Miki Howard was a talented soul/R&B singer who started her career in 1980 as lead vocalist for the popular R&B group, Side Effect. Together they released three good albums as a group before Howard went solo. Howard eventually delivered a string of R&B hits between the late eighties and early nineties including “Come Share My Love,” “Ain’t Nuthin’ In The World” and “Ain’t Nobody Like You.” Howard successfully ventured into the jazz repertoire portraying the late, great Billie Holiday (1915-1959) in Spike Lee’s 1992 Malcolm X  movie. 

That critically acclaimed performance lead to a cd titled Miki Sings Billie, released at the end of 1993 and partially produced by David Foster. On that cd, Ms. Howard covered the most treasured songs of the legendary singer with the Hitman’s brilliant guidance. Foster had already produced a couple of tracks for Ms. Howard on her previous Femme Fatale album . Out in September of 1992, Femme Fatale was a well-dosed collection of catchy R&B and pop songs that peaked at #7 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart. Foster added an effective adult contemporary twist to the cd with the trademark adult ballad “Shining Through,” co-written with ex-wife Linda Thompson and the late, great film composer, Michael Kamen (1948-2003). A previous review of “Shining Through” can be found in the archives.

Another Foster production and current Song of the Week was a feel-good mid-tempo called “New Fire From An Old Flame.” Written by Diane Warren, the mastermind behind dozens of top hits with many also produced by Foster, “New Fire From An Old Flame” was a delicious pop number with R&B overtones. As usual, the song was meticulously crafted by Foster and his team including famed engineer Dave Reitzas and session legends Robbie Buchanan and Michael Thompson. Howard delivered an ear-tantalizing vocal performance supported by the golden harmonies of Janey Clawer and the unforgettable, late Warren Wiebe (1953-1998). The programmed instrumental track, unlike many other productions of the nineties, flowed quite nicely. “New Fire From An Old Flame” could have easily been a hit since it sported a composition that was top-notch, had amazing songwriting, perfect production and show stopping performances. “New Fire From An Old Flame” would be covered a couple of years later by another R&B songstress, Stephanie Mills, who gave a convincing performance. However, the overall production by Guy Roche sounded weaker than the Foster version.

Listen

• Lead Vocals: Miki Howard
• Keyboards & Synth Bass: David Foster
• Guitar: Michael Thompson
• Synthesizer & Drum Programming: Robbie Buchanan
• Synthesizer Programming: Simon Franglen
• Backing Vocals: Janey Clewer & Warren Wiebe
• Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

No Lyrics

In 1992, famous R&B songstress Miki Howard portrayed the legendary Billie Holiday in Spike Lee’s movie Malcolm X. She performed the late jazz singer’s classic “I Cover The Waterfront” and covered Holliday’s “Good Morning Heartache” on her Femme Fatale cd. Apparently, her performances didn’t go unnoticed. A year later she went into the studio and recorded an entire cd of Holliday’s trademark tunes. The recordings were supervised by the renown team of David Foster and LeMel Humes and Miki Sings Billie was released on December 1993.

Foster and Humes each produced five tracks on the project. The Canadian Hitman was fresh off his triumph of Natalie Cole’s Unforgettable and he brought the same elegant approach to Miki Sings Billie. Foster crafted superb renditions of legendary Lady Day gems like “My Man” and “What A Little Moonlight Can Do” with sophisticated arrangements, lush orchestrations and superior vocal and instrumental performances. Ms. Howard shines on Miki Sings Billie with a respectful approach and the right dose of emotional command. She wisely let her own personality come out singing those evergreens and with Foster’s expertise in the control room the results were brilliant.

Years ago, Song of the Week reviewed Ms. Howard’s beautiful remake of “I’m A Fool To Want You,” perfectly modernized by Foster without losing an ounce of its sensuality and strength. You can read that review here. This time around, Song of the Week put the spotlight on the jazz/pop standard “Solitude.” Duke Ellington’s immortal melody was arranged by Foster with the same craft and musical bravura that brought Unforgettable to the Grammy podium. Ms. Howard’s vocal performance was subtle yet powerful. She sings the bittersweet lyrics surrounded by a sea of strings, silky support from the rhythm section, a tasteful piano playing in the background and some warm saxophone licks.

Miki Sings Billie might have only reached #72 on the R&B Album chart, but its lack of commercial success didn’t take anything away from the outstanding musical quality included on this project. Plus, Miki Sings Billie showcased Foster at his orchestral finest.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/solitude.mp3|titles=Solitude|artists=Miki Howard]

Lead Vocals: Miki Howard

Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

In my solitude
You haunt me
With reveries
Of days gone by

In my solitude
You taunt me
With memories
That never die

I sit in my chair
And filled with despair
There’s no one could be so sad
With gloom everywhere
I sit and I stare
I know that I’ll soon go mad

In my solitude
I’m praying
Dear Lord above
Send back my love

David Foster and the late soundtrack maestro Michael Kamen composed the epic ballad “Shining Through” with lyrics by Linda Thompson. The song was beautifully sung by R&B diva Miki Howard on her 1992 album, “Femme Fatale.” Foster also produced the song, creating his customary classy sounds to enhance the grand, gospel-tinged arrangement that served the singer particularly well. Howard delivers a very good performance that showcases her power and range. An orchestra, choir and the wonderful sound of guest vocalist, the late Warren Wiebe, support her beautiful vocals. “Shining Through” was one of two Foster productions included on “Femme Fatale.” The other was “New Fire From An Old Flame,” a relaxed, up-tempo ditty written by hit maker Diane Warren. Another standout track is the opener, a hi-tech cover of “Good Morning Heartache.” It is a gorgeous rendition of the Billie Holiday classic with the legendary Joe Sample playing piano. This rendition is also a teaser of what will be Howard’s next album, the Foster produced tribute to Miss Holiday entitled “Miki Sings Billie.”

“Femme Fatale” performed well on Billboard’s charts reaching #7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart while its slow jam single, “Ain’t Nobody Like You,” was #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/shining_through.mp3|titles=Shining through|artists=Miki Howard]

Lead Vocals: Miki Howard
Keyboards: David Foster
Programming: Robbie Buchanan
Drums: Mike Baird
Guitars: Michael Thompson
Backing Vocals: Warren Wiebe & Janie Clewer
Choir Arrangements by Dennis Dandridge
Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

NO LYRICS

If you are among the many fans of Michael Bublè and all those David Foster grand productions, you should check out this fine record by Miki Howard, released in 1993, produced by Foster and LeMel Humes. Howard is a talented singer with a warm and seductive voice. She first started her career at the end of the seventies with the r&b/jazz group Side Effect. She then developed a solo career that brought her on the r&b charts with singles like “Come Share My Love,” “Baby Be Mine,” and even two #1s, “Ain’t Nuthin’ In The World” and “Ain’t Nobody Like You.” She first worked with Foster in 1992 when he produced a couple of solid tracks on her “Femme Fatale” cd. She also portrayed Billie Holiday in the Spike Lee movie “Malcolm X” that probably gave her the inspiration for the “Miki Sings Billie” project. The cd is filled with Holiday’s immortal melodies like “My Man,” “Solitude,” and “Don’t Explain.” All the songs are faithful to the atmosphere and feel of the originals and the production is lush and sophisticated. Howard, on the other hand, has been smart enough to keep her own singing style without trying to copy Holiday.
“I’m A Fool To Want You” is the most “fosterized” of the songs included in this collection. The track is wonderfully reworked without losing one bit of its magic and intensity. Foster is simply the best when he contemporizes a classic song. He is able to modernize it without losing the main elements of the original recording. Programmed drums, synths and keyboards are perfectly mixed with the soothing strings as a passionate Howard sings the bittersweet lyrics with class and style.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/i_m_a_fool_to_want_you.mp3|titles=I’m a fool to want you|artists=Miki Howard]

Lead Vocals: Miki Howard
Keyboards: David Foster
Produced & Arranged by David Foster

Lyrics

I’m a fool to want you
I’m a fool to want you
To want a love that can’t be true
A love that’s there for others too
I’m a fool to hold you
Such a fool to hold you
To seek a kiss not mine alone
To share a kiss the devil has known

Time and time again I said I’d leave you
Time and time again I went away
Then would come the time when I would need you
And once again these words I’d have to say

I’m a fool to want you
Pity me, I need you
I know it’s wrong
It must be wrong
But right or wrong
I can’t get along
Without you

Time and time again I said I’d leave you
Time and time again I went away
Then would come the time when I would need you
And once again these words I’d have to say

I’m a fool to want you
Pity me, I need you
I know it’s wrong
It must be wrong
But right or wrong
I can’t get along
Without you