LateNightTales

• Artist: Jamiroquai
• Rating:
• Release Date: October 21, 2003
• Type: Collection (various artists), Mix-album
• Genre: Rock

Review

Jamiroquai's volume in the influences series Late Night Tales dovetails nicely with the loose-groove party funk Jay Kay and co. have made a specialty since debuting on England's acid jazz scene in 1992. Spanning the twin towers of late-'70s R&B -- disco and quiet storm -- the mix includes plenty of sexed-up R&B from Leon Ware ("What's Your Name"), Rufus & Chaka Khan ("Once You Get Started"), Kleeer ("Tonight's the Night"), and Skyy ("Here's to You," an unexpected gem). Still, having much to prove to jaded music fans and facing a steadily shrinking pile of rare grooves thanks to mixes like these, Jay Kay doesn't succeed in creating a truly diverting mix. Late Night Tales functions best as slinky background music to introduce a night out, or as a time capsule of pleasant yet mostly unimportant period music. Kay gives the compilation much-needed character, though, with a pair of changeups: a Liverpool band named the Real Thing, whose "Raining Through My Sunshine" was a personal favorite, and the underrated José Feliciano, whose "California Dreaming" is the track closest in vocal performance to Kay himself (alas, Stevie Wonder is nowhere to be found here). ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Happiness (Lyrics)	Allen Toussaint	The Pointer Sisters	(3:53)
Girl, I Think the World About You	Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary	The Commodores	(4:26)
Once You Get Started		Chaka Khan, Rufus & Chaka Khan	(4:10)
Fantasy	J.R. Hammond	Johnny Hammond	(4:30)
Whisper Zone	Jack Lind, Larry Dunn	Ramsey Lewis	(2:57)
What's Your Name	Leon Ware	Leon Ware	(3:56)
Stay Free	Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson	Ashford & Simpson	(4:50)
Tonight's the Night (Good Time)		Kleeer	(4:43)
Pretty Baby (Lyrics)	B.H. Edwards	Sister Sledge	(3:55)
California Dreaming	John Phillips	José Feliciano	(4:08)
Here's to You	Randy Muller	Skyy	(4:11)
Rainin' Through My Sunshine	Chris Amoo	The Real Thing	(3:35)
Here, My Dear (Lyrics)	Marvin Gaye	Marvin Gaye	(2:48)
Music of the Earth	Patrice Rushen, Angela Rushen	Patrice Rushen	(4:00)
Part 3		White City, Brian Blessed	(9:30)

Credits

The Commodores (Arranger), The Commodores (Producer), Marvin Gaye (Producer), David Blumberg (Arranger), James Anthony Carmichael (Arranger), James Anthony Carmichael (Producer), Rick Jarrard (Producer), Bob Monaco (Producer), Richard Perry (Producer), Jamiroquai (Main Performer), Leon Ware (Producer), Bill Brewster (Liner Notes), James Dimmock (Photography), Brian Blessed (Readings), Austin Wilde (Concept)