In about.com's Fall 2010 R&B/Soul music preview, yours truly wrote about how there's a number of big-name artists dropping albums this fall. And while that's definitely true, almost none of those albums come out in October. Faith Evans is the biggest name among October's small crop of releases, followed by some quasi-R&B albums that might not have made the list if pickings weren't so slim. Although list for Halloween month is scary thin, the good news is that November's due to be a huge month for good new R&B music. For this month's list, just look below.
1. 'Something About Faith,' Faith Evans
After being away since 2005, Faith returns with her fifth studio album on Oct. 5 via E1 Music.
Tracklisting:
- Something About Faith (intro)
- I Still
- Way You Move (feat. Snoop Dogg)
- Real Things
- Worth It
- Gone Already
- Party (feat. Redman)
- Right Here
- Your Lover
- Can't Stay Away (feat. Keyshia Cole)
- Sunshine
- Everyday Struggle (feat. Raekwon)
- The Love in Me
- Change
- Troubled World (feat. Kelly Price and Jessica Reedy)
- Baby Lay (bonus track)
2. 'Let Go,' Matt Palmer
The first full-length studio album by this young pop-R&B singer is expected out Oct. 12 via the MusicTaste label.
Tracklisting:
- Blow Your Speakers
- Diamond Love
- Let Go
- Lovesick
- Hold Onto My Hand
- Fall For You
- Rain
- Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover
- Come Back to Me
- Six Whole Days
3. 'Authenticity,' The Foreign Exchange
This talented but little-known R&B/electronica duo drops its third album Oct. 12 via +FE Music.
Tracklisting:
- The Last Fall
- Authenticity
- Eyes to the Sky
- All Roads
- Fight for Love
- Maybe She'll Dream of Me
- Don't Wait
- Make Me a Fool
- Everything Must Go
- Laughing at Your Plans
- This City Ain't the Same Without You
4. 'Doo-Wops and Hooligans,' Bruno Mars
This pop-R&B singer-producer, who's best known for singing hooks for B.o.B., Travie McCoy and others, is releasing his debut album Oct. 5 via Elektra/Asylum.
Tracklisting:
- Grenade
- Just the Way You Are
- Our First Time
- Runaway Baby
- The Lazy Song
- Marry You
- Talking to the Moon
- Liquor Store Blues (feat. Damian Marley)
- Count on Me
- The Other Side (feat. Cee-Lo Green and B.o.B.)
5. 'Wasted in Jackson,' Lauren Pritchard
Lauren Pritchard, a Jackson, Tennessee native who moved to L.A. to hit the big time but is now based in London, has a semi-raspy Soul-pop voice. Her latest release drops Oct. 26 via the Universal Republic label.
Tracklisting:
- Stuck
- Not The Drinking
- Wasted In Jackson
- Hope It's You
- Painkillers
- No Way
- Hanging Up
- Going Home
- Bad Time To Fall
- Try A Little Harder
- When The Night Kills The Day
6. 'Rare Genius: the Undiscovered Masters,' Ray Charles
This collection of previously unknown Ray Charles songs comes out Oct. 26 via Concord Records.
Tracklisting:
- Love's Gonna Bite You Back
- It Hurts to Be in Love
- Wheel of Fortune
- I'm Gonna Keep on Singin'
- There'll Be Some Changes Made
- Isn't It Wonderful
- I Don't Want No One But You
- A Little Bitty Tear
- She's Gone
- Why Me, Lord? (feat. Johnny Cash)
7. 'How Many Roads: Black America Sings Bob Dylan,' Various Artists
Due out Oct. 12.
Tracklisting:
- Blowing in the Wind (OV Wright)
- Girl from the North Country (Howard Tate)
- I Pity the Poor Immigrant (Marion Williams)
- Maggie's Farm (Solomon Burke)
- Don't Think Twice (Brook Benton)
- From a Buick 6 (Gary U.S. Bonds)
- The Man in Me (The Persuasions)
- Like a Rolling Stone (Major Harris)
- With God on Our Side (Neville Bros)
- Mr Tambourine Man (Con Funk Shun)
- Masters of War (The Staple Singers)
- I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (Bill Brandon)
- You Go Your Way & I'll Go Mine (Patti LaBelle)
- Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Booker T Jones)
- All Along the Watchtower (Bobby
- Just Like a Woman (Nina Simone)
- I Shall Be Released (Freddie Scott)
- Lay Lady Lay (Isley Bros)
- Tonight I'll Be Staying Here (Esther Philips)
- Emotionally Yours (O'Jays)