Turn Me Loose (Ledisi album)

Turn Me Loose
Studio album by Ledisi
Released	August 18, 2009
Recorded	2009
Genre	R&B funk soul jazz
Length	53:53
Label	Verve Forecast
Producer	Ledisi, Raphael Saadiq, Chief Xcel, Carvin & Ivan, Chucky Thompson, Rex Rideout, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Fyre Dept.
Ledisi chronology
Lost & Found (2007) Turn Me Loose (2009) Pieces of Me (2011)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	[1]
Allmusic	[2]
Boston Herald	(B+)[3]
Dallas Morning News	(A-)[4]
Los Angeles Times	[5]
Miami Herald	[6]
New York Times	(favorable)[7]
People	[8]
PopMatters	(7/10)[9]
San Francisco Chronicle	(favorable)[10]

Turn Me Loose is the fourth studio album by American R&B and jazz singer-songwriter Ledisi, released August 18, 2009 on Verve Records. It was recorded after Ledisi's experience with writer's block, which she overcame after finding inspiration in listening to Buddy Miles's Them Changes (1970).^[11] In contrast to her previous work with jazz and soul influences, the album features a prominent funk sound. Turn Me Loose charted at number 14 on the Billboard 200, with 27,000 copies sold in the first week.^[12] It received generally positive reviews from music critics, based on an aggregate score of 72/100 from Metacritic.^[13] Turn Me Loose was nominated for two 2010 Grammy Awards including Best R&B Album & Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "Goin' Thru Changes".

Background

Speaking in April 2010 to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis - Deputy Editor of the award-winning Blues & Soul - Ledisi explained how the title of the album reflected its musical diversity: "The title 'Turn Me Loose' is basically me saying 'I don't wanna be boxed in! Let me be myself as a performer and singer, because I do EVERYTHING! Not just one particular style!'."^[14]

Ledisi was able to secure some of urban music's most respected producers, including Grammy winners Raphael Saadiq and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Big Jim Wright. She also reunited with producer Rex Rideout, who contributed greatly to the sound of Lost & Found. With help from the four other producers (Ivan & Carvin, Chief Xcel, Chucky Thompson & Fyre Dept), the artist braided brilliant strains of Rock, blues, classic soul, funk and hip-hop are all fused together throughout Turn Me Loose. The funky title track, for instance, updates the sassy grooves of vintage Stax. As a tribute to Buddy Miles, Ledisi does a cover of "Them Changes" as a bonus track.

Singles

• "Goin' Thru Changes" was released as the album's first single. The song peaked at No. 43 on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart, so far the highest peaking single of Ledisi's career.

• "Higher Than This" was released as the album's second single. The song has so far peaked at No. 63 on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart.

Track listing

1. "Runnin'" (Ledisi Young, Xavier Mosley) 2:18
2. "Everything Changes" (Ledisi Young, Carl Thompson) 4:00
3. "Turn Me Loose" (Ledisi Young, Rex Rideout) 4:18
4. "Higher Than This" (James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Ledisi Young, James Wright) 4:54
5. "Alone" (Ledisi Young, Carvin Haggins, Ivan Barias, Johnnie Smith, Curt Chambers) 4:18
6. "Love Never Changes" (Ledisi Young, Raphael Saadiq) 3:50
7. "Please Stay" (Ledisi Young, Raphael Saadiq) 3:47
8. "Knockin'" (Ledisi Young, Adam Deitch, Eric Krasno) 3:45
9. "Say No" (Ledisi Young, Adam Deitch, Eric Krasno) 3:43
10. "Goin' Thru Changes" (Ledisi Young, Rex Rideout) 4:45
11. "I Need Love" (Ledisi Young, Carvin Haggins, Ivan Barias, Johnnie Smith) 4:01
12. "Trippin'" (Ledisi Young, Carl Thompson, Kyonte Vincent) 2:57
13. "The Answer to Why" (Ledisi Young, Lorenzo Johnson) 3:04
14. "Them Changes" [Bonus Track] (Buddy Miles) 4:37
15. "Movin' On" [iTunes Bonus Track]

References

External links

• Press Release at EURweb