While "Affection" made her a star, "Real Love" makes you truly appreciate her unique artistry. Released in late 1991, Lisa Stansfield's wondrous sophomore LP is everything a follow-up is supposed to be. While her debut is, in my mind, still a dance/pop classic, "Real Love" changes gears and opts for a richer, creamy smooth, urbane sound. Perfectly balancing dance textures with a plethora of live instrumentation and beautifully organic shadings, this is an album any music lover can truly enjoy. As enjoyable as the musical textures on this album are, the real star of the show once again is Lisa's stunning voice. Her growth as a singer is apparent from the opening notes of the first track, "Change". For the most part, Ms. Stansfield's delivery is unhurried and assured on all of these buttery confections, the best of them being: "Time To Make You Mine", the jaunty, horn accented "Symptoms of Lonliness and Heartache"(check out the great flute solo!), "All Woman", which is the best ballad ever recorded about being appreciative of your mate. The lyrics brilliantly balance feminine vulnerability and dignity and her singing makes an indelible impression. "Just A Little More Love" rides a mellow, understated bass groove and places Lisa's singing right at the fore of the simple arrangement (the way she sings the word 'anything' before the second chorus will make you MELT), the majestic title track with it's insistent backbeat and immediatley catchy refrain will stay in your head for days. She closes out the LP with a trio of ballads, each complementing the other with a surging momentum building from the almost acapella "Tenderly", followed by the piano and handclaps intro to "It's Got To Be Real" which crashes into a fantastic driving horn arrangement and gospel-tinged chorus. The closer, "I Will Be Waiting" is the album's crowning moment. Over a Barry White inspired groove(all the trademarks of his sound are present; muted trumpets on the chorus, funky, mellow bass playing, crisp drums and cascading strings in the background all complement one of Lisa's most heartfelt vocal performances. This song makes you cry, and when it's over you play it again, just so you can cry some more. Perfect. Modern romanticism set to gorgeous music, enjoy "Real Love" alone or with a special someone, either way it's a very rewarding listen.

When I first heard Lisa Stansfield in 1990 (All Around the World), I was intrigued by that voice and fell in love. When "Real Love" was released in late '91, I rushed out and bought it and was not disappointed. I was hooked. Ten years later I still listen to this CD and have not tired of it in the least. I'd pay to hear this lady sing "Happy Birthday". From the singles "Change" and "All Woman" to the pumping tracks "Symptoms of Loneliness and Heartache" and "Make Love to Ya" and the smoldering "Tenderly" - a gem, each and every one of them. Stansfield doesn't just sing a song - she makes love to it! There is no one in the industry like her today. With all those screeching, so-called "divas" singing R&B and Pop today, it's so refreshing to hear someone like Stansfield - a woman who can truly sing. Too bad her albums come so few and far between. One of the most underrated artists today.

I became a fan of Lisa Stansfield's when I heard Coldcut's (I think that's the artist) "People Hold On" on the dance floor. Being a fan of blue-eyed soul I made sure I bought her first album "Affection" and was not disappointed and that album became a favorite. Then I heard "Real Love". This album is smooth and wicked! Highlights are "All Woman, Soul Deep, Set Your Loving Free, I Will Be Waiting, It's Got To Be Real, Little More Love, and the title track. Basically the whole album is hot. I can honestly say that this album has everything - great ballads and smooth jazzy dance tunes. Ms. Stansfield sings with confidence and emotion, not forcing her voice on the listener, unlike today's artists with their voice aerobics and hand flapping. This album proves that she is truly an underrated artist.

Here is another example of an artist with a lot of talent but not enough exposure (at least in the USA). I have been a fan of Lisa's ever since "All Around the World" and have never looked back. This cd is by far the best of her stuff--even though it is not a greatest hits cd, it is still great. She takes us on a journey of being a woman with heart, soul and plenty of emotion.
She tells us that if she could do it over again she would not CHANGE a thing. Then she explains that she shares a REAL LOVE with her man; a love that lasts forever. As she continues, she tells her lover that when you are with me you must learn to SET YOUR LOVING FREE. Lisa understands that her man has been hurt before and is very patient for his "wounds" to heal; so makes a proclamation to him I WILL BE WAITING for you. But you must remember, no matter how long we stay together I am ALL WOMAN; and will always be the one to MAKE LOVE TO YA. Lisa tells us that she has always had great love for herself because it is SOUL DEEP. But her one wish, towards her man, is that it is TIME YO MAKE YOU MINE. Now that he is in her life, she no longer wants to feel any more SYMPTOMS OF LONELINESS AND HEARTACHE. This is not her FIRST JOY but she knows that if she is treated TENDERLY & given A LITTLE MORE LOVE; she knows that this time IT'S GOT TO BE REAL. This is one helluva cd. A combo of pop, jazz, r&b and a lot of soul. She also combines Motown and the Philly sound. She is one of the best.

My God this CD is almost 10 years old and I'm still playing it. The arrangements are great, especially tracks 7 to 13. Set Your Loving Free is a real showcase for Lisa's voice. Track 1, Change, is timeless. If you like lush disco stuff, this is it.