Kenny Lattimore have a son, Kenny Jr - Celebrities". Jet Magazine. April 28, 2003.
  4. ^ a b "Kenny Lattimore Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  5. ^ "Kenny Lattimore, Chanté Moore - You Don't Have To Cry". YouTube. March 23, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  6. ^ Lawrence Van Gelder (February 1, 2003). "THEATER REVIEW; A Musical Love Fest for Two". New York Times.
  7. ^ "Chante Moore & Kenny Lattimore: celebrate their love with new album and play, 'Things That Lovers Do' - Interview - Cover Story". Jet Magazine. February 24, 2003.
  8. ^ a b "Things That Lovers Do, Kenny Lattimore, Chanté Moore". AllMusic. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Seymour, Craig (March 17, 2020). "Things That Lovers Do". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  10. ^ Paoletta, Craig (February 22, 2003). "Reviews & Previews > Spotlights". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  11. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Things That Lovers Do". Allmusic. February 17, 2003. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c "Kenny Lattimore Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  13. ^ "BETWEEN THE BULLETS: A LOOK BEHIND THIS WEEK'S CHART ACTION" (PDF). Billboard. March 1, 2003. p. 55. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via worldradiohistory.com.
  14. ^ a b c "Kenny Lattimore Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
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