Summary

Leela James                Let's Do It Again             Shanachie         2009   

With 2 stunning albums in 2005, it's taken a long time for Leela James to come through with the third. And you can argue that this is every bit as good as anything she's ever done before. A classy selection of covers that goes to work on rock and pop classics as well as some of the archetypal soul tracks of the twentieth century.Safe to say, Leela doesn't just do it again. She shows how it should have been done the first time around. An album for the easy listeners, radio DJ's and even the club DJ's will find a couple of tracks that will get the crowd moving.

Review

The first thing you notice about the delectable voice of Leela James is that she can make it do wondrous things, sound very different, but always sound sweet. At first glance, 11 tracks that have been done to death doesn't jump out at you as a premium buy, especially when you've got the originals somewhere and are surrounded by at least half a dozen other cover versions over the years. But if you must buy an album of covers...then buy this one. If nothing else, it will help those that hear the samples in contemporary RnB and HipHop tracks, but didn't know the origins.

Things kick off with the Betty Wright classic "Clean Up Woman", a track which has the most recognisable guitar riff intro ever (used by Mary J Blige in the remix of"Real Love") and manages to make a great track just that bit greater. The album isn't devoted entirely to golden soul though. The Rolling Stones "Miss You" gets a makeover that would make Mick Jagger look like Halle Berry. "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" always sounds good and has a bluesy jazzy slant to it, but lacks some of the grit that only JB can provide. The premier track must be the Womack's "Baby I'm Scared Of You". The sultry old school pseudo disco groove still sends chills down the spine. And just as you thought things couldnt get better, a Phyllis Hyman tune appears. Truth be told there aren't too many singers who can hold a candle to Ms Hyman, but this is one of the best covers of "You Know How To Love Me" you're going to hear.

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As mentioned upfront, it's not just great Soul and RnB tracks on this one, and Leela does a more than admirable take on Foreigner's "I Want To Know What Love Is". Soft rock can segue easily into soul or blues, so it's no surprise that she makes it sound so good, what is a surprise is the time it takes. At 7:13, you can easily go out and get a snack and not miss much. The rock vibe continues with Eric Clapton's "Nobody Knows You..." And as unsoulful as what came before was...what follows epitomises the art of soulful music. Angela Bofill's "I Try" has to be one of the sexiest, sultriest loving-est tracks of the late 70's/early 80's. An unashamed fusion of soul and jazz this rendition will rip your heart out and hand it bak to you with a kleenex. Bootsy Collins' "I'd Rather Be With You" is one of those tunes that the melody is probably better known than the track. (Used to great effect by Adina Howard), it tones down the funk element that only Bootsy could add to a track, but is a definite floor -filler for when the quiet storm begins. Al Green's "Simply Beautiful" takes back into the auspices of Classic soul, for a 37 year old track, it still has a good look and even though it's not much more than acoustic guitar, vocals and percussion it doesnt move... it sort of drifts along. It's Simply Beautiful.And thnigs end all to soon with the title track, The Staples Singers/Curtis Mayfield's "Let's Do It Again". One of the all time great soul tracks gets another airing with a copious amount of free chatter a-la Betty Wright or Milie Jackson.

Great soul music has been thin on the ground for the last few years and this is a welcome addition to any collection. It's good to see Leela back, Let's Do It Again...real soon.

Tracks