Emma Jean

Soul legend Lee Fields has re-teamed with The Expressions for new album Emma Jean. Coming at a time when many new artists are trying to emulate the soul and swagger of the 1960s, Mr. Fields showers us with authenticity on the 11-track set, highlighted by first single 'Magnolia.' Since releasing his first album in 1969, Fields has continued to make music for the last 45 years. And having been on the road, touring non-stop for the better part of the last decade, it's evident that Fields has hit an elevated stride both as a recording artist and live performer.

Emma Jean is the follow up to Fields' widely praised first two Truth and Soul albums - 2009's My World and 2012's Faithful Man. Lee Fields and The Expressions have forged a distinct soulful sound and a grown style with this album. They've pushed their sound in new directions, moving from being content as contemporary soul music royalty and instead delving into and exploring its next steps. Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys wrote 'Paralyzed,' and having Emma Jean mixed and partially recorded at his Nashville studio, country soul and bluesy rock are immediately noticeable. It brings a different kind of strut to the album, but Fields—born and raised in North Carolina—is right at home with the Southern soul sound. In fact, it feels like a natural progression: an organic, refreshingly pure next step. Like past releases from this matchless pairing of Fields' warm-and-raw growl and The Expressions' switched-on and sharp musicianship, Emma Jean takes soul music in a familiar but updated direction.