- Leela James【 9 albums 84 lyrics 】
- Leela James (born May 22, 1983) is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter.
James cites singers James Brown, Roberta Flack, Toni Braxton, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples, and Stevie Wonder as her influences. Her deep, rich, gritty vocals have drawn comparisons to Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Toni Braxton, and Tina Turner.
Music career
In 2004, James toured as an opening act for The Black Eyed Peas and Macy Gray. That same year, she was featured on hip hop producer, DJ, and emcee Pete Rock's album Soul Survivor II, providing vocals to the track 'No Tears'. In 2005, she lent her voice to the posthumously released Ray Charles album Genius & Friends, duetting with the singer on the song 'Compared to What'.
James' debut album, A Change Is Gonna Come, was released on June 21, 2005. The album was conceived as a throwback to an earlier era of American soul music, building upon the legacy of 1960s and 1970s soul singers while incorporating elements of contemporary R&B, funk, and gospel.
In the lyrics to the album's lead single, 'Music', James laments the current state of contemporary popular music. She condemns the glorification of materialism and misogyny that has often been attributed to the lyrical content of contemporary R&B and hip hop songs while pleading for the return of the artistry, dedication, and sincerity displayed by musicians of earlier decades.
James co-wrote most of the tracks on her debut album, two exceptions being her covers of the pop rock band No Doubt's 1996 hit 'Don't Speak' and the classic title song by Sam Cooke, for which the album is named. Notable collaborators on the album include Raphael Saadiq, Kanye West and Wyclef Jean.
Leela guested on Robert Randolph and the Family Band's 2006 album Colorblind, lending her vocals to 'Stronger'.
After parting ways with Warner Bros., James signed with the independent label Shanachie Records and released her second studio album on March 24, 2009, an all-cover set entitled Let's Do It Again (the title being a homage to the 1975 soundtrack album of the same name by The Staple Singers).
In June 2009, she appeared on the Moby album Wait for Me, performing the vocal on 'Walk with Me'.
James' third album My Soul - her debut release for the Stax label - was released on May 24, 2010, and debuted on the US Hip Hop/R&B chart at #7. Speaking in May 2010 to UK soul writer Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul, she stated: 'With this album I wanted to make sure that I showed all sides of me - in terms of variety in the music and in my vocal range - while at the same time making it clear that every song deeply came from my soul. Plus I also wanted to incorporate a little more hip hop this time, and infuse it with my traditional R&B - because I felt that. By making my beats edgier and harder-hitting, I'd show there was more to me than just doing ballads and things of that sort.'
On July 8, 2014, Leela James released her fifth studio album, Fall For You. The album's first two singles, 'Say That' feat. Anthony Hamilton and 'Fall For You' both reached Top 15 on the Billboard Urban AC charts, with 'Fall For You' reaching #12. Ms. James supported her album with tours nationwide, including performances at Essence Music Festival, Arizona Jazz Fest, San Diego Jazz Fest, Capitol Jazz Fest, and more.
James' fifth album, Did It For Love was released on March 31, 2017 by Shesangz Music under license to BMG. The album has the singles 'Don't Want You Back' released on October 28, 2016, 'Hard for Me' released on February 25, 2017, 'Don't Mean a Thang' released on March 27, 2017, and a video single 'All Over Again' on May 4, 2017. The single 'Don't Want You Back' reached number 1 on Billboard' Adult R&B Songs chart on April 15, 2017, becoming her highest charting single ever. - Sorted by ＞ Sorted by album (Time) Sorted by song name (Characters) Sorted by other
- Album name Release Date Song
-
Did It For Love
2017
1.Hard for Me (Provided)
2.Our Love (Provided)
3.All Over Again
4.Take Me (Provided)
5.This Day Is for You (Provided)
6.There 4 U (Provided)7.Good to Love You (feat. Dave Hollister) (Provided)
8.I Remember (Provided)
9.Real Talk – Relationships (Interlude) (Provided)
10.Don't Want You Back
11.Don't Mean a Thang (Provided)
12.Did It for Love (Provided) -
Fall for You
2014
1.Who's Gonna Love You More (Provided)
2.Say That
3.Give It
4.Do Me Right
5.Set Me Free6.Everything
7.So Good
8.Stay with Me
9.Fall for You
10.Save Me -
Say That (Single)
2013
1.Say That -
Loving You More...In the Spirit of Etta James
2012
1.Soul Will Never Die (Provided)
2.Something's Got A Hold On Me
3.It Hurts Me So Much
4.I'm Loving You More Every Day (Provided)
5.I'd Rather Go Blind
6.I Want to Ta-Ta You Baby (Provided)7.Damn Your Eyes
8.Nobody Loves You Like Me (Provided)
9.Old School Kind of Love (Provided)
10.Sunday Kind Of Love (Provided)
11.At Last -
My Soul
2010
1.I Ain't New To This (Provided)
2.So Cold
3.The Fact Is
4.I Want It All (Provided)
5.Party All Night (Provided)
6.Mr. Incredible - Ms. Unforgetable7.Let It Roll
8.Supa Luva (Provided)
9.If It's Wrong
10.It's Over (Provided)
11.Tell Me You Love Me -
Let's Do It Again
2009
1.Clean Up Woman
2.Miss You
3.It's A Man's Man's Man's World
4.Baby I'm Scared Of You
5.You Know How To Love Me
6.I Want To Know What Love Is7.I Try
8.I'd Rather Be With You
9.Simply Beautiful
10.Let's Do It Again
11.Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out -
A Change Is Gonna Come
2005
1.Ghetto
2.Long Time Coming
3.Soul Food
4.Rain
5.When You Love Somebody
6.It's Alright
7.Music8.A Change Is Gonna Come
9.Prayer
10.My Joy
11.Good Time
12.Mistreating Me
13.Don't Speak
14.Didn't I -
Live In New Orleans
1.Long Time Coming - Live Version
2.Good Time - Live Version
3.Didn't I - Live Version
4.My Joy - Live Version5.Music - Live Version
6.A Change Is Gonna Come - Live Version
7.Didn't I
8.Good Time -
Miscellaneous
1.Mr. Incredible - Ms. Unforgettable
2.Say That (Ft. Anthony Hamilton)
3.Good Time (Eddie Amador Back Room Mix)4.No Tears
5.My Joy (Q.H. vocal mix)
6.Music (Morel's Pink Noise Edit)
【Correction of errors in the album information】