Natalie Cole's latest cd: "Leavin" is more than just a covers album, and if the songs she chose weren't recognizable in name it would sound like a whole album of new songs. "Criminal" was redone totally, and she only adds to its greatness, Old Man is great also, but the track that stood out to me was Kate Bush's "The Man With the Child In His Eyes", she sung it so beautifully and with the backing of the choir it makes it even more touching. This album is worth buying, I was not only impressed, but I respect her artistic ability more than ever, she has covered songs all through her career, and now to have an album full, is music to my ears.

On LEAVIN', Natalie Cole uses her magnificent voice to interpret an eclectic mix of pop, rock, r&b and country songs. Highlights on this excellent album include the Shelby Lynne written title tune (done in the style of Natalie's 1977 hit "I'm Catching Hell"), a sassy version of Aretha Franklin's "Daydreaming", an inspirational Kate Bush composition "The Man With The Child In His Eyes", and Miss Cole's sexy ladylike performance on the Isley Brothers' ballad "Don't Say Goodnight". Another treat on this album is "The More You Do It", a top 10 r&b hit for Ronnie Dyson co-written by Natalie's first husband, the late Marvin Yancy. On this sexy tune, Miss Cole tastefully throws in vocal riffs from her first hit "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" and the arrangement is in the style of Aretha Franklin's version of the Sam Cooke classic "You Send Me".

The biggest surprise on LEAVIN' is discovering that Natalie Cole arranged most of these songs by herself (Wow! What can't she do?). Here's hoping that Miss Cole's musical arranging talents will be used more in the future.

It is good to know that this kind of Soul Music continues to exist. It is also good to know that lovely voice associated with Ms. Cole continues to endure.

Do you like good music? Sweet Soul Music? If yes then this CD is a must have for your listening pleasure.

Download, or pick up your copy today. You will be delighted, not disappointed.

Some reviewers definitely did not have an open mind listening to this. How great to hear a familiar voice in a different sound element....just a guitar, a song associated with another great voice (what a challenge). Not a loser in the bunch...and you gotta love "the more you do its" nod to yesterday. She's not leavin' she's here to stay...FROM NOW ON!

Natalie Cole returns with her most adventurous exploration of personally admired compositions from Pop-Rock-R&B-Country Music's most prolific singer-songwriters she's had the pleasure to share the radio-chart spotlight with, throughout her brilliant career. Like her current Verve[and previously Capitol & Elektra]Records labelmate and radio-chart run comadre, Linda Ronstadt, Miss Cole is one of our very few and extraordinarily gifted artists who is daring and adventurous enough to risk everything careerwise by immersing her talent, and expanding her range, into an intense exploration of music from various genres and eras, other than her 'mainstream base' where her fans always expect her to not drift too far from. Milestone, after milestone album from Natalie Cole continues to rise and glow from the expansive musical ground she never denies she is inspired from - be it Rock, R&B, Jazz, Pop, Country - she possesses a rare vocal talent she easily transforms into an irressistably dazzling instrument of range and note. The 'main attraction' here is Miss Cole's marvelous vocal instrument! Miss Cole, visually, is more beautiful than ever - which makes for a very attractive album cover. I've always felt Shelby Lynne was robbed by unintelligent and tasteless radio station programmers of a monsterous radio/chart hit of her original, "Leavin'" - but Natalie revives this brilliance with a personally stamped cover version, adding a whole new "WOWzer" twist of her own! Natalie's "Leavin" comes from another remarkably different dimension - it's a vocalized mini-movie drama demanding notice of its own! Another smoldering track is "The Man With The Child In His Eyes", Natalie's most assured Power-Pop ballad to date. "The More You Do It" - which she teasingly introduces as for the "Old School"[referring to Music, of course]ends with that delicious catchy phrasing chorus of "From Now On!...From Now On!...From Now On!" reminds us that this is the NATALIE of "THIS WILL BE" Fame you're listening to and enjoying in all her everlasting glory all at once and forever more! It's also her affectionate and joyful tribute to the [first] songwriting team of Marvin Yancy-Chuck Jackson, she was blessed to have worked with at the outset of her career. Bright'n sassy horn sections accompany Natalie's sassiest and dazzling vocals in all the right and perfect places on various tracks throughout this well balanced album. We must thank Verve Records for allowing exceptional artists the freedom and opportunity to record their own music, fulfill their musical vision to full content, and offer us such outstanding collages of musical expression they feel moved to display and share - especially when the record company giants have become shamelessly indifferent to both these artists and the fans who built their financial institutions. I personally experienced the excitement of "living"[as we all do at times] some of these classic songs such as "Don't Say Goodnight" - "Old Man" - "Day Dreaming" - "Lovin' Arms"[much covered, but in the most endearing and heartfelt version for the first time ever, right here] - during their popular first time around in my teen years, but, COLE's sensitive, affectionate, and inspiring versions mystify and contribute a profound new dimension to the wonder and impact of each song's respective and timeless impact. NATALIE COLE remains an illustrious vocalist, and, with the astounding imagery and colors her voice displays, she easily demonstrates that no matter what genre of music she is inspired to explore, they are all inseparable.