Jean Knight

Jean Knight struck gold with "Mr. Big Stuff," but this 1999 release is more enjoyable than anything she did back in the day. The 13 songs vary between beaters, mid-tempo shufflers, Southern soaps, and ballads. Knight's voice has lost nothing, while gaining control and the ability to convince. Without one weak track, there are some faves: "Slide," a groovy dancer about a popular urban stepper, the Slide; "Put On," a tablespoon of Southern sugar with real-life lyrics; "I Know My Man," a stiff but touching ballad (particularly the chorus where she sings the title as if she's reading an eye chart); "One More Chance," which is true Southern, as Knight generously gives her wayward man one more chance to live in harmony; and the title track, "Queen," with Knight tough as nails when emphasizing to some Ike Turner wannabe that she's not a slave, she's a queen. ~ Andrew Hamilton, All Music Guide