The ultra-slick, over-polished, auto-tuned sound of today’s R&B music is a far cry from the days when vocalists and musicians sat down in the studio and recorded a song in one take, using nothing but their own abilities and talents. Of course, recording technology has come too far for that to be an efficient way to make music, but California-born crooner Reality Jonez still seeks to keep a piece of that warm 60’s and 70’s soul sound alive. His first single, a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Stubborn Kind Of Fellow,” is a fitting debut for Jonez, as the song was Marvin’s first hit record. Ignoring the sonic sensibilities of the post-hip hop age of digital recording, Jonez’ cover version could easily pass for a record that came out around the same time as the original. The drums are dusty yet roomy; the pianos are nothing more than distant twinkles on the track; the horn section adds a certain crispness that no other instrument could have in that era of lo-fi recording. On top of all this, Jonez switches effortlessly between a rich falsetto and a gritty, driven natural tone that serves as a warm, authentic tribute to the original. Look for Reality Jonez to bring more of his signature “New Oldies” sound to the forefront when his full-length debut album is released in late 2011.