Rap-Up.com || 5 Must-Hear Songs on Marsha Ambrosius’ ‘Late Nights & Early Mornings’

It’s taken Marsha Ambrosius more than a decade since debuting with Grammy-nominated duo Floetry to put out her first solo album Late Nights & Early Mornings, but the operatically-trained singer is ready to spread her wings and soar. The English lass collaborates with an impressive cast on her debut, with production by Just Blaze (“Far Away”), Rich Harrison (“Late Nights & Early Mornings”), Dre & Vidal (“Your Hands”), and more, as well as writing credits from Alicia Keys and Lauryn Hill.

The romance-laden album, set to a full-bodied musical backdrop, explores the Brit’s relationship experiences ranging from behavioral remorse to innocent naiveté. Rap-Up.com presents five must-hear songs from Late Nights & Early Mornings prior to its March 1 release.

“With You”
Co-written by Alicia Keys, this song sets a romantic tone at the album’s onset, cruising along with paced percussion and a delicate piano line. On the languid tune, Marsha opens up about longing to meet up with her man, her voice quivering in anticipation. “Feels like I’ve been waiting for a lifetime/ To find someone that I’ll want as much as I want you/ Right now,” she wails.

“Late Nights & Early Mornings”
The album’s title track, produced by Rich Harrison (Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love,” Amerie’s “1 Thing”), is surprisingly restrained given the beatsmith’s frenzied production past. Easing into the song with a disorienting melody, the mid-tempo ballad features off-kilter synths and gurgling drums, with Marsha crowing about getting some extra loving in the heat of the night. “It’s going to be a late night ’til the early morning/ When I come on home/ It’s going to be that good love, gave you what you wanted/ I want to do it all night long,” she teases on the Prince-inspired tune.

“Lose Myself”
Lauryn Hill wrote and recorded this as an energetic inclusion on the soundtrack to the 2007 animated feature Surf’s Up, and Marsha completely reconfigures the track to suit an R&B template. Cutting away the heavy percussion and synthesizers of Ms. Hill’s version, Marsh puts her heart into this neo-soul remake, driven by languid percussion, a light organ, and thick vocal harmonies.

“Tears”
Marsha gets into the Motown swing on “Tears,” where she sings the blues about regretting her decision to dump her boyfriend. “First of all let me say that I missed you baby, for real/ I’m worse off than I’ve been, I feel so much pain/ Cried so many tears,” sings Marsha, her voice quavering against echoing harmonies as she begs her man to come back into her arms.

“Butterflies (Remix)”
Marsha originally penned this track for Michael Jackson’s 2001 album Invincible, later rerecording it with her group Floetry for 2002’s Floetic. Almost a decade later, she revamps the innocent ballad with the addition of popping drums, blurting horns, and glib synthesizers. The upbeat remix also features rerecorded vocals and an alternate ending, closing the album with a dash of something familiar for those who have kept up with this soaring songbird.

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22 Comments

tonyroni
January 23rd, 2011 at 8:06 am
SEe how far ur career can go when u lose a lot of weight. The other half must me fat ass hell

[Reply]
sunny
January 23rd, 2011 at 9:31 am
@tonyroni,
no need to be an asshole.

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kiki
January 23rd, 2011 at 9:34 am
I can’t wait to hear this and hopefuly get a copy.

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cicime
January 23rd, 2011 at 10:31 am
I really like that Far Away song. Can’t wait to hear these.

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Dave
January 23rd, 2011 at 10:49 am
YASSSSSSSSSS! Marsha! Can’t wait to get it.

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Dave
January 23rd, 2011 at 10:50 am
I didn’t know she was operatically trained though.

[Reply]
Kyle
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:26 am
I am so ready to hear this album. I will probably be one of the best R&B albums of 2011. Hopefully it won’t get pushed back.

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Lisa
January 23rd, 2011 at 2:36 pm
I need this album!

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Tiffany
January 24th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
I can def tell she did some opera vocal work from all of those (sometimes annoying) high notes she hits. Other than that, I am looking forward to hearing her album.

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tell'em
January 24th, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Can’t wait for this. “Far Away” is great. I’m really interested to hear what Rich Harrison made for her.

[Reply]
Joe
January 24th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
I cant wait for this album. The video for Far Away is one of the most powerful videos I have ever seen.

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Drea
January 24th, 2011 at 11:35 pm
@tonyroni actually the other girl from the group is really skinny, and is bald. Marsha is the better looking of the 2 skinny or fat

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Starr
January 24th, 2011 at 11:38 pm
OMG I cant wait for this album, I effin love this woman soooo much! She’s my wife, the love of my life..skinny or thick it does not take away from her vocal abilities she is truly an angel..the bomb.com

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starchild
January 25th, 2011 at 2:35 am
@tonnyroni the weight doesn’t matter…. I guess some people just dont get it smh (wakeup). Definately a grammy winner coming up! Much love Songstress :)

[Reply]
angela
January 25th, 2011 at 4:27 am
I am totally excited about this album. I love Far away. What an amazing artist.. she always has and always will be.
I totally agree.. a Grammy is coming.

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Ty
January 25th, 2011 at 5:16 am
Seems like she holds back vocally just like tamia and chante Moore, just give us a crazy fly vocal which shows ur range then u can go back to da quiet storm, I promise

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Shonuff901
January 25th, 2011 at 9:12 am
What tonyroni is saying is the truth. It took her loosing weight to get a good solo career going. She is still the same talented singer she always was. It’s just a shame that looks matter more these days than actual singing talent.

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Loo
January 25th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
A couple of you guys are dumb as hell. This chick had lost weight by the time Floetry put out Flo’Ology. It wasn’t losing weight that helped her launch a solo career. She’s BEEN skinny. She had been with Aftermath before, and now she’s with J Records. It took the right team and the right material. That is all. So get off the weight loss issue. That wasn’t what did it.

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MiniMinaj
February 11th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
I LOVE MARSHA. I SAW HER WEIGHTLOSS WORKOUT VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE AND SHE IS REALLY FUNNY, N CANT WAIT FRO HER ALBUM. I THINK SHE IS BEAUTIFUL EITHER WAY NO MATTAH WHAT N LUV HER VOICE.LUV FAR AWAY.
ITS PINK FRIDAY HOE

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Loca
March 20th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
I have been listening to the CD for the past two days! over and over. My favorite song is sour times beautiful.

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