Club Classics Vol. One

Last updated

Club Classics Vol. One
Club classics vol. one.jpg
Studio album by
Released10 April 1989
Recorded1988–1989
Studio
Genre R&B
Length44:54
Label Virgin
Producer Jazzie B, Nellee Hooper
Soul II Soul chronology
Club Classics Vol. One
(1989)
Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade
(1990)
Singles from Club Classics Vol. One
  1. "Keep on Movin'"
    Released: 6 March 1989
  2. "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)"
    Released: 29 May 1989

Club Classics Vol. One (US title: Keep On Movin') is the debut album by the British group Soul II Soul. Released in 1989, the album featured the group's hit singles "Keep on Movin'" and "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)", the latter of which was a UK number-one hit and the fifth best-selling single in the UK that year. The album also reached number one and was certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 900,000 copies. [2]

Contents

In the United States, the album reached the Top 20 and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales in excess of two million copies. The single "Back to Life" was also a Top 10 hit in the US and was certified platinum. It found stronger success with R&B music listeners in the US, as the album went to No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart, and the title track and "Back to Life" were number-one R&B hit singles.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Muzik Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [6]
NME 8/10 [7]
Record Mirror 5/5 [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 7/10 [11]
The Village Voice B+ [12]

The Sunday Times noted that "there are traces of dubbed reggae, jazz flute, orchestral strings and Zulu harmonies here, as well as the more obvious delights of Caron Wheeler's gospel-soul vocals and the metronomic itch of the percussion loops." [13]

Alex Henderson, in a retrospective review for AllMusic, commented that the musical influences ranged from "Chic to hip hop to African music", and that the album was "among the most rewarding R&B releases of 1989." [3]

Legacy

In 2004, Q placed Club Classics Vol. One at number 28 in its list of the 50 Greatest British Albums Ever. [14] In 2006, the magazine placed the album at number 34 in its list of "40 Best Albums of the 1980s". [15] In 2012, Slant Magazine placed the album at number 100 on its list of the best albums of the 1980s. [16]

In late April 2021 Sky Arts included the album in episode two of its newly released Classic Albums series. The hour long broadcast featured newly released interviews with the band members and friends including Trevor Nelson.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Keep on Movin'" (featuring Caron Wheeler) Trevor Beresford Romeo 6:00
2."Fairplay" (featuring Rose Windross)Romeo, Nellee Hooper, Rose Windross5:55
3."Holdin' On"Romeo, Simon Law 4:13
4."Feeling Free" (Live Rap)Romeo4:13
5."African Dance"Romeo, Law6:00
6."Dance"Romeo, Law3:40
7."Feel Free" (featuring Do'reen)Romeo, Hooper5:00
8."Happiness" (featuring Do'reen)Romeo, Hooper5:30
9."Back to Life" (Accapella) (featuring Caron Wheeler)Romeo3:12
10."Jazzie's Groove"Romeo, Hooper3:12
10th Anniversary edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Ambition" (Rap)Romeo3:49
12."Keep on Movin'" (Big Beat Accapella)Romeo3:36
13."Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)"Romeo, Wheeler, Law, Hooper3:52
14."Jazzie's Groove" (Piano Version)Romeo, Hooper4:04
15."Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" (One World Remix)Romeo, Wheeler, Law, Hooper6:34
16."Keep on Movin'" (M Beat Bonus Mix)Romeo4:23

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [33] Platinum100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [34] Gold50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [35] Gold7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI) [2] 3× Platinum900,000^
United States (RIAA) [36] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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