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LateNightTales

 
Album Review: LateNightTales

  • Artist: Jamiroquai
  • Rating: StarStarStar
  • 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 TitleComposersPerformersTime
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)
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Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more

 

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