Released as part of 180's Spotlight Music Series -- available only at Target stores in the USA -- Influences collects twelve songs that Joss Stone proclaims as an influence on her modern-day blue-eyed soul, adding a brief page of notes explaining some of the choices, including Joss recounting the influences of a few specific songs. Not surprisingly, her influences are soul songs, but this isn't just classic soul. There are cuts from James Brown ("Please, Please, Please"), Billy Paul ("Me and Mrs. Jones"), Ann Peebles ("I Can't Stand the Rain"), Al Green ("Let's Stay Together"), Dusty Springfield ("I Only Want to Be with You") and Aretha Franklin ("Ain't No Way"), but there are also smooth soul and urban classics from Luther Vandross ("Never Too Much"), Minnie Riperton ("Lovin' You") and Natalie Cole ("I've Got Love on My Mind"), plus modern soul from Blackstreet ("No Diggity"), Corinne Bailey Rae ("Put Your Records On") and D'Angelo ("Devil's Pie"). All of it not only adds up to a good, accurate portrait of Stone's influences, but it's quite an entertaining listen in its own right. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide