This week, From The Vault travels back to the very beginning of the 00’s with the defining R&B smash ‘I Wanna Know’ by crooner Joe.

The lead single from the singer’s third effort ‘My Name Is Joe’, the slow-jam was produced by Edwin «Tony» Nichola and produced by Joe himself. A love song by all counts, the cut stands as Mr Thomas signature song and was, according to Billboard, the 4th biggest song of the year 2000.

Having peaked at #4 on the US Hot 100 and #2 on the Hot Hip-Hop/R&B charts, it didn’t exactly achieve chart glory overseas. Still – as our non-US readers will testify – the track’s significance to modern R&B speaks louder than any chart position would or could.

The visual for the gem was helmed by Billie Woodruff and presented Joe as a knight in shining armor of sorts, rescuing a young lady after a chaotic relationship. Put simply, the perfect gentleman. A brief and quite unnecessary dance-break towards the end of clip throws things off somewhat,  but still – Joe gets an “A” for effort, ay?

*****

With the Grammy nominee  hard on work on new album ‘Bridges’ and R&B’s stock almost as high as it was when ‘I Wanna Know’ was released, maybe 2014 is the year that will see the vocalist bless (upper region of the) charts with his brand of grown and sexy once again. Should he serve up another classic that will also sound as fresh 14 years after its release, then we see no reason why not!

Your thoughts?