BLACK VINYL VERSION - Now 63 years old, Fields has been pumping out soul, funk and Southern blues since he was a teenager. With more than 15 albums and 45 years of experience under his belt, it only makes sense that Fields' appeal hinges on a sound he first began tooling as an ardent young fan of the late, great . Add that comparison with the vocalist's complete title -- Lee Fields & The Expressions, his backing band -- and it's even easier to tie Fields to the popular Black acts of the mid-to-late 20th century, from The Stylistics to to Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes.
On Emma Jean, that hearkened spirit is unmistakable. The record -- which is named after Fields' mother, who passed in 1993 -- sees the singer and his band resume the reserved, yet grandiose sound they've meticulously developed over the years. With his most recent releases -- namely, 2009's widely popular and 2012's equally well-received -- Fields cemented his presence as a leader in the pack of retro soul. With daring accompaniment, penetrating lyrics and a combined sound that bleeds triumph and lovesickness all at once, Fields and co. stand solidly apart.
Somehow, Fields' voice has grown more unyielding and colorful since My World. With the chilly, distant "oohs" of Emma Jean's opening track, "Just Can't Win," he reels us in on the wings of a tale of fruitless persistence -- a song one would only hope isn't self-reflective. Regardless of perspective, Fields encourages us not just as listeners, but as human beings to keep on trying: "Make your time, don't just make ends meet," he advises.
