Ranking the Best Chanté Moore Albums

Please stop sleeping on Chanté Torrane Moore.

The woman not only possess an eight-octave vocal range (your fave is probably hovering at a 1.14) but a vastly underrated discography as well.

Yes, we know the hit songs – and trust me, we’ll get to those soon enough – but we don’t talk enough about her albums, especially her impressive 90s run, which resulted in quite the hot streak of quality.

So let’s give Chanté some long-overdue love by ranking her discography from bottom to top. As usual, we’ll be skipping the Christmas album, as well as her 2018 1 of 4 EP. It’s actually pretty good but it’s too short to fairly rank among the proper albums. And as a bonus, I’m including her two duets albums with Kenny Lattimore as well.

9. The Rise of the Phoenix (2017)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5

Edd said: Chanté’s final album to date might be called the phoenix but it’s sure missing a spark. Like EVERY album on this list, there’s no shortage of great vocal performances. She absolutely soars on “I’d be a Fool,” for instance. But there’s very little here that stands out, with even the singles “Real One” and “Something to Remember” feeling generic. Not much to see on this one.

Forgotten favorites: “I’d Be a Fool,” “Offa-U”

8. Love the Woman (2008)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5

Edd said: After a few years of duets with Kenny Lattimore, Chanté returned to her solo grind for the first time in nearly a decade. The result is another a solid vocal showcase, ranging from soaring piano ballads to uptempo cuts, but there’s barely anything that stands out on its own. It picks up a lot near the end (which saves it from the bottom of this list) but there’s still not much to raise it above “just aight.”

Forgotten favorites: “Love the Woman,” “Love Action,” “My Eyes”

7. Moore is More (2013)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: Back in 2013, we were just a few episodes into TVOne’s R&B Divas: Los Angeles reality show when Chanté dropped her sixth solo LP, and you can’t blame a sista for capitalizing on the opportunity. Thankfully, this was no mere cash-in. Moore is More is very well produced and written – and of course, the vocals are never a joke. The album’s only real flaw are a few uneven tracks on the set’s second half. It’s a mostly enjoyable listen though and “Don’t Make Me Laugh” is STILL in rotation 10 years later.

Forgotten favorites: “Don’t Make Me Laugh,” “Cry Me A River,” “Baby Can I Touch Your Body”

6. Things That Lovers Do (2003)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: This is the first of two duets albums from then-spouses Chanté and Kenny and these two are magic together. Vocally it’s a match made in heaven. But here’s the problem – cover albums make mortals out of the most angelic voices. I’ve mentioned before that covers albums force artists to fight uphill battles – you have to both surpass the legendary song you’re paying tribute to, while also putting your own spin on things. While I applaud the couple for covering fresh songs and not always going with the usual suspects (Karyn White and Babyface’s “Love Saw It” is a cool choice, for instance) they still have trouble matching the might of the originals. It makes for a solid outing, but not an especially memorable one. But hey, they did “Make It Last Forever” justice and if you know me, that’s the ultimate compliment.

Forgotten favorites: “You Don’t Have to Cry,” “Is It Still Good to You,” “Make It Last Forever”

5. Uncovered/Covered (2006)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: The second and final couples set from Kenny and Chanté – a double album – has a very interesting premise. The “Uncovered” side dials back from the constant covers of the previous project for a more intimate, “uncovered” look at their relationship, the joys and pain of love. And the “Covered” side, produced by the legendary Fred Hammond, is essentially a gospel record, asking God to “cover” their union.

ARTISTRY! I miss you so much.

Not only is the concept strong, so is the material this time. Kenny arguably is one of the most underrated male vocalists of all time and he especially shines on the original cuts on the R&B side. The gospel set is equally strong, with the duo effortlessly transforming into BeBe and CeCe for their praise songs. I’d give the slight edge to the R&B side for more creative writing, and though there are a couple of weak tracks on both sides there’s more than enough heat to make up for them. This is quite the forgotten gem.

Forgotten favorites: “Love Ballad,” “Figure It Out,” “Make Me Like the Moon,” “No Limit Remix”

4. Exposed (2000)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Surprisingly, this is the Chanté album I’ve listened to the most, which means it oozes millennium nostalgia for me. In fact, the production and writing on this album is VERY 2000-era R&B, so your mileage may vary if sassy dance cuts and pissed-off mid-tempo tracks aren’t your thing. But for the rest of us, it’s a good time. In a stark contrast from its predecessor, Exposed isn’t here to cater to the brothers. Chanté’s in sexy mode and isn’t afraid to have fun. Exposed is absolutely a product of its time and the single “Bitter” (still my favorite Chanté song) is the perfect representation of this album – an entertaining balance of fun and fury.

Forgotten favorites: “Love’s Still Alright,” “I’m Keeping You,” “Man”

3. A Love Supreme (1994)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Sophomore jinx? A Love Supreme put Chanté back on the map with a true showcase of her vocal range. She comes off like an ethereal lounge singer, in all the best ways – alluring but untamable. Hindsight is 20/20 and it’s easier to see in 2023 why this album was a bit overlooked in 1994. The throwback soul may be an acquired taste for some. It may lack flash but it more than makes up for it with dynamic vocal performances, great production and atmosphere.

Forgotten favorites: “My Special Perfect One,” “Thank You For Lovin Me,” “Mood”

2. This Moment is Mine (1999)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: HEY, HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS? CHANTE’S GOT A MAN. AT HOME, Y’ALL.

Between Chanté’s most infamous single, and Puff allegedly strong-arming Rodney Jerkins into copy/pasting opening track “If I Gave Love” into “If You Had My Love” for J.Lo, Chanté’s third album has quite the reputation. But beyond the drama, This Moment is Mine is a beautifully sensual album. Every note is delivered with care. There’s little oversinging or overbearing histrionics, just a pro using her vocal instrument effectively. Like some of the albums we’ve discussed before, there are a couple of weak spots about halfway through but the set rebounds well.

Plus, four words: “Chanté’s Got a Man.” It’s still the funniest single of all time. You expect Chanté to lose HER man cuz YOURS acting crazy? SHE CAN’T HELP IT THAT YOUR MAN AIN’T HOME, PLAYA.

Forgotten favorites: “Easy,” “I See You in a Different Light,” “I Started to Cry”

1. Precious (1992)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: In this space we often talk about the importance of album sequencing, organizing tracks so each one flows perfectly into the next experience. It’s a lost art in the Playlist Era, but when done effectively, it makes a project feel complete. Well, I present to you Precious, Chanté’s debut album – a masterclass in sequencing. It feels almost like a live performance, each track gliding into the next – each connected but feel totally unique. “Love’s Taken Over” gets top billing but the following singles and album cuts all pull their weight. It’s Chanté’s most complete body of work and her best album to date.

Forgotten favorites: “Precious,” “Listen to my Song,” “Because You’re Mine”

Precious, This Moment Is Mine, Exposed – What’s your favorite Chanté album? Let us know in the comments below.