After listening to Leela James' latest album 'Did It For Love' released in 2017 it prompted me to visit her recording history. She has to date since 2005, released 6 albums, the biggest seller was 'My Soul' reaching #37 in US charts. All her others were outside the top 50 with one not even charting (Loving You More... In The Spirit Of Etta James) All made top 50 R&B with My Soul reaching #7. The 6 albums have spawned 20 single releases which have all failed to make a dent on even the US RB charts, except 'Tell Me You Love Me' which reached the heady heights of #72! However, 9 have entered the US Adult R&B charts, with 'Don't Want You Back' from her latest album reaching #1.
This surprised me as I thought that she was a 'more established' artist. Her latest album, I feel, is her best to date.
I have posted all her material chronologically embedding links to all her single releases from each album and added any other tracks that are 'worthy'. I've provided YouTube links to the remaining tracks at the bottom of each album.
2005 - A Change Is Gonna Come [Warner Bros. 48027-2]
Debut album from 2005 with 19 tracks, 5 of which were released as singles.
2005 - Music
Her first single taken from her first album
2005 - Don't Speak
The second single from her debut album.
2005 - Good Time
The third single from her debut album - a driving neo/modern soul dancer.
2005 - My Joy
The fourth single from her debut album - a deep and bluesy number.
2005 - When You Love Somebody
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.85
The fifth and final single from her debut album - another deep soul cut - to me she sounds like Joss Stone on this track.
2005 - Mistreating You
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.7
Album only - deep soul
2005 - It's Alright
Album track only - deep soul stepper
2005 - A Change Is Gonna Come
'Surprisingly' an album track only - cover of Sam Cooke's classic.
Remaining tracks:
2009 - Let's Do It Again [Shanachie 5575]
Her second album released 4 years after her debut on Shanachie, which is an album of 11 cover versions. Only 2 tracks were released as singles.
2008 - It's A Man's Man's World
The first single from Let's Do It Again was a cover of James Brown's 1966 classic. She again sounds very like Joss Stone to me on this track.
2008 - Baby I'm Scared Of You
Second single from Let's Do It Again was a cover of Womack & Womack.
2009 - You Know How To Love Me
Album track only - A reasonable cover of Phyllis Hyman's 1979 classic, but hard act to follow to beat the original. Sounds a bit fast and sparse i.e. lacking the lush Philly orchestral backing that Hyman's original had. For a better cover version try Regina Belle's from her latest album The Day Life Begins from 2016 on Shanachie (which prompts me to put some of her material up in future) or even Lisa Stansfield's from the eponymous album from 1997
2009 - Clean Up Woman
Album track only - A competent and faithful reproduction of Betty Wright's classic. Album track only.
2009 - Miss You
Album track only - A cover of the Rolling Stones. Album track only.
Remaining tracks:
A cover of Foreigner's hit.
Cover of Bobby Womack's song which is given a bit of a rock treatment - not fond of this personally.
Nice cover of Angela Bofill's 1979 Angel Of The Night album track.
Cover of Bootsy's Rubber Band 1976 45.
Acoustic cover of Al Green classic.
Cover of the Curtis Mayfield song made a hit by Staple Singers.
2010 - My Soul [Stax 32641-02]
Her third album, and another change of label, to the legendary Stax produced 11 tracks of which 3 were released as singles.
2010 - Tell Me You Love Me
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.6
Neo/modern soul stepper and first single from My Soul.
2010 - So Cold
Second single released from My Soul. Contemporary neo soul / R&B with limited appeal.
2010 - Mr. Incredible Ms. Unforgettable
Third single from My Soul
2010 - Let It Roll
Album only track with a throwback appeal.
Remaining tracks:
2012 - Loving You More... In The Spirit Of Etta James [Shanachie SH 5802]
Her fourth album and back to Shanachie for this one containing several covers of Etta James songs. Of the 11 tracks only 2 were released as singles.
2012 - Something's Got A Hold On Me
Cover of Etta James 1962 45 on Argo was 1st single from album.
Cover of Etta James 1962 45 on Argo was 1st single from album.
2012 - I'm Loving You More Everyday
I think this is a song from the Etta James vault that was unreleased until put on a Chess/Charly compilation Tell Mama in the 80s. If anyone knows more please leave a comment. It was the 2nd track release as a single from album.
2012 - Damn Your Eyes
Album track only. Another Etta James cover from her Seven Year Itch album from 1988.
2012 - I'd Rather Go Blind
Deep soul album track only cover of Etta James classic.
2012 - At Last
Deep soul album track only cover of Etta James classic.
Remaining trackS:
2014 - Fall For You [J&T]
The fifth album on yet another label, J&T, which I think 'may' be her own label as only this album and her last are on the label. The album contains 10 tracks of which 3 were released as singles.
2013 - Say That Feat. Anthony Hamilton
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.7
2014 - Fall For You
MORish ballad. (2nd single from album)
MORish ballad. (2nd single from album)
2015 - Set Me Free
Neo soul stepper (3rd single from album)
Neo soul stepper (3rd single from album)
2015 - Give It
Neo soul groover - album only
2015 - Do Me Right
Deep neo soul groover - album only
2015 - Everything
Deep neo soul - album only
Remaining tracks:
2017 - Did It For Love [J&T 538271952]
Her latest album which I highly recommend. Five tracks 9of 11) already released as singles and several (better tracks in my view) which should have been, that I've embedded and the remaining tracks are linked to.
2016 - Don't Want You Back
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75
Neo soul ballad/stepper (1st single from album)
2017 - Hard For Me
Neo deep soul ballad. (2nd single from alum)
2017 - All Over Again
MORish Ballad (3rd single from album)
2017 - I Remember
Deep neo soul ballad/stepper (4th single from album)
2017 - Don't Mean A Thang
Neo soul stepper (5th single from album)
2017 - Good To Love You Feat. Dave Hollister
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.8
Neo soul dancer - album track only
2017 - There 4 U
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.75
Neo/modern soul dancer - album track only.
Great driving, dance track not released as a single. This is perfect for UK dance floors.
2017 - This Day Is For You
SoulStrutter's Rating: 8.65
Neo soul stepper - album track only.
The remaining album tracks:
Ray Charles & Leela James [2005] - Compared To What [Rhino /ATlantic]
A bonus track for the Northern Soulers - here's Ray Charles & Leela James - Compared To What a monster on the scene by Mr. Flood's Party. This is a slower more jazzy/bluesy version. It's from Ray Charles Genius & Friends album from 2005 on Rhino/Atlantic.
Robert Randolph Feat. Leela James [2006] - Stronger [Warner Bros. 44393-2]
I've included this track for 'completeness'. I find it rather nondescript.
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