Whatever prevented ARISTA Records from releasing "SO NATURAL" in the United States kept us from probably one the BEST discs of the 1990's worldwide. This disc saw Lisa Stansfield's vocal talents, choice of material, and musical arrangements IN TOP FORM. Many tempos, styles, arrangements, and avenues of thought are explored on this disc. Even still the disc flows from one song to the other with ease, which is surprising considering the order in which the songs were mastered. The set begins with the laid-back "So Natural," dives into the early-70's-esque funk "Marvelous And Mine," and moves on to the uplifting, breezy, light-disco "Little Bit of Heaven," (slightly reminiscent of the "Charlie's Angels" theme song). Similarly, "Too Much Love Makin'" sounds also like a Swing Out Sister retro-disco cover, circa 1979. From there the disc captures several different moods, tempos, emotions, and styles. However, the best by far is the inclusion of the re-recording of "In All The Right Places." The original ballad recording was written for a JAMES BOND film which never developed. Subsquently, the track wound up in the closing credits of (and on the soundtrack recording of) the film "INDECENT PROPOSAL." The re-recording included on "SO NATURAL" has a mid-tempo soul/pop arrangement which as as relaxing as it is uplifting. Something about this track brings to mind a sunny, warm afternoon at the ocean amongst palm trees and warm sands. Just wonderful. Find this CD, buy it, and DO NOT LOAN IT TO YOUR FRIENDS....you'll never get it back.

for some strange reason, Lisa Stansfield is not well known in the US. This British singer from Manchester is probably one of the best soul singers in the world. Her repertoire varies from soul to pop, capitalizing on her tremendous voice and great melodic tunes. I would recommend this album to anyone. I have never been a big soul fan but I fell completely for this one. This is a great album with great songs. Another one of her pearls that I enjoy very much is her self titled album. Buy both and you can also throw in Real Love if you liked the first two.

Lisa's third album was never released in the States, though it's a puzzle as to why, considering that "So Natural" contains some of Lisa's finest material and plenty of potential singles. The seductive title track and the pulsating "I Give You Everything" are the perfect examples of beautifully written songs perfectly matched with infectious rhythms, while the soulful "Marvellous & Mine" and the disco workout "Little Bit of Heaven" rank with Lisa's finest dance material. She even goes out on a limb on the Sade-ish "Sweet Memories" and the downright funk of "Turn Me On" with glorious results. As always the case with Lisa's CDs, it's a couple of songs too long; "Too Much Love Makin" and "Wish it Could Always Be This Way" are less than special and could have been left out. But listening to her glide through the lush "Never Set Me Free," complete with a 70's-reminiscent flugelhorn, is proof enough that the US definitely missed the boat on a wonderful CD. Her vocals are in top form and her writing skills are as sharp as ever...all of which Lisa probably finds so natural.

It is hard to believe this CD has not been reviewed. I traced down Lisa Stansfield for her hit "All Around the World" which is on her "Affection" album (not included on this one). After listening to a couple samples of the cuts on this present CD I knew I wanted it. And was I right. It is so sad that this CD was never released in the USA. It is consistently pleasurable from the first cut to the last. A great voice, moving lyrics, and good orchestration and arrangements. This is a very relaxing, soul searching album. The "Affection" album is more upbeat, dance music. But I plan to get all of her albums based on this one album. You won't be disappointed with "So Natural". Don't let the fact that the USA was deprived of this gem, buy it!!

It's a shame "So Natural" wasn't originally released in the U.S.. It is Stansfield's third-best album (trailing "Affection" and "Real Love"). Stansfield's standout song is the sultry "In All the Right Places" re-do. It's the REAL reason I purchased this CD. I preferred it to the darker version that shows up in "Indecent Proposal" and most other Stansfield complilation CD's. But the "So Natural" version is one of my all-time favorite love songs. In it, Lisa's voice hits every erotic peak and valley and surges and sizzles like a hot shower throughout. "Gonna Try It" is very good: still soulful, but with a cooler, more distant sound than "...Right Places." "Too Much Love Makin'" is third-best: not soul, but more of a traditional, toe-tapping pop ballad. As for the rest of the album, "Dream Away" is a gem-of-a-find that I didn't know existed, though it seems Lisa loses her mesmerizing charm to the male singer whenever she does duets. "Dream Away" is no different: dominated by Babyface, instead of Stansfield. "Goodbye" has a refined, sweeping feel muscially, and Lisa adapts her tone to it. And "Sweet Memories" has the lyrical sultriness of "...Right Places", but doesn't achieve its atmosphere. The title track, "So Natural" and its end re-mix, weren't impressive. "Marvelous...", "Little Bit of Heaven", and "Turn Me On" were a little too R&B, with the overuse of synthesized music. All-in-all, "So Natural" holds much of its blue-eyed soulfullness, and is still like Lisa Stansfield: So Good!