Leela James A Change Is Gonna Come

Pre-Order.  Released 27/02/2026

L.A.-based soul singer Leela James started out singing backup vocals on Hip-Hop albums in the late 90s and early 2000s. In 2004, she recorded the song "No Tears" on Pete Rock's "Soul Survivor 2", shortly after she signed a deal with Warner Bros Records and released her debut album A Change is Gonna Come, named after her cover of the Sam Cooke song. A true soul singer, with a voice comparable to Mavis Staples and Betty Wright, Leela enlisted Commissioner Gordon to oversee production, which included tracks by Kanye West, Raphael Saadiq, Wyclef Jean, and Chucky Thompson. The lead single, "Music," is an ode to the soul singers of yesterday, with a Hip-Hop feel. She performs a soulful R&B cover of No Doubt's "Don't Speak" and alternates between funky uplifting tracks like "Good Time" and "Soul Food" with downtempo, soulful ballads like "When You Love Somebody" and "My Joy." Leela James departed from Warner after the release of her debut and went on to release seven more studio albums. It's been twenty years since A Change is Gonna Come was released in June of 2005, and Get On Down is proud to present this underrated gem for the first time on vinyl. The album is pressed on "Golden Pearl" colored vinyl and packaged in a gatefold jacket, limited to 1000 copies. It's been a long time coming, but this is a must-have for neo-soul and R&B music lovers.

TRACKLISTING
A1. Intro
A2. Music
A3. Good Time
A4. Ghetto
A5. Slappy (Interlude)
A6. Soul Food
B1. Rain
B2. Married (Interlude)
B3. When You Love Somebody
B4. Mistreating Me
C1. Don't Speak
C2. Bummy (Interlude)
C3. My Joy
C4. It's Alright
C5. Didn't I
D1. Prayer
D2. I Know I Been Changed (Interlude)
D3. A Change Is Gonna Come
D4. Long Time Coming