Lee Fields

Lee Fields is a bit of an enigma. Like a Roy C critics love him- his loyal following buy his records but despite his immense talent he isn't nearly as famous as he should be. Some know him as a superbad James Brown disciple. In fact, his vocals, the grooves on his 70s records and even his look was so much like the "Godfather" that he earned the nickname "Little J.B." To others he's a serious soul star with an instantly recognizable voice. Fields released his first single on the Bedford label in 1969, "Bewildered" b/w "Tell Her I Love Her." After the 1973 one-off "Gonna Make Love" on London, Fields caught on at Norfolk Sound; 1973 also saw the release of one of his most enduringly popular 45s, "Let's Talk It Over" b/w "She's a Love Maker" (though it wasn't a big seller at the time). Another prized item was 1975's "Everybody Gonna Give Their Thing Away to Somebody (Sometime)" b/w "East Coast Rapper," issued on Sound Plus. Fields spent most of the latter half of the '70s cutting sides for Angle 3, including perhaps his most sought-after single of all, "The Bull Is Coming" b/w "Funky Screw". His last single with Angle 3 came in 1981 from his 1979 LP, "Let's Talk It Over".

Fields was quiet for the rest of the '80s, but mounted a comeback in the early '90s, signing with the modern-day Ace label then Johnny Vincent's Avanti resulting in four lo-fi soul blues records. In 1999, he returned to James Brown funky for Desco on 'Let's Get A Groove On" followed by "Problems" for Soul Fire. He also releases music on his own BDA imprint.

Album Discography

"Let's Talk It Over" (Angle 3 1979)

"Enough Is Enough" (Ace 1992)

"Coming To Tear The Roof Down" (Ace 1995)

"Dreaming Big Time" (Ace 1996)

"It's Hard To Go Back After Loving You" (Avanti 1998)

"Let's Get A Groove On" (Desco 1999)

"I Got A Problem" (BDA 2000)

"Let Me Hit It" (BDA)

"Forever" (BDA)

"Giving It To You Straight" (BDA)

"Problems" (Soul Fire 2000)

"Keep It Real" (BDA 2002)

"The Way We Used To" (BDA 2004)

"The Naked Truth" (BDA 2005)

** 1/2 This new 11-track release contains a mix of new Fields tracks and a sampling of older BDA material (perhaps the demerit! This is one sure way to make record buyers apprehensive of buying your next one!). Funk, R & B, Blues, Southern Soul. The first single- the loose J.B.'s inspired-"Dance Like Your Naked" is a greasy jam with horn fills ala Maceo Parker. Here he exhorts y'all to let go of your "hang ups" and, well, dance like you were naked! Phat! "Keep On Loving You" is a sweet soul wailer showing Field's vocal chops; "I'll Go To Jail" and "You Won't Bring Me Down" are bluesy throwd owns. The minor hit "Money Talks" is a shuffle-bumper with a pop hook and tight percussion. "Ain't That Loving You" is an admirable cover of the Homer Banks classic. Elsewhere, his hit "I Got A Problem" makes yet another appearance here (this is at least the third disc with this cut). Perhaps the highlight is the show-stopping "It Could Have Been", a fantastic 60s soul ballad (think Otis Redding) with an aching vocal from Mr. Fields. Imagine what this cat could do on a higher budget! Hear that Ecko? Malaco? Hep' Me.......