A harvest of R. Kelly sounds

I just realized it. R. Kelly has been creeping up on me these past months. How else explain the presence of three R. Kelly CDs in my frequent listening pile? These are Epic which was released for last year’s World Cup Finals in South Africa; the R. Kelly album from the Essential Mixes collection; and his latest and already a big hit, Love Letter which came out late last year but which is still scoring big because of the recent Valentine season.

The latter has a single Love Letter in the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart while the album is No. 18 in the Top 200 Albums list. It really looks like people have forgotten those scandalous times when it was rumored that R. Kelly has a liking for young girls, too young girls. I do not know if he still likes his girls young but that really has no bearing on the quality of the music he creates. In fact, he seems to have gotten better over the years and is now an artist at the peak of his know-how, creativity and vocal prowess.

Love Letter is just what the album is. It is a thank-you card for his fans who have stood by him these past 20 years or so. It is a tribute to the soul legends who have come before him. Listen and you will hear Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, Michael Jackson and many more. And most of all it is a love letter to all the girls who loved him and those he loved. It is a beautiful album and it is remarkable how he channeled all those great voices while singing as R. Kelly all the R. Kelly songs. He sounds great and the entire production is first rate. What incredible arrangements. Looks like he will add a few more Grammys to those he already has next year with this one.

You will love the Prelude because it sets the stage for everything. Then there are Love Letter; Number One Hit; Not Feelin’ The Love; Lost In Your Love; Just Can’t Get Enough; Taxi Cab; Radio Message; When A Woman Loves; Love Is featuring K. Michelle; Just Like That; Music Must Be A Lady; a Christmas version of Love Letter; and How Do I Tell Her? which is the best of the lot. There is a secret song. I will not tell you what it is but it is a great surprise and makes the album truly special. Prepare to get teary-eyed. Don’t miss out on Love Letter.

Epic though is my favorite of the batch. This is an inspirational, feel-good production that mixes old and new recordings. This is the one for you if you want to make a wonderful day out of all the mess around you. It must be because of the jubilant World Cup mood throughout the album. The lead cut is Sign Of A Victory, the official FIFA World Cup anthem and you know how World Cup songs are. Remember Ricky Martin’s La Vida Loca? These get you moving and dancing cheering and feeling sexy like never before.

The track list opens with the Prelude Heal It. R. Kelly loves putting preludes in his albums. Then there are I Believe; The World’s Greatest; Victory; Peace; If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time; Fireworks; Spirit; the gorgeous I’m Your Angel, a duet with Celine Dion which is from her Christmas CD; Can You Feel It; and R. Kelly’s first big seller, I Believe I Can Fly. Remember this one from Space Jam with Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny. The song made them soar.

R. Kelly’s is probably the best of the Essential Mixes series. He can’t help it. He sounds so good. Besides, as fans will notice in the list of songs, some of these songs are not available in his other collections and the new mixes make them doubly interesting. That makes the CD a must-buy. Step In The Name Of Love Tom Neville’s Jazz Rocket Mix; U Saved Me Kenny Dope Remix Loud Vox; Bump ‘N’ Grind How I Feel It Mix; I Wish, To The Homies That We Lost Remix; Your Body’s Callin’ Prelude His & Hers Mix; Feelin’ On Yo Booty Hypnosis Mix; I Can’t Sleep Baby If I, Street Version Remix; Summer Bunnies, Contest Extended Remix; Be My #2 Terry Hunter Remix; and Thank God It’s Friday The Incognito Mix.