WITR (Henrietta, NY)
- I'm Not Ashamed (I Need You) (Mind Street Lounge Mix)-Namy featuring Stephanie Cooke (It's easy to lose yourself in this groove of basic lyrics, an inviting woman's voice, and a good workout for saxophone.)
- Some Angel-Fractal Cat (Midtempo, idealistic power pop with Classical embellishments; an appealing, low-key lyrical Valentine.)
- Try A Little Tenderness-Aretha Franklin (Otis Redding's version usually gets the radio airplay; this is jazzier than usual for Franklin.)
- I'd Rather Go Blind-Etta James (Effective emoting from James and effective punctuation from the backup singers. To hear early Christine McVie vocals, check out Chicken Shack's version.)
- (No Place I'd) Rather Be-Kam Franklin (As a rule, I don't usually seek out dance music. This new release got my attention, though. Franklin's powerful voice is perfect for this genre, so here's wishing her a bright future.)
