Leela James' Second Album Let's Do It Again

Review of Shanachie Records' Collection of Cover Songs

Mar 21, 2009

On March 24, 2009, Leela James will bestow us with her powerful vocals in her second studio album, Let's Do it Again (Shanachie Records).

Many neo-soul fans remember her as the sultry singer of the 2005 hit, “Music” in which she inquired, “Where'd the soul go / It's all about the video / We don't sing no more / Where'd the music go?” Four years after her debut release, A Change Is Gonna Come, Leela James answers that question with her sophomore album. Let's Do It Again is packed with eleven, not so standard, covers of funk and soul from back in the day.

Leading off Let's Do It Again, James covers Betty Wright's 1972 chart topper, “Clean up Woman” followed by proof that she can certainly hang with the big boys in The Rolling Stones' disco influenced “Miss You.” James' depiction of James Brown's 1966 declaration, “It's a Man's Man's Man's World” proves even further her staying power in the world of hard hitting, classical, emotional soul. While the cover lacks Brown's electrifying presentation, the delivery is decadently effortless but extremely effective.

She follows this with a discotheque single from Womack and Womack, “Baby I'm Scared of You” subsequently choosing a Phyllis Hyman classic from 1979, “You Know How to Love Me.” It is difficult not to imitate when recording an album of all cover songs. On this cut, James completely abandons her own distinctive style in an attempt to sound too much like the late Hyman herself. The original single was approximately seven and a half minutes long. Thankfully, James' version is shortened to about four.

After this blunder, she quickly redeems herself in a marvelous adaptation of “I Want to Know what Love is” by the British-American Rock band, Foreigner. James ability to turn a power ballad into a passionate declaration from the pit of her heart is emphasized by Linwood Smith's hearty background vocals.

Immediately following is a raw and funky version of “Nobody Knows You when You're Down and Out” by Jimmie Cox. Co-producer of her own cover album, she alters the title by calling it, “Nobody Wants You when You're Down and Out.” James then slows it down with a cover of Bronx-born Angela Bofill's, “I Try.” Complimenting James' absorbingly pleasant longing is a captivating saxophone solo.

Rounding out the entertaining decision to release a cover album, James covers the 1976 hit, “I'd Rather be With You” by Bootsy Collins. Following in the funky and rhythmic light of Collins, the track is a successful modern day portrayal of desire with unforgettable harmonies and jazzy influence.

James does the great gospel/soul singer, Al Green, justice with “Simply Beautiful.” The lyrics, originally written by Green, could cross genders and that is exactly what Queen Latifah demonstrated in 2004 with The Dana Owens Album (Interscope). James simply made it more beautiful with an accompaniment from an acoustic guitar and latin style percussion. Her raspy vocals immerse you in the depths of the song's meaning.

Finally, originally written by Curtis Mayfield in 1975 and a Billboard Hot 100 number one single for The Staples Singers, “Let's do it Again” is the title track from Leela James' second album release. Unnecessarily sustained by spectacular backup harmonies, James conveys sensual and flawless verbatim. One might question James' motive behind releasing an album with a collection of unorthodox covers, but there is no doubt that it was done with poise and precision.

The copyright of the article Leela James' Second Album Let's Do It Again in Soul Music is owned by Lindsay Dellinger. Permission to republish Leela James' Second Album Let's Do It Again in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.