My Soul

Leela James | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 25, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Stax
• ASIN: B0034BW938
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,241 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

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. "The title of the album pretty much says it all," she explains. "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."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Raw, impassioned, beautiful! May 25, 2010

By Nse Ette TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

Leela James' new CD "My Soul" perfectly showcases her raw and fiery vocals. Upbeat Retro Funk/Soul songs (no remakes this time) with some given a contemporary Hip Hop sheen. Songs like the churning "I ain't new to this", "So cold", "I want it all" (on which she passionately tells us she wants 40 acres and a mule, a platinum record, free education, to kill all disease and the war to cease, among other desires), and the bouncy pair of the horn-sprinkled "Party all night", and "Let it roll".

Everything else ranges from midtempo to slow; the beautiful ballad "Mr. Incredible, Ms. Unforgetable" (with the creamy vocals of Raheem DeVaughn), the Staple Singers-style "Tell me you love me" (on which she reminds me of Joss Stone, it has a great guitar solo) the lulling "Supa luva", the groovy Prince-style "If it's wrong", and the stunning "It's over" (with some helium-filled vocal flourishes).

Highlight though has got to be "The fact is", a lush ballad with sporadic bursts of bass and a seventies-style spoken bridge. Absolutely fabulous, as is the whole album.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Leela James delivers yet another great album May 30, 2010

By Perverted Alchemist

Format:Audio CD

Leela James released her new album "My Soul" a year after her all-covers album "Let's Do It Again". She does the perfect balance between traditional and contemporary- not bad for someone who is still in her mid-20's. The album starts off with "I Ain't New To This" in which she fancies herself as a music industry veteran, while taking a brief swipe at her former label Warner Bros. Records for their lack of promotion of her 2005 debut "A Change Is Gonna Come". Speaking of her debut album, one of the producers that worked on it appears on "My Soul"- Chucky Thompson, who produced the Raheem DeVaughn assisted "Mr. Incredible, Ms. Unforgettable" and the two 60's inspired tracks "Party All Night" and "Let It Roll". Andrea Martin, who also wrote Melanie Fiona's "Give It To Me Right" pens the first single "Tell Me You Love Me". Ray Murray (one-third of the production team Organized Noize) produces "I Want It All" which sounds a lot like N.E.R.D.'s song "Don't Worry About It" from their 2004 album "Fly Or Die". Orthodox & Ransum close the album with the songs "If It's Wrong" and "It's Over". This album is heavily rooted in retro soul, with the exception of "Supa Lova" and "So Cold" which sound like obvious attempts for commercial radio. In a nutshell, Leela's new album is pretty good, albeit rather brief. This album is a must own for this year.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A (Got to add this to my collection) Album May 27, 2010

By James Powell

Format:Audio CD

This is my first time writing a review on any album, but just knew I had to do this one. The woman is incredible. Incredible voice, style, stage presents. Do I sound like a fan, I am for sure. Ever since I heard her first album, and then the live show on video, I've been in love with her music and voice. This album for sure puts her over the top in the solid gold ones. From "I Ain't New To This", to the last track "It's Over". Wish there was more of her. (I mean her Music). Get this; a must have.

Jp soul
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb 'Soul' Album October 9, 2010

By Michael Brent Faulkner, Jr. VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Leela James is one of those singers `deserving wider recognition.` Unfortunately for the soulful songstress, `the right album' for commercial aspirations seems unlikely. For the fans's sake, maybe that is best as a `soulful,' `authentic' Leela James seems much better than a commercial `pop-tart' or a contemporary R&B singer with `no soul.' From my perspective, on her third effort (second effort of originals),My Soul, James sounds as if she has found just the right bridge between being considered too obscure and conceding too much just for commercial appeal. On 'My Soul,' there are some cuts that could have been genuine commercial hits as well as cuts fulfilling and `ode' to soul music. James balances two worlds with great relevance.

"I Ain't New To This" is a superb opener, featuring great soulful production work that samples "Solitary Love Affair" by Millie Jackson. The hook is simple and old school in conception, but captivates listener, foreshadowing what `gems' are to further captivate the listener on the album. The length may be a brief 2:30, but there is more than enough substance to alert the listener this is going to be one solid album.

"So Cold" is one of many originals written solely by James, and it does not disappoint. Here, James contrasts her overt, soul-stirring vocals from "I Ain't New To This" with softer, restrained vocals, as if to represent `the coldness' of which she sings. the production work is soulful, with full-sounding bass, lovely twinkles of piano, and tasteful use of synthesized lines.... "The Fact Is" keeps up the soulful vibe established by James, only another sample `buttresses' the production work, this time a contribution from soul standouts The Moments ("Lovely Way She Loves"). James's vocals are more present and direct here, once again contrasting the previous trend. Lovely background vocals strengthen the well written refrain, with the sample being incredibly projected here.

"I Want It All" changes pace once again, providing one of the albums more satisfactory listens. Another original solely by James, James channels funk on this throwback cut which features superb, catchy songwriting. Here, James `wants': "forty acres and mule... I want to do what I choose and make my own rules..". It is by all means an A+ cut. "Party All Night," another James original, features a nice uptempo, driving groove, again providing contrast to the previous, funky cut. The vocals are overt by James, highlighting her almost anachronistic vocals. Harmonically, the track sits on the same chord, contributing to the remarkableness of the groove.

No album is complete without a great duet, and co-writers Leela James and Raheem DeVaughn accomplish this on the powerful, soulful cut "Mr. Incredible, Ms. Unforgettable." The sound achieved here is classic and Raheem DeVaughn and Leela James possess a remarkable vocal chemistry, reaching to soaring heights. The momentum rises even higher with "Tell Me You Love Me," a cut lifting "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye." This cut is clearly a neo-soul number, but it is contemporary enough to appeal to younger listeners who favor more commercially-driven cuts. "Let It Roll" is equally solid, if not more so, with soulful production that sounds indigenous to the 1970s. At only 2:44, "Let It Roll" leaves the listener yearning for more.

"Supa Luva" is lengthier than previous cuts, but length takes nothing away from the overall quality. "If It's Wrong," the penultimate cut, features nice dark-sounding production work, contrasting the bright, soulful edge of most of the other cuts. Closing cut "It's Over" may not be the best cut of My Soul, but it redirects any lost energy via "Supa Luva" or "If It's It Wrong", which is not much lost.

Essentially, 'My Soul' is a superb soul album that has unfortunately been forgot in a pack of more generic, though commercial R&B releases. It would be nice to see Ms. James get a huge lift and receive the talent she deserves, but regardless of commercial success or lack of, Leela James is one of R&B's shining stars. My Soul is the evidence. Read more ›

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Man ...What A Powerful Voice..Excellent CD!!!!!!!! May 25, 2010

By Anthony Richards

Format:Audio CD

lEELA James has really out done her self this is deffinately one of the best cd's this year, I listned to the whole cd and did not skip one track at all...every song is a hit... Her voice is simply amazing from song 1 on the cd to song 11, you are just transformed to another place with her soulful voice...Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeping the Soul in Soul Music. June 25, 2010

By Cynthia Thomas

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Leela James is one of those artist when you hear her voice you say, I just got to have that song, and this album was no exception. She always put her all in to her music and you can hear it in every note.

Thank you,
For keeping the Soul in Soul.
Cynthia