Track Listing

1. Mama Knew Love
2. Cornbread, Fish & Collard Greens
3. Since I Seen’t You
4. Charlene
5. I’m A Mess
6. Coming From Where I’m From
7. Better Days
8. Lucille
9. Float
10. My First Love featuring Latoiya Williams
11. Chyna Black
12. I Tried

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46575 in Music
• Released on: 2004-01-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

CD Description
Anthony Hamilton grew up in North Carolina, caught the eye of record companies, and released a major-label record in 1997, XTC, which was critically lauded, but mostly forgotten and quickly out-of-print. Following this setback, Hamilton hung around the music biz, working on his songwriting and background vocals, until his big break came in 2002, singing thehook for the Nappy Roots hit "Po' Folks".
The music on his second album, COMIN' FROM WHERE I'M FROM, transcends his rise-to-fame backstory. Hamilton is a soul singer in the truest sense of the phrase, a crooner with heart from the school of Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, and Teddy Pendergrass, as well as an intense songwriter on par with all of the above. The album features the vocalist standing as tall on more conventional modern R&B numbers like "I Tried" as on Philly throwbacks like "Better Days" and the darker storytelling soul of the title track. "Chyna Black" is a true standout, a driving ballad that's almost folk in the vein of later John Martyn or Tracy Chapman, with a brilliant sing-a-long hook. Anthony Hamilton never gave up on trying to find a forum for his music, and with COMIN' FROM WHERE I'M FROM, the R&B worldis the beneficiary of his perseverance.

Customer Reviews

Pure music for the soul
First things first, believe me, YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS. Anthony Hamilton, more so than any other artist, including people such as Ruben Studdard and Musiq, is going to completely revitalise the soul genre.

This album is perfection from start to finish. Every song is oustanding in terms of lyrics and performance from Anthony. Literally, this guy puts everything into every song and his voice is one of the best and most unique I have ever heard.

Personal favourites include 'I'm a Mess', 'Comin' From Where I'm From' and especially 'Charlene', although any of the songs could be included in this list. Everyone should own this album and it should go down in history as one of the most accomplished albums by one of the world's greatest singers.

Great soul, great voice!!!
This is a great debut album, from Anthony.
He has a great soul voice sounding somewhat similar to the late Dino Conner from H-Town.
Pretty much all the songs are great on this CD and I would recommend buying it.

Excellent
Claimed to be one of the greatest soul albums of the last 10 years. I'd have to disagree with that. Its good, and its good because Anthony Hamilton possesses an awesome voice which has got a Bill Withers feel about it.

Raw and full of emotions he could sing the words on the back of a shampoo bottle and make it sound fantastic and oh so soulful.

The tracks on there are indifferent. There are some out of this world songs and then some average middle of the road ones.

"Mama Knew Love" Kicks off the set. More of a hip hop feel than the other tracks, but once that voice hits, your attention is grabbed. "Cornbread Fish and Collared Greens" is clever in its lyrics but lacks a real platform for Hamilton's voice to be heard to its full potential.

"Since I seen't You" is better on that scale. The frail sounding deep south voice is beautiful as its rides over a down tempo tune. "Charlene" is a continuation of that, and probably one of the albums finests moments. Again lyrically its clever and Hamilton proves he is a good story teller.

"Im a Mess" is a soulful swayer with heartfelt lyrics performed to perfection. The Title Track "Comin From Where Im From" gives us an insight in to his childhood and how it effects his life now. Again great lyrics, great vocal ability as he doesn't go to over the top. Nice hook, great song.

"Better Days" is a continuation of that.
But the tracks absolute stormer is track 8. Now this album is worth buying for this alone. "Lucille" is one of the most beautiful tracks I've ever heard. Another fantastic lyrical song, but its that voice once again that makes it's a great song. Superb in fact. I've had that on repeat many times.

"Float" is quite average, nothing new going on this one. Nice enough, voice again is top notch. Same can be said for the duet with Latoya Williams on "My First Love". Just kind of middle of the road.

"Chyna Black" has the same sort of feel as "Lucille" with the acoustic gutiar playing in the background, although the chorus becomes more upbeat. "I Tried" is the final track, which is more blues in its style and has a Ray Charles feel about it.

Overall, it's a very good debut album and I can't wait to here more from this very talented singer.