Album review: Joss Stone, The Soul Sessions Vol 2

Google soul music and you'll quickly turn up the names Tamla, Motown, Stax and Atlantic Records. Through the late 50s and 60s soul music swept the world with an energy that was unprecedented. The Four Tops, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Miracles... all became household names. Interestingly, soul music seemed to make a bigger impression in the UK and in other countries than in the US where it originated.

Fast forward to 2003 and 16-year-old Joss Stone from Britain's Kent bursts on to the scene with her first album The Soul Sessions which grabs worldwide attention, though most of the songs are lesser-known soul standards with Miami singer Betty Wright producing.

Platinum sales, Brit Awards and Grammies follow and Stone finds herself at the centre of attention - for her age as much as her music.

The four albums since then have been somewhat uneven but revisiting The Soul Sessions is a really smart move.

Amazingly Stone is still only 25, and Soul Sessions Volume 2 clearly demonstrates once again how special her voice is, and her command of it is even more spectacular with 10 years' experience under her belt.

Again, we're treated to a mix of soul compositions. There's a superb version of the Womack's Teardrops, Linda Lewis' Sideway Shuffle and John D. Loudermilk's Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye. My favourite, however, is While You're Out Looking For Sugar, it's a spectacular performance. The production is spot-on, the band hot to trot. Time to soak up some blue-eyed soul, folks.

Joss Stone

The Soul Sessions Volume 2

Rating: 4 / 5 stars