R&B singer Morgan ready to do it again

By Gail Mitchell

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – Meli’sa Morgan acknowledges that
it has been a struggle reintroducing herself to the
music-buying public.

“People know the name and my music,” says the singer whose
sultry delivery took the Prince-penned “Do Me Baby” to No. 1 on
the R&B charts in 1985. “But when they see my face, they’ll
say, ‘That’s not Meli’sa Morgan. She’s older than that.”‘

Morgan dismisses all the old-school/new-school talk with
the declaration that “class begins now” in the opening to her
first album in more than 10 years. Released November 8 by
Orpheus Music/LuAnn, “I Remember …” is clicking with the
adult audience. She finished 2005 with a readers’ choice award
from Web site soultracks.com as best female vocalist.

That success is largely due to the album’s first two
singles: a duet with longtime friend Freddie Jackson on the
Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway gem “Back Together Again” and
current slow-jam single “I Remember …” The former peaked at
No. 25 on the Adult R&B chart, while the title track is No. 26
this week.

Also featured on the album are Morgan’s takes on such
classic tunes as Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way” and Marvin
Gaye & Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing.”

Morgan — whose R&B hits in the ’80s and early ’90s include
“Do You Still Love Me?,” “Still in Love” and “Love Changes” (a
duet with Kashif) — says the new album grew out of her belief
that the true art of soul music is missing in the new
generation.

“There’s a whole market of people 25-plus who love these
types of songs,” says Morgan, a former backup singer for Chaka
Khan. “They want the same thing but in newer versions. I’m just
trying to bring soul back to R&B with a fresh spin on it.”

Mary J. Blige has already done her part. In an example of
old school merging with new school, Blige samples Morgan’s
“Heart Breaking Decision” on “Good Woman Down,” a track on
Blige’s new CD, “The Breakthrough.” And Blige’s duet with Jamie
Foxx on his “Unpredictable” album is a cover of the 1987 Morgan
hit “Love Changes.”

During the past 10 years, Morgan has been a steady presence
on the touring circuit, opening for the likes of Keith Sweat
and Kem. Plans are under way for her to join Jaheim and Charlie
Wilson on cross-country gigs, including stops in Los Angeles
and Washington, D.C.

Between promoting and performing, Morgan stays busy
spearheading a self-named foundation that promotes educational
excellence. Post-Hurricane Katrina, Morgan has been visiting
shelters and giving displaced children backpacks filled with
basic school necessities.

Describing her re-entry to the album world as “scary and
nerve-racking,” Morgan remains confident. “We’re taking baby
steps now. But I’ll have my stride back soon. Look out, I’m
coming.”

Reuters/Billboard