SAM SIMMERS DOWN

“SAM I AM.” Sam Harris. Motown. This album could be subtitled “Sam Gets Serious,” as Harris tackles several songs about the need to be saved--either from himself or from the challenging and iffy situations of life. Despite his love for campy chest-beating, Harris is remarkably controlled. Sharing vocals with Janis Ian on “The Rescue,” he doesn’t put all his emotional cards on the table--or fling them in your face, for that matter. Though better than his debut album of last year, this record still contains only two standout tracks: “Always/The Bells/I Need You”--a trilogy of ballads that opens a cappella, segues gently into a Ernie Watts-accompanied sax odyssey and ends on a lung-busting gospel rave-up--and “Stay With Me,” easily the most subtle and touching song on the entire album. Getting Sam to simmer down and keep his emotions in check is this album’s major accomplishment.