Leela James
Leela James is a Los Angeles native and soul singer who cites James Brown, … Read Full Bio ↴Leela James is a Los Angeles native and soul singer who cites James Brown, Roberta Flack, and Gladys Knight, among others, as influences. Her deep, rich and gritty vocals easily draw comparisons to Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight.
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".
Her debut album was released on June 21, 2005, entitled A Change Is Gonna Come. The album is a soul music record incorporating the styles of 1960s and 1970s American soul singers, with a mixture of funk, R&B and gospel influences. The first single from the album, entitled "Music," laments what Leela James sees as the decline of hip hop and soul music and asks for a return to the artistry of musicians of earlier decades. Leela co-wrote most of the tracks on her debut album, with two notable exceptions being her cover of No Doubt's "Don't Speak," and the classic song by Sam Cooke for which the album is named. Notable collaborators on the album include Raphael Saadiq of the 1990s R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, Kanye West, and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean.
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 2005, she lent her voice to the posthumously released Ray Charles album Genius & Friends, duetting with the singer on the song "Compared to What". Leela also guested on Robert Randolph and the Family Band's 2006 album Colorblind, lending her vocals to "Stronger". In June 2009, she appeared on Moby's new album "Wait for Me", performing the vocal on "Walk with Me".
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' sixth album, Did It for Love was released on March 31, 2017 by Shesangz Music under license to BMG.[5] The album has the singles "Don't Want You Back" released on October 28, 2016,[6] "Hard for Me" released on February 25, 2017, "Don't Mean a Thang" released on March 27, 2017,[8] and a video single "All Over Again" on May 4, 2017.[9] 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.
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".
Her debut album was released on June 21, 2005, entitled A Change Is Gonna Come. The album is a soul music record incorporating the styles of 1960s and 1970s American soul singers, with a mixture of funk, R&B and gospel influences. The first single from the album, entitled "Music," laments what Leela James sees as the decline of hip hop and soul music and asks for a return to the artistry of musicians of earlier decades. Leela co-wrote most of the tracks on her debut album, with two notable exceptions being her cover of No Doubt's "Don't Speak," and the classic song by Sam Cooke for which the album is named. Notable collaborators on the album include Raphael Saadiq of the 1990s R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, Kanye West, and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean.
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 2005, she lent her voice to the posthumously released Ray Charles album Genius & Friends, duetting with the singer on the song "Compared to What". Leela also guested on Robert Randolph and the Family Band's 2006 album Colorblind, lending her vocals to "Stronger". In June 2009, she appeared on Moby's new album "Wait for Me", performing the vocal on "Walk with Me".
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' sixth album, Did It for Love was released on March 31, 2017 by Shesangz Music under license to BMG.[5] The album has the singles "Don't Want You Back" released on October 28, 2016,[6] "Hard for Me" released on February 25, 2017, "Don't Mean a Thang" released on March 27, 2017,[8] and a video single "All Over Again" on May 4, 2017.[9] 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.
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Leela James Lyrics
"Good times" Tonight is the night we're gonna have a good time…
'Rain' I can't take this rain, no When I'm bringing you joy Won't…
03. Good Time Tonight is the night we're gonna have a good time…
11) Don't Speak What is a woman To do with a man Who…
12-Didn't I Gave my best,gave my all Forced me against the wall Tired …
13. My Joy Who are you to tell me that I cant go…
A Change Is Gonna Come I was born by the river In a little tent…
A Long Time Coming I was warmed by the river In a little tent. Oh, just…
All Over Again You're beautiful in all the rights ways I'm sure I said…
Baby I'm Scared Of You Come if you got real love for me Stay away if…
Clean Up Woman A clean up woman Is a woman who Gets all the love…
Complicated Ah, you know love ain't got to be this hard Why…
didn t i Gave my best,gave my all Forced me against the wall Tired …
Didn't I Gave my best,gave my all Forced me against the wall Tired of…
Didn’t I Gave my best,gave my all Forced me against the wall Tired …
Do Me Right Said you want yourself a really good man Want you hold…
Don't Speak What is a woman To do with a man Who…
Don't Speak ] What is a woman To do with a man Who…
Don't Want You Back Two o'clock in the morning, you on my phone Tryna talk…
Everything Waited so long Seems like a lifetime But then, yeah, came yo…
Fall For You Here we are, together And everything between us is good I'm …
Ghetto She's gettin' ghetto up in here She's gettin' ghetto up in…
Give It Hey baby I see you there looking like you ready So…
Good Time Tonight is the night we're gonna have a good time…
Good Time (Jihad Muhammad Tonight is the night we're gonna have a good time…
Good Times Tonight is the night we're gonna have a good time…
Hard For Me The more I give you The more you want in return I…
I Try Games, changes and fears When will they go from here…
I'd Rather Be With You I'd rather be with you, yeah yeah, I'd rather be with…
If It's Wrong Wrong Let it do what it do I think I love you I've…
It Hurts Me So Much (I want to) You know that I love you and I know…
It's A Long Time Coming I was warmed by the river In a little tent. Oh, just…
It's A Man's Man's Man's World This is a man's world, this is a man's world Wouldn't…
It's Alright Dear To whom it may concern I guess this is my reward…
It`s Alright Dear To whom it may concern I guess this is my reward…
Let It Roll Why you stressing? Why you worrying about it? Where there'…
Let's Do It Again Do it again, do it (Do it) Let's do it again (Do it) M…
Long Time Coming I was warmed by the river In a little tent. Oh, just…
Miss You I've been holding out so long I've been sleeping all…
Mistreating Me Keep on pressuring me To do more and do more…
Music Somebody play on the guitar strings Makes me think of my…
My Joy Who are you to tell me that I cant go…
No Tears [Leela James] Had things on my mind I tried to get by Things…
Nobody Know's You When You're Down And Out Once I lived the life of a millionaire Spendin' my money,…
Prayer Oh, oh, oh Livin' in a cold, cold world Sometimes…
Rain I can't take this rain, no When I'm bringing you joy Won't…
Save Me He used to love me the way you love me But…
Say That See my sun won't shine Ain't no stars at night I swear…
Set Me Free Uh, uh, uh Oh, oh, hmm Listen! Last night you didn't call, H…
Simply Beautiful If I gave you my love, I tell you what I'd…
So Cold So cold, so cold, so cold So cold So cold, so cold,…
So Good So good, so good So good, so good No change, no games No…
Soul Food Kiss the back of my neckbone (whoa) Make it hot…
Soulfood Kiss the back of my neckbone (whoa) Make it hot like…
Stay with Me Stay with me Don't leave Stay The moon light, the strong I …
Take Me Spend my life with you Nothing could be more beautiful than…
Tell Me You Love Me I unpacked my chest for you Do everything that you want…
There 4 U Oceans apart day after day And I slowly go insane I hear…
There for You Here we are, together And everything between us is good I'm …
Wen You Love Somebody What is a woman To do with a man Who…
You Know How To Love Me Measure for measure Your love's so much pleasure Like a ha…