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Joe Leavy - Soul On Fire
Soul man Joe Leavy has been generous in sharing tracks from his latest album, Soul On Fire, with the music listening public. Four tunes from the album, “Inside You,” “Love Me To My Soul,” “Let It Go” and “Do It Again,” received First Listen coverage and been on our Fresh Soul Spotify playlist.
The quality of those records led us to wonder how good are the tracks that Leavy held back until the album’s release. The short answer is that they’re pretty darn good. There’s nary a throwaway on Soul On Fire, and if you’re a fan of smooth, Quiet Storm ballads or breezy, mid-tempo R&B tunes with a hint of jazzy swing, this album is for you.
Joe Leavy - Soul On Fire
Soul man Joe Leavy has been generous in sharing tracks from his latest album, Soul On Fire, with the music listening public. Four tunes from the album, “Inside You,” “Love Me To My Soul,” “Let It Go” and “Do It Again,” received First Listen coverage and been on our Fresh Soul Spotify playlist.
The quality of those records led us to wonder how good are the tracks that Leavy held back until the album’s release. The short answer is that they’re pretty darn good. There’s nary a throwaway on Soul On Fire, and if you’re a fan of smooth, Quiet Storm ballads or breezy, mid-tempo R&B tunes with a hint of jazzy swing, this album is for you.
Take, for example torchy plea for forgiveness, “Words.” Powerful, vulnerable and conversational, Leavy throws his honeycombed baritone into a song that finds him desperately wishing he could undo his sins of commission and omission. “Words” is one of the songs that would tempt a man to push play and tell his woman “this is what I’m trying to say,” if he thought he could get away with doing that.
“Find A Way,” mid-tempo steppers cut, finds Leavy confronting the reality that his relationship is in a rough patch, and he wants to know if he and his lady are willing to do what it takes to reach restoration. The cut is anchored by a smooth yet funky bass line that serves as the anchor for a jazzy saxophone flourishes and blues inspired guitar.
The album also includes a remake of the Aretha Franklin, George Benson classic “Love All the Hurt Away.” This is an underrated song that can easily get lost beneath all the hits in Franklin and Benson’s catalog of hits, and hearing Leavy’s rendition with singer Robin Joy allows fan to appreciate a great ballad once again. The thumping bass on “Too Much Love” makes the song a funky declaration of Leavy’s intention to remain with his woman through the bad times because what’s good makes this relationship one that he can’t afford to lose.
Soul On Fire is a labor of love that Leavy spent years trying to perfect, even as he gave soul fans hints of what was going on in his musical laboratory. It was time well spent. Highly Recommended.
By Howard Dukes
Purchase Soul On Fire