For the most part, pop recordings from Broadway stars are not overly appealing to the mainstream. Since stage stars are more dramatic in their vocal deliverance, their records are generally not exactly what fans of today's hip-hop are looking for.
Heather Headley, however, formerly a performer in stage productions of "The Lion King" and "Aida," is an exception. On her newest release, the smooth, Trinidad-born R&B vocalist continues to impress. With a style and smoothness reminiscent of Anita Baker in her prime, Headley genuinely puts all her essence into the record, and while the disc is a bit ballad-heavy and its subject matter (i.e. relationship issues) can be clich?©d, the slower numbers never delve into wimpish overdrive. The lyrics are at times endearing and never whiny or fluffy.
On "In My Mind," her sophomore effort, Headley wisely chose to enlist some assistance from the production department. The once untouchable Babyface, former king of slow-jam production in the '90s, is back on track and comes strong with his overseeing of the album's title cut. While Headley certainly makes this song her own, Babyface's tag is all over it.
Headley also teams with the legendary production duo of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Former members of the Prince prot?©g?© band The Time, the production team has had major hits with a myriad of acts including Mariah, Boyz II Men and TLC, and were the ones who led a young Janet Jackson into stardom in the mid-'80s. On "In My Mind," Jam and Lewis aim for more glory with Headley, shooting for a more adult contemporary sound on "What's Not Being Said." The results are satisfying, if not Jam and Lewis' most shining moment.
The most surprising production collaborator that Headley employs is crunk king Lil' Jon for "Back When It Was." The song, an R&B-filled slow number, is actually more akin to a doo-wop track than to anything else Lil' Jon has ever been involved with. Another standout track, "Losing You," is Headley's "kick him to the curb" anthem as she joyfully revels in her life after ridding herself of a less than honorable suitor.
While overall the album is decidedly slow, Headley keeps it from dragging. She picks up the pace with a duet with Shaggy on the Caribbean-tinged "Rain." She also dips, albeit lightly, into dancehall reggae terrain on "How Many Ways." While she surely isn't going to give Sean Paul or Rupee too much competition, she gambled with these two tunes and they both pay off, adding some much needed diversity to the album.
In the historically slow-selling post-holiday season, now is actually a good time for Headley's release; it should get more attention now then if it had a late 2005 release, when it might have gotten lost in the blitz of greatest hits and compilations that overwhelm the public every December. Hopefully the 2006 release will be a favorable one for Headley, as "In My Mind" certainly merits the air-time.
