Despite his status as a former winner of American Idol, vocalist Ruben Studdard didn’t really come onto my radar screen until his memorable collaboration with Fourplay on the band’s 2010 CD ‘Let’s Touch The Sky’. Indeed Studdard’s stunning rendition of the Teddy Pendergrass classic ‘Love TKO’ delivered what was undoubtedly the best cover of that year and now he is back with his own album ‘Stories From Birmingham’. Due for release on March 13 it is crammed full of sumptuous tunes that are decidely from the old school side of the tracks and in this respect there is none better than the magnificently easy grooving ‘Rock Witcha’. Other songs worth looking out for are the soul drenched ‘I’m Single’ and the first track to be serviced to radio, ‘Wear Me’.
This brass enriched cut is soul the way its meant to be and comes highly recommended.