I am a huge fan and loved Alicia's music & performances during this era. As fans the one thing that people never discuss is how much actual freedom these artists have with regard to musical content. Clive Davis has been touted as a genius for discovering and nuturing talented young women HOWEVER he is also known for unsuccessfully trying to force pop crossover success from r&b/soul females (Phyllis Hyman & Angela Bofill leapt to mind).

I don't believe that Alicia has as much creative freedom as I initially assumed because her last two albums have been so 70's soul/pop-ish as opposed to the r&b/soul of her 1st two albums. I can certainly understand a label's concern about their bottom line but what a lot of them don't understand is that when they drive these artists away from their core audience sales will continue to suffer.

Overall I am a fan of AKeys and will continue to support her UNLESS she follows the pack and her next album is some techno/electronica dance bs!!