Customer Reviews

Leave the Light on

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's been a long wait for Jeff Bates's sophomore effort. Heck, one of the tracks on here ("I Can't Write That") I first heard in concert a couple years ago. This album has taken a long time to get out there, but it was well-worth the wait. Bates is one of the strongest vocal performers around, and a pretty good songwriter, to boot.

In fact, the only problem I have with this album is it doesn't feature enough of his own songs. Still, the tunes he didn't write, he takes and makes his own. His cover of the classic "Rub It In" is pure enjoyment; "One Second Chance" (about a man whom society shuns because of his bad-boy younger days) is extremely powerful, especially since you know Bates has been there and done that; the same goes for the afore-mentioned "I Can't Write That" and "Mama Was a Lot Like Jesus" (not nearly as cheesy as the title would lead you to think). "Good People," the album's first single (and, if I remember, original title track), lags a little, but is still a fun song; "What I Know" is a tongue-in-cheek delight. There are of course romantic, sexy ballads in the vein of "Long Slow Kisses" (the radio version is included here), such as "No Shame" and the title track...both are highlighted by Bates's powerful delivery. "The Woman He Walked On" is oddly touching; "Hands on Man" is a tongue-in-cheek ode to the guys who like to get down and dirty, so to speak; and "That'll Get You Ten" critiques the choices we make in life.

Overall, Jeff Bates returns with a stellar sophomore effort. LEAVE THE LIGHT ON is much stronger than his debut; the only flaw is that there isn't more of Bates's own songwriting. Maybe next time. However, you still get a great batch of solid country songs, from one of the best singers out there. A singer/songwriter/musician to be reckoned with, Jeff Bates may just be the future of country music, if radio can ever get over the fact that he is a traditionalist. Some call him the reincarnation of Conway Twitty; I say he's just a good ol' Mississippi boy doin' what he's best at: singing solid country music.

Powerful. Passionate. Soulful. Didn't think it possible Jeff Bates would outshine "Rainbow Man", but "Leave the Light On" is scorching!! Just leaves us wanting more, more, more. His voice and range are unbelievable. After seeing him in an electrifying concert a couple of years ago, we were hooked. On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, "Leave the Light On" is at least 10 stars.

Go buy this CD and go straight to the title cut on your CD player.........and you're going to be hooked forever, if you're not already. There isn't enough space here to say all the good things I'd love to say about Jeff and his band, "Good People". They are so talented and have very friendly and outgoing personalities. JEFF in CONCERT is something you should put on your "must see" list. You won't be sorry! The Rainbow Man CD featured many true tales of Jeff and his life and this one basically picks up where that left off. Jeff has always been open and honest about his life and the mistakes he's made, and on this CD you'll hear some of that as you both laugh and cry with him.
If you only buy one CD this year, make it "Leave the Light On" by Jeff Bates. If you don't like it, email me and I'll buy it back from you!

After a long wait, Jeff Bates' new CD has finally been released. I would say it has been worth the wait as this is my early nominee for "CD of The Year" for 2006. Bates has a voice that is very reminiscent of Conway Twitty without being a Twitty clone. Aside from Randy Travis I really cannot think of a county male vocalist active today whose vocal abilities approach those of Jeff Bates.

The CD leads off with the single version of "Long Slow Kisses", a song that hung on the charts for 37 weeks without breaking into the top ten (mainly due to lack of promotion and the fact that the song had been laying around as an album cut for over two years before RCA/BMG got around to promoting it as a single). This version is more singing and less narrative that the version of Jeff's first CD. I prefer the original version but this version is excellent, too. The second cut "Rub It In" is an excellent cover version of the mid-70s smash for Billy "Crash" Craddock, but everything else on the CD is new material. My favorites are a pair of semi-autobiographical songs in "That'll Get You Ten" and "One Second Chance" and the obligatory song about a good woman "The Woman He Walked On".

This album was originally scheduled to be issued last October under the title GOOD PEOPLE with the title track as the first single. The powers that be decided that the album needed some beefing up and that "Good People" really wasn't strong enough to be the leadoff single. For once, I'd have to agree with the label heads. "Good People" is maybe the 9th or 10th best track of the 12 tracks on the album; the fact that it was considered for single release tells you how strong this CD really is

The new Jeff Bates CD, Leave the Light On, was delayed several times before it was finally released in April. Bates decided he wanted to do fewer songs on drinking and more on love and relationships. Some things are worth waiting for! The CD is packed with the kinds of ballads and love songs that were just made for Bates' deep, sexy voice.

A new version of "Long Slow Kisses" makes the first track and is followed by the remake of a Craddock classic "Rub It In." Bates helped to write several of the songs on the CD. "No Shame" is an upbeat love song and the title song, "Leave the Light On," is made even more romantic by the deep richness of his voice:

"So baby, leave the light on
I wanna look inside your lovin eyes
And watch you when you breathe
So leave the light on
When you're making love to me."

"One Second Change," is the first single and Bates claims it's his personal favorite. It's the humorous story about life in jail and how difficult it is finding work as an ex-con and the final song, "Mama Was A Lot Like Jesus" is about a poor backwoods woman, like his own mother, who could "make a bag of groceries last two weeks" and always gave forgiveness and love.

"What I Know" was recorded live. The song simply tells about the end of a relationship:

"I remember when you left
I recall you made as hell
I know where you told me to go
Oh but I went somewhere else."

The audience gives a lasting applause at the end of the song. Many listeners will find much to cheer about with this CD - Bates has the ability to write and sing songs that everyone can identify with - either in finding love, losing it or just enjoying it while you have it.

By: Maxine Macpherson

There's no doubt that Jeff Bates has one of the best voices in country music today. He could sing the alphabet and make it sound incredible. Couple his voice with great songs, and you get "Leave the Light On", his second album thus far.

The album is filled with catchy, fun, thought provoking material. Jeff certainly has a sense of humor, and seems to poke fun at himself when he sings about prison and heartache (both of which he's been involved with)...you just gotta love that kind of humility. He sings great songs with a great voice, and has an awesome songwriting talent. I agree with the spotlight review that he should have put more of HIS songs on here (he only co-wrote 2 songs here, when he wrote almost all of the songs on "Rainbow Man"), but still, it's a very solid, consistently good album that will have you singing all day long. Definitely a must buy!

Jeff has done it again. This is a love every song CD. It is nearly impossible to pick a favorite. This is the next best thing to being at one of his shows.

Thanks Jeff!

Shellye

this was an awesome cd, I recieved it on time,to me Jeff Bates is an awesome singer with many, many talents

I'm a big fan of Jeff Bates and I think that this CD has some of his best music!

I had never heard of Jeff Bates until I heard him sing at a free concert. Not only can he sing he is a very friendly person. After talking to him I knew I was hooked, that's when I decided to purchase three of his CD's and everyone including this one is great. His Conway Twitty like voice is music to my ears in a younger sort of way. I don't think there is a bad song on this CD. Buy it, you will be hooked.