Song For My Lady : Expanded Editon

This is Lucien's first album with Columbia. After making three albums for RCA in five years, he didn't attain superstar status, but this as well as early 70's efforts Iam Now, Rashida and Mind's Eye made Lucien one of music's most respected though sluggishly selling acts. This 1975 effort deftly mixes cover version of well-known songs as well as Lucien's always-creative originals. With a switch to a bigger more influential label, the changes are minimal. The instrumentation and production are little more palpable, but not by much. The biggest difference here is Lucien's voice; it became warmer, more polished and accessible. But while that looks great on paper, with an artist with a strong persona like Lucien is either going to be hit or miss. He undoubtedly is on his game here and like the rest of his catalogue, this is alternately eccentric and romantic. Due to the production and his focus, Song For My Lady became the album to which all of his subsequent efforts were measured against. On his brilliantly arranged and sung cover of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Dindi," Lucien uses all of his register from the high pitched sighs to his croaky lows. His take on Bernard Ighner's "Motherland" however went on for one minute too long. That being said everything Lucien did on this effort was at least interesting. "Maiden Voyage" is a remake of Herbie Hancock's classic instrumental. Although "helping" a woman through her "first affair" wasn't hinted at on Hancock's original, Lucien saw a prime opportunity. With lyrics like "Time for your debut," and "Soon you'll cry, lovely things you'll say," Lucien was inspired enough to turn in one of his most assured and fulfilling vocals. Lucien also succeeds with the uptempo offerings. "Soulmate" and "Creole Lady" both display odd production values and his almost naïve and though likeable takes on love. The atmospheric title track has him crooning such lines, "Tell her that I care, tell her spring is here," like it's pure poetry. Song For My Lady didn't make Lucien a giant star, but it's simply one of the more visionary and satisfying albums of the jazz/r&b genre. ~ Jason Elias|