R. Kelly inspired by going 'back in time'

R. Kelly's believes he went "back in time" for the inspiration behind his 'Love Letter' album.

The R 'n' B star said he had to stop work on his 'Zodiac' record and start on the recently released 'Love Letter' after a retro party where he performed as legendary soul singer Sam Cooke.

He told Interview magazine: "I gave a Christmas party where I did a Sam Cooke show. I didn't perform as R. Kelly. I performed the Sam Cooke show from 1964, when he performed at the Copacabana.

"I did the whole set. I invited, like, 1,000 people out to my house, and everybody had to be dressed like it was the 60s.

"I had this feeling that we really tapped in spiritually to that time. We did go back in time that night. And when I came back to the present, if you will, I'd brought back some goodies, because when I went in the studio-I was working on the 'Zodiac' album, which was all, like, the bump 'n' grinds- I couldn't work on it because I was so overwhelmed and overpowered and pretty much musically abducted by this other period. So I switched and started working on 'Love Letter'."

The 'I Believe I Can Fly' hitmaker also added he likes concept albums like 'Love Letter' because they allow him to adopt a persona and tell a story.

He added: "I love doing concept albums more than any other kind of album-it allows me to get dressed, in a way, musically.

"Once I create that music, then the lyrical content starts to come-you know, the stories and things like that.

"'Love Letter' reminds me of 'Chocolate Factory' and 'Happy People'. It's a little bit of both of those. I just wanted it to be classy, man. And romantic. And maybe 10 percent sexy."

'Love Letter' is out now.