IVI sic; Chart Full of Soul GAIL MITCHELL gmitchell(cdoillboard.com JOEL WHITBURN PRESENTS Top R &B /i- -Hop Theorly complete history of 63 years of Billboard's "Hot R &B /Hip -Hop Singles" chart! Women Beneath To order, call toll -free 800 -827 -9810 The Radar See a full description at Conya Doss, Lynn Fiddmont recordresearch.com And Tamia's '06 Albums Deserve To Be Noticed Where would R &B be today without the likes sheet is dotted with such well -known names of such heart -stirring pioneers as Ruth Brown, as Seal, Stevie Wonder, Babyface, Bill With- Etta James, Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin? ers, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Now This year has borne witness to an array of al- she's stepped to the forefront with the self- bums by a female contingent ranging from released "Flow" (on the revealingly monikered seasoned vets to wet -behind -the -ears new- MidLife (Records). corners. That list includes Beyoncé; Janet Jack- Traditional yet jazzy soul is Fiddmont's son; Monica; LeToya; Corinne Bailey Rae; province, and the sultry singer gets right to India.Arie; Mary J. Blige, who actually released the point on this nine -song collection. Though her popular comeback late last year; Gladys it may be short in its number of songs, this Knight; and Natalie Cole. album doesn't stint on pleasure. "Holiday," the Laboring under the mainstream radar, how- samba -juiced opening track, makes you want ever, are several 2006 releases that warrant at- to jump iin the car and drive up the coast top - tention. Some of those (Amel Larrieux, Hil St. down, face in the wind. Fiddmont shifts from Soul) were profiled here earlier this year. But sexy ( "Feels So Right ") to romantic ( "Cupid ") please take note of three more albums by tal- to sassy ( "No Regrets ") without forcing the I \ FOR IVIA'I IO N & SERVICES BILLBOARD MAGAZINE BRAND LICENSING Editorial 646.654.4605 Information: 646.654.4675 Subscription 800.562.2106 ONLINE STORE Intl: 44.1858.43881 www.OrderBillboard.com ented R &B /soul singer/ issue -a welcome respite Online: www.Billboard.biz /subscribe songwriters as I continue from today's many over - BILLBOARD.COM / BILLBOARD.BIZ my ongoing series about emoting chanteuses. Advertising Display: 646.654.4622 Editorial 646.654.5582 2006 releases (Billboard, R &B fans will recall that Intl: 44.20.7420.6075 Nov. 4) that deserve Tamia got her big break Billboard.biz Subscriptions 800.449.1402 attention. when she bowed on Classified: 800.223.7524 Online: www.Billboard.biz/subscribe First up is Conya Doss. Quincy Jones' 1995 top 20 Online: www.Billboard.com (media kit) Advertising Her "Love Rain Down" R &B hit "You Put a Move List Rental 845.731.2731 (ConyaDossSongs) is the on My Heart." Since then Display: 646.654.5564 artist's biographical fol- the Canadian singer /song- Reprints 646.654.4677 Classified: 800.223.7524 low-up to two earlier al- writer has charted several (harts 646.654.4632 Content /Chart Licensing 646.654.4488 bums, "A Poem About Ms. Doss" and "Just Be- hits, including "Spend My Life With You" with Research 646.654.4633 cause." For those unfamiliar with Doss, the Eric Benét. Tamia hasn't released an album since Chart Alert 646.654.4636 Email: research @billboard.com melodic lead single "Tell Me Why" is a strong 2004 in the aftermath of Elektra, her former www.Billboard.biz (chart alert) introduction to a nontraditional soul singer label, merging with Atlantic, and an earlier diag- Online: www.Billboard.biz (research) nosis multiple sclerosis (now in remission). Email Newsletters whose style leans more to cool, sensual of Billboard Directories grooves than the gut- wrenching style of other The singer, who recently debuted on the Hot www.Billboard.com (newsletters) Subscription: 800.562.2706 soul purveyors. R &B /Hip -Hop Songs chart with the single "Can't Advertising: 800.223.1524 Billboard Bulletin Hook -filled tunes drummed incessantly on Get Enough," returns Nov. 14 with "Between her En- www.Billboard.biz (Billboard Bulletin) the radio aren't in abundance here. But don't Friends," the first album on own Image EVENTS take that to mean the Cleveland -bred Doss' un- tertainment- distributed label (Plus 1). The Information: 646.654.4660 Billboard U. powered by Berklee derstated music and thoughtful lyrics lack punch. album's 112 songs are produced and/or written Email: bbevents @billboard.com www.BillboardU.com Her versatility as an arranger and writer pour by Rodney Jerkins, Shep Crawford and herself. Sponsorship Opportunities: 415.738.0745 forth on such songs as the jazz- infused "Why The result is the most cohesive and satisfying Online: www.BillboardEvents.com Did You ?" and the ballad "Sign." Listen -then set of Tamia's career. Beyond the single, her listen again and again. voice glides gracefully over tracks that alter- MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS Lynne Fiddmont has supported everybody nate between soulful ballads ( "Me ") and Information: 646.654.4618 B and his brother during her career. Her credits bouncy rhythms ( "Sittin' on the Job "). NOVEMBER 18, 2006 www.billboard.biz I 51 www.americanradiohistory.com.