A Change Is Gonna Come
Leela James · 2005
64 min · 19 tracks · blues
Soulful melodies intertwine with raw emotion, creating a powerful blend of blues and neo-soul that resonates deeply.
Top tracks — play these first
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Music — This opening track showcases Leela's powerful vocal delivery and sets the stage for the album's exploration of love and resilience.
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When You Love Somebody — The song captures the complexities of love with heartfelt lyrics and an infectious groove, highlighting Leela's ability to blend emotion with rhythm.
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A Change Is Gonna Come — Her interpretation of this classic imbues it with a contemporary urgency while honoring its historical significance, making it a centerpiece of the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong vocal performances and emotional depth but is somewhat uneven in flow due to interludes.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a brief intro before launching into a series of mid-tempo tracks that maintain a consistent groove.
- Several interludes break up the flow of full songs, creating pauses that shift the emotional tone throughout the record.
- The final track is a cover of Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come', which serves as a climactic conclusion to the album's themes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with interludes
- powerful messages of resilience
- wave-like pacing throughout album
- uplifting moments for reflection
- soulful vocals for deep connection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification tracks
- prefer standalone single experiences
Where this album fits
- Career context
- A Change Is Gonna Come marks Leela James' debut album, released in 2005. At this time, she was establishing her presence in the music scene following a series of performances that showcased her distinctive voice and style. The album set the tone for her career, blending classic soul influences with contemporary themes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Alice Smith· Jill Scott· Erykah Badu
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Don't Speak
The moment shifts from uncertainty to a resolute declaration of self-worth amidst heartache.
This transition underscores a journey from vulnerability to empowerment, marking a pivotal point in the narrative arc of the song.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Intro 1:25
- 2 Music 4:04
- 3 Good Time 4:16
- 4 Ghetto 3:50
- 5 Slappy (interlude) 0:57
- 6 Soul Food 3:18
- 7 Rain 4:08
- 8 Married (interlude) 1:40
- 9 When You Love Somebody 4:30
- 10 Mistreating Me 5:13
- 11 Don't Speak 4:46
- 12 Bummy (interlude) 0:52
- 13 My Joy 4:57
- 14 It's Alright 4:03
- 15 Didn't I 3:17
- 16 Prayer 3:57
- 17 I Know I've Been Changed 2:05
- 18 A Change Is Gonna Come 3:35
- 19 Long Time Coming 4:01
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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