Midnight Lounge

Jody Watley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 13, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Avitone Recordings
• ASIN: B00008BRBQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,125 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ATTENTION PLEASE: Miss Jody Watley is back!, November 25, 2001

By 

J. Taylor "chicoeldivo" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Midnight Lounge (Audio CD)

Tracklist: 1>Midnight lounge -4:03 2>Whenever... -5:43 3>Photographs -4:57 4>I love to love -3:39 5>Skin deep -3:34 6>More -4:50 7>Saturday night experience (Ron Trent Remix) -8:29 8>Clouds -3:59 9>Don't give up -5:15 10>Midnight lounge (reprise) 1:40 11>Photographs (Remix) -6:18.

Step back ladies and gentlemen, the legendary Diva, Miss Jody Watley is back for more! Singers come and go but true Stars never fade and "Midnight Lounge" heralds a powerful return for one of pop music's greatest. "Saturday Night Experience Volume 1" was like Jody's "Ray of light"; a set of trend-setting tracks that blended her unique soul music and heartfelt lyrics with fresh, futuristic sounds and upfront dance beats. Frustratingly, "SNE" was only released in Japan and the rest of us had to discover it through the internet and word of mouth. "Midnight Lounge" could have been called "SNE Volume 2" because it continues in the same vein and even includes a classy new US remix of "Saturday night experience" by Ron Trent. However the title does correctly indicate that this album is not full of peak-time dance anthems and "Ray of light" commercial pop jams; this is for late-night listening and chilled out pleasure. That's not to say that this set doesn't have it's peak-time and commercial moments! Far from it. "Photographs" is a truly special, funk-injected flashback to the late 80's, and Jody's high times, that allows the Pop Queen to really get down and let herself go >> "I'm thinking about the good times". The dance remix at the end is fine but doesn't improve on the original version -and criminally only uses 2 lines of vocals! Of course, the brightest track -and sadly one of the shortest!- is the now classic and formerly very-hard-to-find "I love to love". Smoothly produced by Masters At Work and featuring Roy Ayers, "Love" is another brillant showcase for Jody's strong vocals and the woman has never sounded so sweet, so happy. "Whenever..." is another uplifting dance moment with chunky house beats and deep bass lines. This track and a lot of the work on "Midnight" brings back the sweet soul and positive energy from the "Intimacy" days. The drum and bass beats on "More" continue the progressive expression shown on "SNE". The rest of the album is more laid back and it closes with a strong, smooth cover of Peter Gabriel's haunting hit "Don't give up". As always, the lyrics on this album are positive and straight from the heart; reflecting the true survivor inside and inspiring the fans they reach >> "Sunshine and the rain..in time dark clouds will fade away...". It feels so good to support an artist with such musical and personal integrity. A new album from Miss Watley is always a celebration and "Midnight Lounge" does not disappoint. It's just unfair that Japan get to keep her!
Die-hard fans like me are going to be on their knees but this album is also pure listening joy for any lover of contemporary soul and dance. Buy now, hear for yourselves and love this as much as I do! ....

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars chill out in the midnight lounge.., April 19, 2003

By 

"at0mic0734" (Calgary, AB Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Midnight Lounge (Audio CD)

"Midnight Lounge" is Jody Watley's first US release since 1995's "Affection".. and it's another step into a more electronic soul niche, which began with her last album, the Japanese exclusive "Saturday Night Experience" (1999).

Originally released in Japan at the end of 2001, "Midnight Lounge" is a smooth, inviting collection of laid-back chill-out grooves... Described as the "ultimate groove-lounge disc", it clearly lives up to it's billing..

Despite being a solid and even collection, it also manages to be somewhat diverse.. With some trip-hop (Clouds), lite-disco (Photographs, Love To Love), Jazz (Saturday Night Experience) and Drum n' Bass influences (More) in the production, it's still laid back, yet engaging (it's no snooze-fest)... Jody's understated yet, silky smooth voice beings a unique, soulful warmth to the whole atmosphere.. Despite not being prone to the usual diva histrionics, she's managed to become a very strong, unique vocalist over the years..

Produced mostly by Jody Watley and Rodney Lee.. Dave Warrin handles production on "Don't Give Up" (a Peter Gabriel cover) and Masters At Work on "I Love To Love" (on which Roy Ayers also contributes).. This American release also has a remix of "Whenever" that's not found on the Japanese version..

"Midnight Lounge" is a welcome return from a very exceptional artist..

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Watley turns down the blinds for a night of chillout, April 21, 2003

By 

Jason Roberts (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Midnight Lounge (Audio CD)

What's an artist to do when formulated records begin topping the charts and established acts are released from their contracts? Go deep and get independent, and that's just what this girl has done. Jody Watley has weathered the good and the bad. Working independently and fusing deep house with late-night chill, her new LP "Midnight Lounge" finds Watley sipping vodka & seven in the corner, pulsing to a sophisticated rhythm.

"Midnight Lounge" grooves to the after-hours vibe, with the opening title track setting the tone. The jazz-infused cadence beckons the listener to begin the weekend, even if press play is on a Tuesday. The mantra of the song is captured in Watley's lyrics: "all I wanna do is just dance / all I wanna do is just dance..."

Recruiting deep house legend Dave Warrin for "Whenever" and "Photographs," Watley knows a thing or two about balancing the weight between the microphone; a savvy vocalist is as good as her producer. The tracks shine and sound just as good on the floor as they do in the lounge. Resisting circuit-style yearnings, Watley's approach is swanky. In fact, producers of the album have a résumé any dance fan can appreciate (given work with Janet Jackson, Ultra Naté, Kim English, Funky Green Dogs).

Originally released as a Japanese import, "Saturday Night Experience" plugs into ambient house with a jazz piano and a thump in tow. "I Love to Love," a throwback to the '70s, captures everything that was good about disco.

Sensual and hypnotic, the trip-hop jams of "Skin Deep" and "More" balance out the dance fare on the album.

The most revealing track on the collection wasn't penned by Watley. "Don't Give Up," a Peter Gabriel remake, allows Watley to find out how fleeting success can be. The lush production and hushed urgency conjures up the same feeling as the signature melancholy of Everything But the Girl. The manifesto of the track resonates. "Don't give up / You're not beaten yet / Don't give up / 'cause somewhere there's a place where we belong."

Sequencing aside, "Midnight Lounge" is a stellar release. Reflective and relevant, Watley has successfully found the deeper rhythm of nightlife. Released on the indie label Avitone, the album, spared from being run through a corporate filter, glimmers with just the right amount of energy for a mellow but groovable evening. Let's hope the release finds the audience it deserves; the careless whisper in Watley's voice resounds with that familiar feeling of survival. "Don't give up / I know you can make it."