My Soul

From the very first track on her 2005 debut album 'A Change is Gonna Come' Leela James has captured the gritty, emotion-drenched essence of artists like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Mavis Staples, Marvin Gaye and has made it her mission to bring it all back - pushing the music forward with a fresh, contemporary perspective that remains faithful to the music's deep and powerful roots. My Soul marks Leela James' debut on Stax Records, a division of Concord Music Group. The move to Stax - the legendary home of some of the greatest soul and R&B artists of the past half-century - is a fitting destination for a vocalist who has committed herself to preserving the soul tradition. quot;The title of the album pretty much says it all,quot; she explains. quot;I just wanted to go into the studio and do what moved me at the time, and not think about it too much or not allow it to be something that was too planned. That's what great soul music has always been about from the very beginning - something very raw, very authentic and very true.quot;

Let's Do It Again, a covers album released on an independent label in 2009, fared significantly better on the charts than Leela James' 2005 debut, a major-label release. One could interpret this irony as a case of a major mishandling an artist, but it's just as likely that it took a few years for word about James to spread. She's one of those R&B singers whose ???70s-throwback voice belies her birth year (1983), built more for a steady career and a slowly developing fan base than overnight platinum success. Now on Stax, longtime home of Mavis Staples (one of her most evident inspirations), James finds herself in an ideal setting. My Soul is James' best yet in every way. It does not feature quite as many big-name collaborators or eye-popping elements as her debut, but the material is stronger, more balanced between vintage and contemporary sounds, and James sounds more comfortable in her voice. Just as important is that she is coming into her own as a songwriter; four of the songs were written entirely by her, and they are among the album's most affecting moments, ranging from the yearning, dropped-guard "So Cold," to the forceful "I Want It All," to the carefree "Let It Roll." Do make sure you stay until the end, through the steamy "Supa Luva" and "If It's Wrong," as well as the deadly "It's Over" ("That's why I changed the locks on my door, ???cause love don't live here no more"). ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi

Performer	Leela James
Music genre	R&B / Soul
Music subgenre	CD - URBAN
Music release type	Release
Media format	CD
Original release date	2010
Edition	Standard
Language	English
Has parental advisory label	N
Number of discs	1
Series title	Leela James - My Soul [CD]
Track listing	I Ain't New to This,So Cold,The Fact Is,I Want It All,Party All Night,Mr. Incredible Ms. Unforgettable,Tell Me You Love Me,Let It Roll,Supa Luva,If It's Wrong,It's Over
Record label	Stax
Track name	The Music of My Soul, You're My Heart, You're My Soul, Intro, 2 Minutes & 21 Seconds of Funk, One Mo, The Devil is Dope, Hit 'Em, Knight Fall, Ooh La La, Can U Dig It, Nature of the Business, Homeboy, Throwdown 2000, Can I Get Down 1X, Interlude, My Soul, Let's Do It, C U When U Get There, Searchin' My Soul, I Started a Joke, I Only Want to Be with You, 100 Tears Away, Break My Soul, Your Beats!
Music media format	CD
Is edited	N
Is enhanced	N